home
/
governance
/
key governance functions
/
students
/
national union of students
National Union of Students
Student unions in institutions can affiliate to the
National Union of Students - NUS . NUS is a UK wide organisation and has national offices in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. In
Northern Ireland membership is jointly administered by the NUS and USI
(Union of Students in Ireland).
About 98% of student unions in the UK (some 600 unions) are affiliated to NUS.
The role of the NUS includes:
- Campaigning for better rights for all its members on key issues such as student funding, welfare and course representation.
- Representing student views at a national level, for example through contact with other stakeholders and MPs. NUS acts as an authoritative voice on student funding, and its representatives have a high profile in the media.
- Undertaking research into issues of relevance to students, such as the experience of international students, student parents, and coordinating national campaigns.
- Providing training for local student union officers on their roles as representatives, campaigners and charity trustees.
- Via its commercial arm, NUS Services Limited, NUS is engaged in the collective purchasing of goods for sale in student union shops and bars.
NUS policy is determined at an annual national conference to which all affiliated unions may send delegates and submit nominations. NUS has a national executive committee, which is elected annually and is supported by salaried staff.
<<Return to previous page To next page>>
