When it comes to student life, there’s something for everyone in the UK. Whether you want to make friends with students from all over the world or join a club – ranging from drama to cricket to Italian – being a student in the UK is never dull. International students make up 10 – 30% of the full-time student body, joining a community of ethnic, religious and socio-economic diversity.

In 2008-2009, more than 400,000 international students were enrolled in UK universities (HESA April ’10).

Student Unions

A great way to learn about student life in the UK is to check out a university’s student union. Student unions are the heart of student life in the UK: run by students for students, independent of the university. They represent your views on subjects that range from issues on the university level to topics on the local and national level.

In fact, many student unions are highly politicized bodies, and often serve as a training ground for students who want to have a future in politics. The perfect place to make your voice heard, student unions are forums for vigorous campaigning and debate and active student media. Student unions are also responsible for providing a variety of services to students, from organizing social activities to managing student-run enterprises. Most student unions are affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS), a confederation that represents student interests throughout the UK.

An example of a student union leader who went on to a highly successful political career is Jack Straw, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and Secretary of State for Justice. Acting as the president of NUS in 1969-1971, Straw’s political career began in the realms of the student union.

Examples of student unions:

Aberystwyth University
Anglia Ruskin University
University of the Arts London
The Arts University College at Bournemouth
Aston University
Birkbeck, University of London
Birmingham City University
University of Birmingham
The University of Buckingham
Canterbury Christ Church University
Cardiff University
Central School of Speech and Drama
University of Chester
City and Islington College
City University
University for the Creative Arts
University of Cumbria
University of Dundee
Durham University
University of East Anglia
University of East London
Edge Hill University
Edinburgh Napier University
University of Essex
University of Exeter
University College Falmouth
University of Glamorgan
Glasgow Caledonian University
The Glasgow School of Art
University of Glasgow
University of Gloucestershire
Goldsmiths, University of London
University of Greenwich (London)
University of Hertfordshire
Institute of Education, University of London
Keele University
University of Kent
King’s College London
Kingston University
Lancaster University
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
Liverpool John Moores University
The University of Liverpool
London Metropolitan University
London South Bank University
Manchester Metropolitan University
The University of Manchester
Middlesex University
Newcastle University
The University of Northampton
Northumbria University
Nottingham Trent University
The University of Nottingham
Oxford Brookes University
University of Plymouth
University of Portsmouth
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen’s University Belfast
The University of Reading
Roehampton University
Royal Holloway University of London
St Mary’s University College
School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London
The University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
Staffordshire University
University of Stirling
University of Strathclyde
University of Sunderland
University of Sussex
Swansea University
Thames Valley University
Trinity College Carmarthen
University of Wales, Newport
University of Warwick
University of Westminster
Writtle College
York St John University

Student Organizations and Freshers Week

One of the main features of the student union is its student organizations. During “Freshers Week,” the period immediately before the beginning of a new academic year, new students have a chance to meet representatives of their student union and make new friends. Also, Freshers Week is the best time to become familiar with the university and surrounding areas and to sort out administration tasks such as opening a student bank account before you start classes. At the Freshers' Fair, student organizations will introduce the available societies, clubs and sports.

Make the most of all the information on offer, find a club that caters to previous interests or try something completely different – it’s up to you!

Examples of groups typically represented in Student Unions:

• Ethnic affiliated groups
  University of Manchester’s Bangladesh Students’ Society

• Religious affiliated groups
  University of Kent’s Islamic Society
  University of Ulster’s Christian Union

• LGBT groups
  University of Nottingham
  Queen’s University Belfast

• Special interest
  King’s College London’s Musical Theater Society
  University of Southampton’s Yoga Society
  Cardiff University’s Harry Potter Society

• Sports teams
  Lancaster University’s Swimming and Waterpolo Team
  University of East Anglia’s Wakeboarding and Waterski Club

• Political groups
  University of Essex Liberal Democrats
  University of Bath Labor Party

For more information

Database of student union profiles, fully searchable by institution, course and halls
Website for the National Union for Students
Database of information on student life in the UK
Portal for information on higher education through the Times