Following a recent review, sports membership costs have increased from £100 for the full academic year to:
- Team Lancashire: £175 for new and second-year students
- BUCS Plus: £125 for third-year students and beyond
This represents an increase of 75% for new and second-year students, and a 25% increase for third-year students and beyond.
Alongside ever-increasing tuition fees, living costs, and transportation expenses, students are already under significant financial pressure. Asking students to pay between £125 and £175 simply to access university sports facilities and participate in a team places an additional and, in many cases, unaffordable burden on students.
The timing of this increase is also concerning. Students have been given only one month's notice before entering the new academic year, leaving many with little opportunity to budget for the additional expense.
It is particularly disappointing to see these costs increase at a time when students are already facing financial challenges. A significant increase in membership fees risks making university sport less accessible to the very students who would benefit from participating.
A £175 membership fee could deter current athletes from rejoining their clubs and discourage new students from getting involved in university sport altogether. While the intention of increasing membership fees may be to generate additional revenue, there is a genuine concern that higher costs could instead lead to lower participation and fewer students joining clubs.
Previously, students who found it difficult to pay the £100 membership fee upfront had the option of a monthly payment plan. This provided an important and accessible alternative for students who wanted to participate but could not afford a large one-off payment. Unfortunately, the new information states that “Membership payments will be in 1 lump sum at the start of the year, and recurring card payments will not be available going forward.”
Removing the monthly payment option at the same time as substantially increasing the membership fee creates an even greater financial barrier. A student who may have been able to manage £100 through monthly payments may now be unable to afford £125/£175 upfront.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the availability of the Activity Fund for the 2026–27 academic year. If financial support remains available to students experiencing hardship, this should be clearly communicated alongside the new membership fees. If it has been changed or removed, students deserve a clear explanation of why.
University sport should be accessible to students regardless of their financial circumstances. Charging £125 to £175 for membership, particularly when a student may receive limited playing time or spend much of the season on the bench, is a significant expense for many students.
We are therefore asking the University and Team Lancashire to:
1. Reduce sports membership fees back to the previous £100 rate.
2. Reintroduce an affordable monthly payment option.
3. Clearly communicate whether the Activity Fund will remain available for the new academic year.
4. Provide students with greater notice and consultation before implementing significant future price increases.
University sport should encourage students to participate, build communities, and stay active, not create another financial barrier to university life.
Please sign this petition to support reducing sports membership fees back to £100 and keeping university sport accessible to all students.