The 2018 British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Nationals will not be moved despite a clash with the British Indoor Athletics Championships, it has been announced.

Both of the events are scheduled to be held from February 16 to 18.

In a statement, BUCS claimed it was "not possible" to switch their Nationals, due to take place in Sheffield, for logistical reasons.

Earlier this month, it was recently announced that the British Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham would be staged on the same weekend.

The clash has led to frustration among athletes who may have been hoping to compete at both events.

BUCS said they were aware of the issue and insisted they would "do our upmost to avoid clashes like this in the future".

The British Indoor Athletics Championships are due to be held at the Arena Birmingham ©Arena Birmingham
The British Indoor Athletics Championships are due to be held at the Arena Birmingham ©Arena Birmingham

"Dates for BUCS Nationals are built around the athletics calendar and in consultation with UK Athletics (UKA), and are set over a year in advance," a BUCS statement read. 

"BUCS Nationals, which includes the BUCS Indoor Athletics Competition and another seven national competitions for BUCS sports, now attracts over 6,000 students to Sheffield each February. 

"With venues, officials and accommodation bookings already set in stone for 2018 BUCS Nationals, it is not possible to move the BUCS Indoor Athletics Competition.

"We appreciate this will be inconvenient for athletes and their coaches, who would have competed in both events. 

"Furthermore, we understand the impact on member institutions in regards to BUCS points and scholarship requirements. However, BUCS is not in a position to move the event at this late stage."

The Arena Birmingham is also set to host next year's World Indoor Athletics Championships from March 1 to 4.