UKTC BUCS Championship 2027 | Student Warhammer 40,000

THE UKTC BUCS CHAMPIONSHIP

Your institution. Your society. Your weekend.

23–24 January 2027 · NEC, Birmingham · Warhammer 40,000
Five individual games · 2,000 points · Standard £40 / Flex £60

Represent your university at UKTC’s first student BUCS Warhammer 40,000 championship. Join us for five games, new opponents and a weekend away with your society, alongside the Winter International Team Tournament.

Come to represent your institution, share a weekend with your society and meet students who enjoy the same hobby. Whether this is your first tournament or a familiar part of your hobby, there is a place for you here.

BUY YOUR BUCS TICKET — FROM £40

READ THE PARTICIPANT GUIDE AND EVENT RULES

Take your society beyond the weekly games night

Give your society a weekend to look forward to. Meet student players from other institutions, enjoy games beyond campus and bring home stories to share at your next games night. Come with friends, support each other between rounds and represent your institution together.

UKTC runs the London Grand Tournament and events across the country. We bring that experience to a championship built around the student community, with organised rounds, gaming tables, terrain and judges to support fair, enjoyable games.

Represent your institution together.

You enter individually and play your own games while representing your institution alongside fellow students. Each university’s top four results also count towards its institution ranking. If fewer than four players attend, missing places receive a null result. You can enter on your own or with friends; you do not need to organise a full team to take part.

The first round is randomly paired. Later rounds match players on similar scores, and we will try to avoid pairings within the same institution where possible. The participant guide and event rules explains the scoring and tie-breaks.

BUY YOUR BUCS TICKET — FROM £40

Your first tournament starts here

You do not need previous tournament experience. If you know how to play your army and are ready for a full weekend of games, you are welcome. Our judges and event team are here to help with questions throughout the weekend.

Start with the two-page welcome and essentials. The appendices are there to refer to when you need more detail. Asking for help is a normal part of tournament play.

Still painting your army? You can still play.

We know that building a 2,000-point army takes time around lectures, deadlines and a student budget. Your army does not need to be Battle Ready painted to take part.

Models need to be fully assembled, clearly identifiable and on the correct bases. For conversions, proxies or printed models, check Appendix B of the participant guide or ask us for help before the event.

The weekend celebrates representing your institution, sharing your hobby and being a welcoming opponent. Awards also recognise gaming, institution results, painting and sportsmanship. Painting awards have separate eligibility requirements; see the guide for the categories and criteria.

The essentials

Who can enter: current university and college students, plus alumni within three years of leaving their institution. Unsure whether you qualify? Email us and we will help.
When: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2027.
Where: National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT, alongside Winter ITT.
Saturday: doors open at 09:00. Three rounds run from 09:30 to 20:15.
Sunday: doors open at 09:00. Two rounds run from 09:30 to 16:45, followed by awards at 17:00–17:30.
Entry: £40 Standard / £60 Flex per player for the two-day championship and five scheduled games. Travel, accommodation and meals are separate from tournament entry.

Read the full timetable and preparation checklist · Venue and travel information

Getting ready after you book

Keep your order confirmation and read the guide’s welcome and essentials. Your Best Coast Pairings registration link arrives by email on Wednesday 13 January. Register, set your faction and institution name, and upload your army list by Sunday 17 January 2027 at 23:59.

If your link is missing, email us on Thursday 14 January. We will help you get ready. Your first pairing will be available from 14:00 on Wednesday 20 January.

Make it your society’s next trip

Share the event with your committee and start planning who is coming. Prepare together with practice games, hobby sessions and shared travel.

Your students’ union or university may offer society funding for entry, transport or accommodation. Ask your society support team what is available and use the event details to explain your plans. Support depends on your institution’s funding rules.

Questions about organising a society trip? Contact the UKTC team.

A few questions before you book

Do we need a university team?

No. You can enter on your own or with friends. You play individual games, and university standings use each institution’s top four results. Missing places receive a null result if fewer than four players attend. Read how the format works.

What do I need to bring?

Your 2,000-point army, dice, a tape measure, a shared score sheet, a chess clock or clock app, and your game, army and mission rules. The participant guide has the checklist and detailed appendices.

Where can I find the rules and policies?

Everything is in one participant guide and event rules. Start with the welcome and essentials, then refer to the appendices when you need more detail. For practical or eligibility questions, contact us.

Be part of the first edition

Bring the army you have been working on. Bring the people from your weekly games night. Be part of a weekend where your institution’s hobby community is represented.

23–24 January 2027. NEC, Birmingham. See you across the table.

BUY YOUR BUCS TICKET — FROM £40

PARTICIPANT GUIDE AND EVENT RULES · TICKET TERMS AND CONDITIONS