List of students' unions in the United Kingdom


In the United Kingdom, students' unions are organisations which exist at universities to represent the interests of students. Although most are known as "Students' Unions" other common terms include "Guilds of Students " and "Students' Associations", the latter being the more common term in Scotland. Student unions facilitate student societies, such as sports clubs and student newspapers, as well as representing students politically to their respective universities and at a national level. Most unions are affiliated to the National Union of Students, although it is possible for unions to disaffiliate from the NUS and for individual students not to be a member of their union. Although most students' unions are members of the NUS, there are several other representative bodies of which unions may be members, such as the Aldwych Group, for unions of Russell Group institutions, and the National Postgraduate Committee, which represents postgraduate students. In Northern Ireland, all unions are members of the National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland.
Students' unions tend to be run by a team of student-elected sabbatical officers. Funding for the unions comes from a "block grant" from the university and the provision of services to members through the running of shops and bars. Students' unions are regulated under the Education Act 1994, an Act of Parliament which states that student unions must be run in a democratic manner. Edinburgh University Students' Association is the oldest students' union in the United Kingdom and Liverpool Guild of Students is England's oldest students' union. The University of Glasgow is unique in having two independent students' unions, although undergraduates usually only join one of these. Some Common Rooms at collegiate universities also have the status of students' unions under the 1994 Education Act and exist as independent charities.
The President of the National Union of Students is Zamzam Ibrahim

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