Never Mind The Rankings, Here Are The Top Ten Student Unions
Choosing which university to go to is not an easy decision to make. Some students see university as a chance to flee the nest, to try a new city and embrace new surroundings, whilst others prefer to stay closer to home and will therefore choose a university accordingly. Some will make their decision based on the merits of a particular university’s reputation and history, whilst others will base their decision on which university provides the best framework for their chosen course.
But how about making a decision that also factors in your experiences independent of your studies?
Student Unions form an integral part of the student experience. They are a place where friendships are formed, new skills are developed, and where students can hone and flaunt their personalities in fun, friendly, dynamic and engaging environments. They are the places where the best memories are created, where, years later, you happily recall that shameless moment you danced like a maniac to Dancing Queen on 70’s Night before falling over. The university itself can only do so much for a student’s personal development, but a Student Union gives the individual a chance to bloom and grow. It can prepare you for the real world. This article will highlight the top 10 Student Union’s in the UK, offering an alternative angle for when it comes to making the right choice regarding which University you should choose.
Cardiff University
Cardiff is known for both its edgy mix of culture and nightlife, and the nightlife doesn’t get much better for students than at Cardiff University’s Student Union. Regular Saturday night event Flux is home to two floors and multiple venues, is cheap as chips for students and every now and then hosts one-off party extravaganza’s – including the now legendary Foam Party, which will help to put a froth on your vodka and Coke.
The Union also hosts regular live music events, with The Wombats due to play in October. The Union is led by students and anyone has the chance to partake in running the organisation and deciding which issues it should work on. It’s the ideal platform for any budding young politically aware student who wants to get involved.
University of Winchester
The University of Winchester Student Union is jam-packed with groups and sporting activities that build friendships and keep your mind buzzing when your studies are in danger of swamping you. Groups include The Debating Society, which isn’t quite as foreboding as it sounds. For anyone who loves a good argument and wants to test themselves against their fellow students on subjects as highbrow as politics and Syria to deciding which television programme is better – TOWIE or MIC – The Debating Society is the perfect arena. Be warned, though – someone out there might be prepared to defend Joey Essex to the death.
Sports include the infamous Dodgeball, and this year sees the first ever American Football Team formed at the University of Winchester. The SU also does a lot for the environment and local charities, and you are encouraged to help out and meet new people.
Teesside University
Teesside University’s Student Union sits proudly in the top ten Union rankings, and they have a gold standard for their ongoing commitment to making their SU environmentally sustainable. All money made goes straight back into the SU, with the goal being better facilities and improved services. These include a Students Union shop, which provides a student-friendly alternative to supermarket chains and guards against slow people with trolleys; The Link, which acts as a help and information centre, providing advice on everything from finance to accommodation; and an Activities Centre, where you can get involved in a range of societies, including Film Production, Music and Fine Art clubs.
For anyone who sees themselves as a quiz master, regular nights at the SU include The Pub Quiz. For those looking to let their hair down after a gruelling week of studying, there are school discos, 90’s nights and foam parties.
University of Bath
Fourth-placed for student satisfaction, the University of Bath puts great emphasis on encouraging its members to partake in volunteer groups. The city of Bath is home to a large number of volunteers, and the projects welcome and value the input of students who are staying temporarily in the area. There are many fundraising and community events to get involved in, and each one helps the student to develop new skills which will be invaluable for the future.
The SU is home to a massive 48 sports clubs, so if you’re the sporty type, or if you’re looking to get into sports, there is literally something for everyone – with the possible exception of show jumping, but you can’t please everyone, right? They employ a Sports Officer who is on hand to answer all your questions. Just don’t badger him to implement show jumping.
Loughborough University
Loughborough Student Union is one of the biggest in the UK. Getting involved in its reputable charity work could see you replace the classroom for a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro – certainly something different to a day spent in the library! Home to more than 60 societies and 55 sports clubs, the SU has its own TV station, as well as a student magazine, each of which offers you the chance to get involved and express yourself, and who knows? This time next year you could be on Big Brother.
With a student satisfaction of 88%, one of the things students take out of Loughborough’s Student Union is the chance to become more rounded as a person. Side by side with your degree, you will be immersing yourself in numerous activities that will aid your CV and refine your personality and confidence.
Sheffield University
Sheffield’s Student Union put on some great charity events, with last years’ highlight being a walk to Edinburgh that raised over £150,000. Such events are fantastic for bonding with new people, and you get to stay in hostels with your mates before an end-party to celebrate the fabulous job everyone has done. This year, the Union aims to walk to Cardiff in a single day. Just make sure somebody remembers to bring the map, is all we can say to that.
The Union is also dedicated to live music events, with SoundClash being its staple point. It takes place each Monday and features the best in local talent. For people who love workshops, Sheffield puts on a Dance Workshop every Tuesday that will teach you how to dance more like a pro and less like you’ve had one too many Jaeger bombs.
Glasgow University
Glasgow actually have two Unions for one University. One, the Glasgow University Union, has a reputation for putting on great live music events. The other, the Queen Margaret Union, has won the ‘World Debating Title’ more than anyone else in the whole wide world – ever. That’s pretty impressive when you consider how everyone goes on about ‘the Greeks’ being good at a debate or two.
The Queen Margaret Union won the Student Union of the Year at the Club Mirror Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013, whilst the Glasgow University Union offers the chance for affiliation, which means that you if you affiliate your club or society with it, it becomes a home for them. This gives you your own space on their website, admin support, free room hire for any meetings you want to arrange – as well as a discount on booze.
Dundee University
Dundee University’s Student Union comes with a student satisfaction of 82 percent and is noted for being one of the most open and diverse. Its societies certainly reflect that; from an African and Caribbean society, to a debating Union, through to an Islamic society, Dundee’s Student Union promotes different cultures and brings people together. Its ethos is to make everyone feel part of their family.
Skint is the mainstay of their club nights, the one that anyone who’s anyone who has no money goes to. With £1 admission and an excellent choice of drink and take-away food, Skint rakes in over 2,000 students each week, all of whom are looking for a good time and a chance to erase from their minds the fact that they’ve got molecular biology in the morning. Oops.
Keele University
Keele’s Student Union offers excellent food, drink and grocery facilities that do a lot to help students stick to their budgets whilst still getting quality for their cash. The Ballroom is a bar that hosts large events, including the popular Christmas Market and the Fashion Show. They also put on exciting club nights, such as Flirt! every Wednesday which is designed to give everyone a good time.
For food and drink, they are home to The Scruffy Squirrel that has a 5/5 rating for hygiene and which offers generous helpings of food for great prices. Just don’t order the squirrel. Their shop, which is open until 6PM each day, has everything that a student needs, from stationery, to clothes, to toiletries and snacks.
East Anglia University
With a student satisfaction of 84 percent, East Anglia’s Student Union works with popular local live music venue The Waterfront to put on a wealth of gigs to a crowd of over 1,000 people. The SU also hosts their own music nights, with the pick of this years’ talent being nationally renowned DJ, Zane Lowe.
The biggest draw, perhaps, for East Anglia’s Student Union is their Union Enterprise, which seeks to help develop your entrepreneurial skills, giving you a platform from which you can put into practice things such as budgeting, organising teams, negotiating deals, and solving problems. Its aim is to assist your degree and enhance your student experience by making you more employable. By taking part, you will be maturing not just as a student, but as an individual, operating in scenarios that will build your character.
Conclusion
So there you have it. We have saved you. We’ve saved those of you are are the life and soul of a party from choosing to study at a high-ranking University, only to find out that it’s in the middle of nowhere with a terrible Student Union that provides zero entertainment apart from a seventies disco on a Friday night hosted by a tone deaf DJ with an unhealthy obsession with the Bee Gees. Such experiences can ruin your student experience, and choosing to go to a University with a poor Student Union can ruin what is supposed to be the greatest time of your life. It is important to consider what a University’s Student Union can offer you. If they have societies and clubs that are right for you, it should help you to make a more informed decision regarding which part of the country you will be spending the next 3 or more years in. Good luck.
Photo courtesy of Teesside University Students’ Union Events