Student Unions: What They Are and How to Get Involved
When you start looking around universities, you’ll probably hear a lot about the student union. But what is a student union and why is it so important?
The students’ union is led by elected student representatives, to look after students’ best interests. They’re independent organisations, run separately from the universities they’re based at, and they offer everything from support with your course to a variety of clubs, societies and events.
We’ve run through some of their key roles and functions, taken a look at how you could get involved with your student union and revealed the UK’s top three unions, as voted for by students.
The Role and Functions of a Student Union#
So, what is a student union and what does it do? These student associations generally offer a wide range of services, although the detail of what they do will vary depending on the university. You could take a look at your student union website to get an accurate picture of what your particular university offers.
First of all, your student union is there to represent you. Their job is to make sure your best interests are looked after and your rights as a student are protected. If you’ve got any concerns about your experiences as a student, your union is a good place to turn to for help.
Many courses also have student representatives, who act as the bridge between students and their department. They help make sure that a course is meeting students’ needs and can raise any issues that may come up with the university.
Your students’ union will probably host a selection of fun societies and clubs. From learning a new language to joining a new sports team, raising money for charities or connecting with fellow film buffs, there’s something for everyone. Societies are a fantastic way to meet people who share your interests and make new friends.
If you’re interested in volunteering or finding work during your time at university, your student union can be a really useful place to start. They often advertise job opportunities, both at your university and in the local area, and may offer helpful services such as CV writing support to boost your job search.
Many university student unions also operate their own bar, serving reasonably priced food and drinks that won’t break the bank – making them a great place to hang out with friends.
Engaging with your students’ union#
There are loads of different ways you can engage with your student union. They might host events that you could pop along to, or you could help with fundraising.
You could take a look at all the societies and clubs they run and join any that match your interests – and if you can’t find any, you could start your own.
To launch your own society, you’ll need to check in with the students’ union to find out any requirements they have, and to make sure it doesn’t already exist.
Next, you’ll likely need to write up an application. This could include a description of your society, the types of events you might run, and the names of the students who will make up your committee.
Finally, if your society gets approved, you’ll want to attract members – for example, by running a stall at your university’s freshers’ fair.
How Can I Get Involved With My Students' Union?#
If you want to take an even more active role in your student union, you could look into running for a sabbatical officer position. These are full-time, paid roles, generally taken either between years of study or immediately after graduation. Sabbatical officers are elected annually by other students for a one-year term and are responsible for representing the student body. Every university has to have at least one sabbatical officer, but many have several covering different aspects of the student experience – for example, Education Officer or Societies Officer.
You could also consider becoming a part-time student officer. These roles are unpaid to support the sabbatical officers, but allow you to get involved while continuing your studies.
Does My University Have a Students' Union?#
Almost every university and college will have a student union, although the name might vary – you might hear it called a student association, a students’ guild or something similar.
Many – although not all – will be also part of the National Union of Students (NUS), which connects university student unions across the UK.
And it’s worth remembering that while most student unions have a dedicated space on campus that you can visit, the union isn’t defined by the building itself. It’s the people and services that make up a union, so it will still exist even if it doesn’t have a physical base.
Which University Has the Best Students’ Union? #
We’ve pulled together a list of the UK’s best university student unions, based on ratings by verified students on StudentCrowd.
We found out what students believe makes a student union stand out as excellent, including strong student representation, social events, regular club nights and a wide range of clubs and societies to get involved with.
The University of Sheffield’s student union came top of the rankings, with an average score of 4.71 out of 5. One student shared that “the student union and its events are one of my favourite things about the University of Sheffield.”
The student union at Queen’s University Belfast came a close second, with a score of 4.66 out of 5. “The students’ union is a staple in eating and drinking before and between classes, they hold good events and they have good pool tables,” explained one student at the university.
The University of Leeds’ student union society takes third place with 4.55 out of 5. One respondent described it as the “best students’ union! Lots of career opportunities and career fairs!”
