REG 4.1 Eligible participants For an individual to be eligible to participate in BUCS competitions they shall:
REG 4.1.1 Be a registered student at an institution which holds a level of BUCS membership which entitles them to participate in BUCS competitions.
REG 4.1.1.1 An individual can only represent an institution/Playing Entity with which they are registered.
REG 4.1.1.2 Establishing which institution/Playing Entity an individual may represent on a seasonal basis is determined via which Playing Entities are being utilised to function within BUCS competitions and the individual’s relationship to them. (Note REG 2.6).
REG 4.1.1.3 No individual may compete for more than one institution/Playing Entity in a BUCS season (1 August – 31 July).
AND
REG 4.1.2 Be aged 18 or over.
REG 4.1.2.1 Students studying at BUCS member institutions in Scotland will be eligible to compete in all BUCS competitions from the age of 17.
AND
REG 4.1.3 Be registered on a course which is at or above one of the following minimum levels:
- Level 4 on the Framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ).
- Level 6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
- Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework for England and Northern Ireland (RQF).
- Level 3 on the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW).
- Level 3 standalone QAA Access to HE Diploma
AND
REG 4.1.4 Be undertaking a study programme equivalent to:
- Where the course is credit rated under CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme), at least 60 credits per year.
- Where the course is run using guided learning hours, a minimum of 225 hours per year.
- Where the course is a postgraduate course which is not credit rated, no less than 50% of the full-time student programme per year.
REG 4.1.4.1 A year will be taken as 12 months from the start date of their course. If a course finishes in the middle of the academic year, please refer to REG 4.2.2.
AND
REG 4.1.5 Be permitted by the International or National Governing Body of the sport concerned to participate in BUCS competition alongside any other competition in that sport.
AND
REG 4.1.6 Have paid the appropriate Athletic Union or equivalent subscription.
REG 4.2 Special cases for participation The following individuals are classified as eligible to represent their institution/Playing Entity in BUCS competitions:
REG 4.2.1 A sabbatical officer of an Athletic Union, Students’ Union, or equivalent body, who has paid the appropriate Union (or equivalent body) subscription.
REG 4.2.2 A student satisfactorily finishing their course of study after the start of December will be eligible to participate until the end of the season provided their Athletic Union or equivalent subscription has been paid and their institution/Playing Entity still classifies them as a registered student.
REG 4.2.2.1 Satisfactorily finishing a course of study is not when a student graduates, but is deemed to be when their teaching, research and/or examinations are completed.
REG 4.2.2.2 Suspension of studies is not classed as satisfactorily finishing a course of study. Any student who has their studies suspended must wait until their studies recommence and they meet the requirements of REG 4.1 to compete again. (Note REG 4.2.5 for an exception to this).
REG 4.2.3 A student from a BUCS member institution embarking on a Sandwich Course and/or Study Abroad Course is eligible during this time provided all of the following:
REG 4.2.3.1 They have paid the appropriate Athletic Union or equivalent subscription;
AND
REG 4.2.3.2 The duration of the placement/course in industry and/or study abroad is one year or less.
REG 4.2.3.2.1 If the duration is more than one year, then the student will be deemed ineligible after the passing of the 12 month mark.
REG 4.2.4 A visiting student doing a Study Abroad Course (e.g. Erasmus) at a BUCS member institution is eligible during this time if they and their study programme meet the requirements of REG 4.1.
REG 4.2.5 Any student who has their studies suspended on medical grounds during the season, but still meets all other requirements of REG 4.1, shall be eligible to participate until the end of the season. BUCS may request evidence of suspension of studies on medical grounds in order to ascertain the eligibility of an individual to compete. Such evidence will be treated confidentially. Any costs associated with obtaining such information cannot be covered by BUCS.
REG 4.3 Gender eligibility
REG 4.3.1 For all BUCS Competitions, the gender eligibility criteria will be determined by where the activity is taking place.
REG 4.3.2 Where the relevant National Governing body for the sport where the activity is taking place has a policy or has communicated to BUCS a position on gender eligibility, this shall be followed. If the relevant National Governing Body does not have a policy and has not communicated to BUCS a position on gender eligibility, the relevant International Federation policy or position as communicated to BUCS on gender eligibility shall be followed.
For example, if the relevant National Governing body for a sport in England has a policy/position, this shall be applied to all activity taking place in England. Similarly, if the relevant National Governing body of the same sport in Scotland does not have a policy/position, then the relevant International Federation policy/position shall be applied to all activity taking place in Scotland.
REG 4.3.3 It is the responsibility of institutions/Playing Entities and Participants to ensure that they are aware of the relevant policy/position prior to participating in any BUCS Competition. To aid institutions/Playing Entities and Participants with confirming the relevant policy/position, BUCS will maintain a list of known policies/positions here, however this information can only be considered as accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.
REG 4.3.4 Definitions for REG 4.3
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BUCS |
British Universities and Colleges Sport the organising body for higher education sport in the United Kingdom; |
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BUCS Competition |
Any sports competition organised by BUCS from time to time; |
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Gender Eligibility |
Refers to the requirements an individual must meet to compete within a gender category. The information on gender eligibility is particularly relevant for any trans+ students interested in competing. |
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Participant |
Any guest entrant, or person representing a Member in any BUCS Competition, whether individually or as part of a team. |
REG 4.4 Anti-Doping
REG 4.4.1 All BUCS participants are subject to the Anti-Doping rules of their sport’s National Governing Body, and as such are subject to testing.
REG 4.4.2 Any individual receiving treatment involving a Prohibited Substance or Method, as described on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List, should apply for a standard Therapeutic Use Exemption.
REG 4.4.3 Any individual who is serving an Anti-Doping Rule Violation will not be eligible to participate in any BUCS competitions.
REG 4.4.4 Disqualification of results in competitions subsequent to sample collection or commission of an Anti-Doping rule violation In addition to the automatic disqualification of the results in the competition which produced the positive sample, all other competitive results of the individual obtained from the date a positive sample was collected (whether in-competition or out-of-competition) shall, unless fairness requires otherwise, be disqualified, with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
REG 4.4.5 If more than two team members in a team sport are found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation during an event period, BUCS shall impose the appropriate sanction which will be determined by the disciplinary panel, in line with REG 5.
REG 4.5 Allowing ineligible participants to represent an institution/Playing Entity will result in a charge of misconduct being raised against the institution/Playing Entity and appropriate disciplinary action taken in accordance with REG 5. Athletic Union or equivalent staff should in cases of doubt refer the circumstances to the BUCS Executive.
