[2] Univ is one of the more successful college clubs in Oxford, having won multiple headships for both their Men's and Women's crews at the annual intercollegiate bumps races: Torpids and Summer Eights.

The origins of UCBC can be attributed to one student, William Roper, who supervised the raising of £100 to build a boat and select a crew.

Univ, though Balliol came near them were never in danger...The Eight supped with Snell and the rest of us joined them after supper, and had a glorious evening.

During the 1920s and 1930s rowing continued to play a major part in College life, and the First VIII had some exciting years.

[11][12] During the Second World War, undergraduates were allowed to remain at Oxford, albeit on specially shortened courses, and so Eights Week and Torpids were able to continue on a reduced basis.

[13] Torpids and Eights Week resumed properly in 1946, and crews were arranged that year in their 1939 positions (the war races were not reckoned to count).

The alarm was raised; a crowd of Univ rowers in evening dress set off in hot pursuit, and the boat was recovered and brought back safely.

[23] The women's and men's second boats have long been in "fixed divisions" in both Torpids and Summer Eights, and, as such, are guaranteed a place in racing each year.

Yuli Toh's article describes the structure as not just a boathouse, but "a grandstand of the first order" arguing that it represents a new age in rowing.

[29] Saturday of Eights’ Week 2007 saw the opening of the new boathouse by Colin Moynihan (1974) who coxed the college and the university, won a silver medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, gained a boxing Blue, later became Minister of Sport, and is now Chairman of the British Olympic Association.

The boathouse gym is equipped with 8 Model D Concept2 indoor rowers, stretching/exercise mats and balls, along with changing rooms for crews.

Their members also have unlimited free access to all the training facilities of the University Sports Complex on Iffley Road, including the 8 seat rowing tank.

[30] The club also train regularly at Eton Dorney, Abingdon, Swindon, and Radley to escape the congestion of the Isis in Oxford.

[31] The active Martlet Club is currently a small group of recent graduates, still primarily based in Oxford.

While the club continues to grow, it is placing particular focus on entering alumni crews to notable regattas such as Women's Eights Head of the River Race and to the Fairbairn Cup, winning the latter's invitational category in 2023.

This is an opportunity for scratch alumni crews who have never rowed together to race against current students, or to casually paddle with old team mates.