In the last few years, UofG has made multiple changes to gym memberships. Since the 2020/21 academic year, when the full University gym membership for 365 days was £132, the price has increased by 32.5%. In the current academic year, UofG students who purchased the full membership (including access to sports clubs) paid £175 for their gym access. Although there is a new option for a fitness and wellbeing membership that costs £155, full membership is mandatory (either annual or semester) for participation in sports clubs at our University, which can be a significant financial burden for students wanting to take part. Five clubs remain that only require an off-peak membership. Previously, annual gym membership was mandatory for sports club membership, but semester memberships became acceptable in the 2023/24 academic year.
Free memberships for residents of the University’s accommodation were revoked in 2023, and they were offered a discounted price of £120 instead of £170. This change affected hundreds of students and generated extra revenue. From the beginning of the 2024/25 academic year, residents of university accommodation no longer received discounts for membership and had to pay the full price. Although inflation and other economic factors presumably influence the rise in prices, they do not fully explain this last change.
In comparison, the University of Strathclyde (UoS) raised their gym membership cost by 18.3%, from £147 in the 2020/2021 academic year to £174 this year. Their gym membership is only £1 less than that of UofG, but some UoS sports club members still pay much less overall. For instance, Strathclyde’s men’s basketball team members paid £30 for sports union fees (which include insurance and travel) plus £46 for their club and £174 for the gym. However, gym membership is not mandatory for those who want to take part in sports clubs at UoS, meaning this cost can be much lower. In turn, members have discounted single-entry access to the gym set at £5 when needed. Meanwhile, UofG basketball players paid £90.12 for their club and £175 for the gym this year, spending over 10% more than Strathclyde players, who opted to pay the full gym membership.
Interestingly, Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) made gym memberships free for all students in January following a successful campaign by its student association. For those participating in sports clubs, this means they only need to pay a £20 sports membership, which covers their insurance and a club fee ranging from £10 to £45. Previously, student gym membership cost £100 from September to April (around £150 for 365 days), and was not mandatory for sports club memberships; students could enter the gym for free on the day of the sports club event. A spokesperson at GCU told The Glasgow Guardian: “The initiative is part of a pilot programme aimed at breaking down financial barriers to fitness and boosting wellbeing.”
When asked about the price increase and future plans for gym membership, a spokesperson at UofG stated: “UofG Sport student memberships are reviewed annually and remain some of the most competitive in the sector, providing outstanding value for money for the diverse range of facilities and services available. Membership prices increase incrementally each year to help manage the increasing staffing and consumable costs associated with delivering the UofG Sport service and all students have equal access to the range of memberships available.”
They did not comment on the reason for cancelling memberships for University accommodation residents. Regarding plans for the upcoming academic year, the UofG spokesperson said: “Over recent months UofG Sport and GUSA have been consulting students to gain their views to help shape the future sport and physical activity offer[ed] at UofG. UofG Sport and GUSA representatives have discussed feedback received regarding membership options and some changes that could be implemented in the next academic year. These discussions will continue in the coming months and full details of 25-26 student memberships will be available in advance of the academic session via the UofG Sport website, social channels and App.”
The president of GUSA, Karl Kilpatrick, stated in the Glasgow Guardian that some students believe there should be “[…] more flexible payment options available” and that they do not use the gym enough for the membership to be worth it. In response, GUSA will “[…] continue to discuss this feedback with UofG Sport ahead of the next academic year.”
With the price of memberships at chain gyms like PureGym or The Gym Group still significantly higher, university gyms remain the cheapest option for students. However, as UoS and GCU prove themselves to offer more affordable sport club membership options, would UofG be motivated to follow suit?
