Tennis: Individual & Wheelchair Championships 2025-26

Entry Opening Date

Tuesday 25 November 2025

Entry Closing Date

Tuesday 6 January 2026 at 23:59 – Student / Competitor Deadline 

(Students / Competitors must apply by this deadline) 

Thursday 8 January 2026 at 23:59 – Institution Administrator Deadline 

(Institutional Administrators are given 48 hours after the student / competitor deadline to approve entries)

As such, please ensure all entries are submitted through BUCS Play prior to the closing date listed above. Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted. 

Entry Cost

£57.50 per competitor

Single Entry

This competition will NOT operate a staged entry process. As such, please ensure all entries are submitted through BUCS Play prior to the closing date listed above.

Wheelchair Entries

Wheelchair entries will open in January (entry cost - £25.25).

Selections for main draw, qualifying draws and reserve lists will be published in January. 

At least 8 players will be selected directly for main draw for each of the men’s and women’s singles. Further players may be chosen according to the overall balance of players’ standings and the number of qualifiers to come forward. The main draws will each be 32 players in total. In each qualifying group the number of qualifiers will try to balance similar players being seeded across all groups while also maximising the number of players who can participate in the event – more qualifiers from a group means more players can be accepted in the draw. 

Criteria

Players will be ordered at the discretion of the referee and tournament director who will take into account all available information, including the following criteria: 

Players within the same institution are ordered by nominated team order, other than in exceptional circumstances, since BUCS regulations require that nominations are in bone fide playing order. 

(The exceptional circumstances could include a player achieving a World Ranking or other very strong results after the team order had been published.) 

Selection criteria for individuals is a combination of:  

• Current ATP/WTA world ranking  

• WTN 

• Previous world ranking (the higher the best rank) 

• Current ITF ranking  

• Previous ITF or junior ITF ranking  

• Higher national ranking  

• Known results  

• Team order 

Men’s & Women’s singles winner (as long as player registered with ITF as playing under GBR) to receive a qualifying wild card into a British M25/W35 event in 2026. Which event being at the discretion of the LTA Performance Team.

All institutions will be guaranteed at least one entry per event.  Additional entries will be accepted, subject to entry numbers, in order of merit. Players should be entered by the university in order of merit.  

To assist seeding and entry selection, players' entry information should include details of ATP/WTA/ITF Pro Tour/ITF Junior/Tennis Europe/significant home nation ranking, not local results.  

By entering the competition, the student is confirming that they are willing and able to compete.

To apply for the competition all eligible competitors must follow these steps:

1. Competitor to apply to the event on BUCS Play (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
2. Institution administrator approves entry (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
3. BUCS approves/denies entry into competition and publishes confirmed entry list

Any data will be handled in accordance with BUCS Privacy Policy

By participating in this event you agree to adhere to BUCS General Event Disclaimer

To check whether you are eligible to compete in BUCS competitions, please visit REG 4 Individual Eligibility.

To view our current Gender Eligibility resources please click here.

To view our Gender Eligibility regulations, please click here.

Please see REG 7.9 for our withdrawal policy 

Any player unable to attend their regional qualifying event must inform Sophie Kitson (BUCS Tennis Programme Coordinator – [email protected]) as soon as possible, copying in their Athletic Union to ensure they are aware of the withdrawal. 

Any withdrawal later than the Monday prior to the relevant regional qualifying event must also be emailed to the relevant Tournament Referee (please see event guide) and Carl Baldwin: [email protected] (Tournament Director). Any withdrawal later than 09:00 am on the Friday prior to the relevant regional qualifying event must also be telephoned to the Tournament Referee.

Withdrawals of entries offered a place (accepted) in the draw of a regional qualifying event are not eligible for a refund of their entry fee. This applies regardless of the reason for withdrawal. Reserves who withdraw before being offered a place will not be charged their entry fee but those who are offered a place and then withdraw or are a no show will be charged.

Due to the large number of entries, some competitors are initially placed on a reserves list. There are always a number of withdrawals at each qualifying event and it is expected that many reserves will eventually be accepted to the regional qualifying draw. 

Please note that the limit at each venue is the total number of players, not the specific size of each draw. Therefore, if, for example, there are no women’s reserves at a particular event, then a woman withdrawing enables the men’s draw size to be increased by one. It is, therefore, extremely important to withdraw prior to the creation of the draw (Thursday prior to the relevant qualifying event) if you are unable to play. On average, 8+ players per venue will withdraw, most during the week leading up to each event so reserves can be called up at short notice. It is the responsibility of any player initially listed as a reserve to keep checking the Tennis pages of the BUCS website to see if they have been moved into the draw as a result of a withdrawal (players will also be contacted by Sophie &/or Carl). The acceptance lists will be updated on a daily basis at a minimum.

FINES FOR WITHDRAWALS (Men’s and Women’s Qualifying & Main Draw Events) 

Withdrawal after 5pm on Friday the week prior to applicable qualifying event: £25 

e.g. withdrawal 5pm Friday 13 March for the Main draw £25 

• Thursday before qualifying/main draw event after 10am: £50 

• No shows on the day of the applicable qualifying/main draw event: £100 

Please note that you will still be charged the entry free. If you are injured you will need to provide a medical note to avoid the withdrawal fine as per REG 7.9.3. Competitors are requested to view the withdrawal terms for this event on the event webpage.

FINES FOR WITHDRAWALS (WHEELCHAIR FINALS) 

• Withdrawal after 5pm on Friday 13 March: £20 

• Withdrawal after 3pm on Thursday 19 March: £50

• No shows on the day of the applicable event: £75

• If you withdraw after the 10 March, but prior to the 13 March you will still be charged the entry fee 

Competitors are requested to view the withdrawal terms for this event on the event webpage.

Anyone wishing to take photos or video at this event must complete the BUCS Media Accreditation Form prior to the event.

BUCS reserves the right to prohibit photography equipment being used at a BUCS event. BUCS reserves the right to request that the individual ceases to take photographs, deletes any images and, if considered necessary, leaves the venue.

BUCS’ mission is to provide exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.

Critical to our success is our commitment to always providing safe, friendly and enjoyable environments for all participants. Whether competing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, working or spectating at these events, the welfare of all is critical to our mission.

To find out more or report a concern, please click here.