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British Universities and Colleges Sport

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British Universities and Colleges Sport
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
Membership165
AbbreviationBUCS
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
AffiliationFISU
Regional affiliationEUSA
Location20–24 King's Bench Street
London
SE1 0QX
United Kingdom
ReplacedBritish Universities Sports Association (BUSA)
University College Sport (UCS)
Official website
www.bucs.org.uk
United Kingdom

British Universities and Colleges Sport, commonly abbreviated as BUCS, is the governing body for higher education sport in the United Kingdom.

BUCS is responsible for organising 54 inter-university sports in the United Kingdom, as well as representative teams for the FISU World University Championships and the FISU World University Games.

BUCS is a membership organisation of over 165 universities and colleges, with six thousand teams competing across 850 leagues. Anne, Princess Royal is currently patron of BUCS.

History

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BUCS was formed in 2008 by a merger of British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) and University College Sport (UCS).

Sports

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As of 2024, BUCS organise competition across 54 sports.[1]

Sport Competition(s) Champions[2]
Men's Women's Mixed
American football British Universities American Football League None University of the West of England heraldic shield West of England (172)
Archery BUCS Archery Indoor Championships
BUCS Archery Outdoor Championships
University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (55) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (64) None
Athletics BUCS Athletics Indoor Championships
BUCS Athletics Outdoor Championships
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (420) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (488)
Badminton BUCS Badminton Championship Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (271) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (221) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (120)
Baseball and softball BUCS National Baseball Championship
BUCS National Softball Championship
None Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (215)
Basketball BUCS Basketball League Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (169) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (159) None
Boxing BUCS Boxing Championships Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (28) Northumbria University heraldic shield Northumbria (20)
Canoeing BUCS Canoe Championships University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (242) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (114) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (192)
Clay pigeon shooting BUCS Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships Oxford Brookes (46) Harper Adams University heraldic shield Harper Adams (32) None
Climbing BUCS Climbing Championships Sheffield Hallam University heraldic shield Sheffield Hallam (28) University of Sheffield heraldic shield Sheffield (28)
Cricket BUCS Cricket Indoor Championship
BUCS Cricket Outdoor Championship
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (255) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (180)
Cycling BUCS Cycling Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (316) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (129) University of Cambridge heraldic shield Cambridge (20)
Dodgeball BUCS Dodgeball League Imperial College London heraldic shield Imperial (125) University of Sheffield heraldic shield Sheffield (110) None
Equestrian BUCS Equestrian Championship None Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (54)
Fencing BUCS Fencing Championships Durham University heraldic shield Durham (219) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (162) None
Football BUCS Football League Hartpury University heraldic shield Hartpury
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (201)
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (183)
Futsal BUCS Futsal League Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (176) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (162)
Gaelic football British University Gaelic Football Championship
British University Ladies' Gaelic Football Championship
Liverpool John Moores University heraldic shield Liverpool John Moores
University of Liverpool heraldic shield Liverpool (30)
Nottingham Trent University heraldic shield Nottingham Trent (30)
Robert Gordon University heraldic shield Robert Gordon (30)
University of Liverpool heraldic shield Liverpool
Golf BUCS Golf Tour University of Stirling heraldic shield Stirling (20) University of Stirling heraldic shield Stirling (24) University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (268)
Gymnastics Leeds Beckett (32) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (36) None
Handball University of Oxford heraldic shield Oxford (50) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (61)
Hockey University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (338) University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (320)
Jiu jitsu University of Sheffield heraldic shield Sheffield (14+23)
University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (14+23)
University of Bristol heraldic shield Bristol (14+23)
University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (22)
Judo University of Bath heraldic shield Bath (65) Cardiff Metropolitan University heraldic shield Cardiff Met (38)
Karate University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (63) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (53) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (32)
Korfball British Student Korfball Nationals None Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough
University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (57)
Lacrosse University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (205) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (297) None
Modern biathlon and pentathlon Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (32) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (44) University of Cambridge heraldic shield Cambridge (20)
Netball None Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (219) None
Orienteering University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (56) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (58)
Para powerlifting None
Pool and snooker University of Derby heraldic shield Derby (62) Lancaster University heraldic shield Lancaster (65) University of Manchester heraldic shield Manchester (103)
Powerlifting Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (84) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (88) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (20)
Rifle University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (18) University of Cambridge heraldic shield Cambridge (24)
University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh (24)
University of St Andrews heraldic shield St Andrews (42)
Rowing BUCS Rowing Championship Durham University heraldic shield Durham (138) Durham University heraldic shield Durham (170) None
Rugby league University and College Rugby League Northumbria University heraldic shield Northumbria (220) None
Rugby union BUCS Super Rugby Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough
University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (337.5)
Hartpury University heraldic shield Hartpury
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (272)
None
Sailing None University of Southampton heraldic shield Southampton (199)
Snowsports University of Glasgow heraldic shield Glasgow (108) University of Aberdeen heraldic shield Aberdeen (60) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (48)
Squash University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (219) University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham (187) None
Surfing University of Falmouth heraldic shield Falmouth (40) University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (28)
Swimming Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (506) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (610) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (124)
Table tennis University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (276) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (313) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (30)
Taekwondo BSTF National Taekwondo Championships University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (40) University of London heraldic shield UCL (56)
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (56)
University of London heraldic shield UCL (20)
Tennis University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (371) University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (312) None
Touch rugby None University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (50)
Trampoline University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham (32) University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham (20) None
Triathlon Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (28) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (70) Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough (78)
Ultimate University of Bath heraldic shield Bath (154) University of St Andrews heraldic shield St Andrews (131) None
Volleyball University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham (208) Durham University heraldic shield Durham (272)
Water polo Durham University heraldic shield Durham (169) Durham University heraldic shield Durham (158)
Weightlifting None
Wheelchair basketball None University of Worcester heraldic shield Worcester (80)
Windsurfing University of Warwick heraldic shield Warwick (12) University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter (12) Swansea University heraldic shield Swansea (32)

Non-BUCS sports

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Certain university and college sports are not governed by BUCS for various reasons. The following is a partial list of these sports and respective competitions:

Sport Competition(s) Champions
Men's Women's Mixed
Darts UDUK Nationals None University of Sheffield heraldic shield Sheffield
Hurling British University Hurling Championship
Ice hockey BUIHA National Championships University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham Scotland Caledonia None
Kart racing British Universities Karting Championship None University of Reading heraldic shield Reading
Underwater hockey BOA Student Nationals West Yorkshire West Yorkshire

Competitions and events

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Team sports compete in BUCS leagues, with the majority of league fixtures taking place on Wednesday afternoons, which is commonly referred to as BUCS Wednesday. Wednesday afternoons are generally free from lectures to allow students to compete in sport. There are 850 leagues, with institutions across the country competing against each other to avoid relegation or win the league and gain promotion to higher leagues.

The finals of the Championship and Trophy are played at BUCS Big Wednesday. This annual single-day event showcases the Championship and Trophy finals across 16 league sports. As of 2023, Big Wednesday will take place at Loughborough University.[3]

BUCS Nationals is an annual multisport event that takes place across three days. As of 2023, indoor athletics, swimming, badminton and climbing are the sports represented at BUCS Nationals. The event is held in Sheffield.[4]

Over the year, BUCS runs over 120 events for both individual and team sports.

BUCS Points

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BUCS Points are awarded to institutions based on their finishing positions in leagues and events under the BUCS marquee. The accumulation of these points determines the overall BUCS champion.

Loughborough University have topped the overall BUCS standings in each of the 14 years since its founding, including the 2023–24 season. As of 2024, no university has scored within 1000 points of Loughborough in the overall standings.

Both the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

By year

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Season Champions Points Runners-up Margin Third place Fourth place Fifth place Results
2008–09 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,512 University of Bath heraldic shield Bath 2,459.5 (44.62%) Leeds Beckett[a] University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Results
2009–10 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,585.5 Leeds Beckett[a] 2,213 (39.62%) University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham University of Bath heraldic shield Bath University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Results
2010–11 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,342 University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham 2,357.5 (44.13%) Leeds Beckett[a] Durham University heraldic shield Durham University of Bath heraldic shield Bath Results
2011–12 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,133.4 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 1,648.9 (32.12%) University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham University of Bath heraldic shield Bath Leeds Beckett[a] Results
2012–13 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,473 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 2,055 (37.55%) University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham University of Bath heraldic shield Bath University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter Results
2013–14 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,331 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 1,765.5 (33.12%) University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham University of Bath heraldic shield Bath University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Results
2014–15 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,876.2 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 1,783.5 (30.35%) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh University of Bath heraldic shield Bath University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham Results
2015–16 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 5,773 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 1,692.5 (29.32%) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter Results
2016–17 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 6,498 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 1,683 (25.90%) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter Results
2017–18 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 6,230.7 Durham University heraldic shield Durham 1,209.7 (19.42%) University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham University of Bath heraldic shield Bath Results
2018–19 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 6,157.7 University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham 1,038.2 (16.86%) Durham University heraldic shield Durham University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter Results
2019–20 Season suspended and voided due to the COVID-19 pandemic[b]
2020–21 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 8,034.1 University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham 1,582.6 (19.70%) Durham University heraldic shield Durham University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter Results
2022–23 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 9,341.5 University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham 1,426 (15.27%) Durham University heraldic shield Durham University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Results
2023–24 Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 9,492 University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham 1,265 (13.33%) Durham University heraldic shield Durham University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Results
Season Champions Points Runners-up Margin Third place Fourth place Fifth place Results
  1. ^ a b c d Known at the time as Leeds Metropolitan University.
  2. ^ Prior to being voided, the University of Nottingham led the points standings with 4,723 points, 186.5 ahead of Loughborough University.

By university

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University Titles Runners-up Top 5
Loughborough University heraldic shield Loughborough 14 0 14
Durham University heraldic shield Durham 0 7 12
University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham 4 7
University of Bath heraldic shield Bath 1 8
University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham 1 7
Leeds Beckett 1 4
University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh 0 11
University of Exeter heraldic shield Exeter 7

International representation

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Members of both FISU (International University Sport Federations) and EUSA (European University Sports Association), BUCS is responsible for sending a cohort of students to international events including the World University Summer & Winter Games and the European Universities Games. The British international team goes by the name of GB Students.

National governing body involvement

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BUCS applies for annual funding from Sport England to support the delivery of student sport across the country. They also work with national governing bodies to develop sports within the student sector and some posts within BUCS are funded by such bodies, with the aim of developing specific student sports.

Partnership with the Football Association (2016–present)

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The Football Association (FA) fund projects and positions within BUCS to help develop grassroots football. With their investment, BUCS set up 167 FA Grassroot Hubs to support football and futsal in the higher education sector, benefiting over 250 thousand participants.[5]

BUCS also collaborated with the FA to create the Women's Leadership Programme, providing female students with important skills and qualities to help them in their future careers. The first cohort of leaders graduated in 2020.[6]

Board

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The BUCS Board is responsible for leading strong governance and strategic leadership within the sector. The Board is made up of the chair, five independent directors and four BUCS directors - two representing students and two representing the staff of the membership.

Chair of the Board: Vacant

Commercial Director and Senior Independent Director: Russell James

Sport and Competition Director: Katy Storie

Finance Director: Simon Wilson

EDIA Director: Vacant

Legal and Governance Director: Carrie Stephenson

Chair of BUCS Senior Managers Executive: Cathy Gallagher

Chair of BUCS Advisory Group: Chris Anthony

Student Director: Ella Williams

Student Director, Welfare Lead: George Christian

Hall of Fame

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In 2019, BUCS introduced the Hall of Fame to celebrate the centenary of university sport in the United Kingdom. The Hall of Fame acknowledges individual dedication to and achievements in sport.

As of 2024, 18 athletes have been inducted into the BUCS Hall of Fame.

Inductee University Sport(s) Season(s) BUCS Notes
England Alison Odell CBE University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham
University of Leicester heraldic shield Leicester
Administrator
Wales Alun Wyn Jones OBE Swansea University heraldic shield Swansea Rugby union
England Bill Slater CBE University of Birmingham heraldic shield Birmingham Football
Scotland Catriona Matthew OBE University of Stirling heraldic shield Stirling Golf
England Christine Ohuruogu MBE University of London heraldic shield UCL Athletics
England Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill DBE University of Sheffield heraldic shield Sheffield Athletics
Scotland Dame Katherine Grainger DBE University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Rowing
England Danielle Brown MBE University of Leicester heraldic shield Leicester Archery
Scotland David Florence University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham Canoeing
China Deng Yaping University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham Table tennis
Scotland Eric Liddell University of Edinburgh heraldic shield Edinburgh Athletics
Rugby union
England Jonathan Edwards CBE Durham University heraldic shield Durham Athletics
England Lauren Steadman MBE University of Portsmouth heraldic shield Portsmouth Swimming
Paratriathlon
Wales Liz Nicholl CBE University of Nottingham heraldic shield Nottingham Netball
England Rebecca Romero MBE St Mary's University, Twickenham heraldic shield St Mary's Rowing
Cycling
Wales Sir Gareth Edwards CBE Cardiff Metropolitan University heraldic shield Cardiff Met Rugby union
England Sir Roger Bannister CH CBE University of Oxford heraldic shield Oxford Athletics
Wales Sophie Ingle OBE Cardiff Metropolitan University heraldic shield Cardiff Met Football

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BUCS Sports". British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
  2. ^ "BUCS 2022–23". BUCS. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Big Wednesday". BUCS. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Nationals". BUCS. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  5. ^ "COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ARE SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL". The FA. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ^ "WE HAVE TODAY OPENED APPLICATIONS FOR THE FA AND BUCS'S WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME". The FA. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
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