The cost of joining a TEAMBrookes Sports Club for the 2023/24 season is £150 (approx. £6.80 per week).
This is a fee that has been approved by the University’s Operations Group, subject to supporting mitigations. This fee is required for each Sports Club you compete for.
For the majority of TEAMBrookes student-athletes, the deadline for purchasing the TEAMBrookes Membership Fee is Monday 9th October 2023.
Why have we increased the TEAMBrookes Membership fee?
All income generated within Brookes Sport, including gym memberships, fitness classes, facility hire, etc. goes directly into the costs of running the student-sport programme at Oxford Brookes, along with the necessary staffing. However, these associated costs have continually increased year on year for a range of areas, including transport, equipment, external facility hire, entry costs, governing body affiliations, insurance and coaching. Taking all of this into account, it is therefore no longer sustainable for us to provide what we have historically offered at the same cost.
Club members last year (2022/23) were contributing what equates to around £4.50 per member per week, or £100 in total. This is significantly less than comparative institutions.
What does the sports programme cost?
To run the student-sport programme, Brookes Sport spends in excess of £650,000 on transport, accommodation, external facility hire, equipment, entry fees and staffing cost in the form of administrators, practitioners and coaches.
What does Brookes Sport provide?
Included within the TEAMBrookes Membership Fee is everything required to play your sport and access appropriate support, including:
national governing body affiliation costs
competition entry costs
umpires and match officials
specific sports insurance coverage
transport to away fixtures and competitions
internal and external facility access for training and competitions
equipment
playing kit
full-time sports administrators
technical coaching
specialist coaches and practitioners.
The £40 Intramural fee is retained for the 2023-24 academic year, for designated non-competitive club activity e.g. 5-a-side Football League. The Student Brookes Active programme is another way you can experience and enjoy physical activity while studying at Oxford Brookes.
How to pay the TEAMBrookes Membership Fee
Club Presidents and Team Captains receive the online-payment link from Brookes Sport during Freshers Week.
Once you have been selected for a team (following trials) or confirmed your commitment (following a taster session for example), you will receive the online-payment link with which to make your £150 contribution to the running-costs of your sports club.
By paying the TEAMBrookes Membership Fee also automatically enrolls you onto the TEAMBrookes Student-Sport insurance policy.
Deadline for Payment (and notable exceptions)
The deadline for purchasing the TEAMBrookes Membership Fee is Monday 9th October 2023.
All student-athletes looking to represent TEAMBrookes as part of a competitive sports team this academic year, in BUCS or the equivalent competition, must pay the TEAMBrookes Membership fee by Monday 9th October 2023. This is due to the vast majority of sports teams competing within BUCS competition will begin on this particular week, or the start of regular training following ‘taster sessions’ for sports who do not compete in weekly leagues.
Notable exceptions:
- Watersports members who wish to represent TEAMBrookes in the annual BUCS Surfing Championships must purchase the TEAMBrookes Memberships fee by Monday 25th September 2023. This is due to the deadline for entries on the BUCS Play system being Tuesday 26th September 2023, allowing for cross-checking of eligibility and to ensure the Next of Kin form (submitted to Brookes Sport by the Team Captain) has been cross-checked and confirmed the eligibility to compete.
- Women’s Lacrosse 1st Team members selected to represent TEAMBrookes in the first BUCS Premier South 2 fixture of the season away against the University of Exeter on Wednesday 4th October 2023 must purchase the TEAMBrookes Membership fee by Monday 2nd October 2023. This is to ensure the BUCS Play team sheets and the Next of Kin forms (submitted to Brookes Sport by the Team Captain) have been cross-checked and confirmed eligibility to compete.
Exemptions and Fee Waivers
Those in receipt of a 'maximum' Brookes Bursary for 2023-24 are exempt from paying the £150 TEAMBrookes Membership fee - a copy of the 'letter of entitlement' will be required as part of the application form.
Individuals in receipt of an International Hardship Award 2023-24 will also be considered for exemption. Confirmation of the award made by the University's Financial Aid Team will be required as part of the provision of evidence, via the same application form.
Those selected as TEAMBrookes Sports Scholars are also waived of the requirement to make the £150 payment, as part of the performance support provided.
