Students' Union
Become a course rep and get your voice heard
About the Students' Union
Your SU is at the heart of student life.
It’s an independent, student-led organisation that represents your needs, protects your rights and, when it comes to making important decisions that affect you, makes sure your voice is heard. As a University of Nottingham student, you’re already a valued and celebrated member of the SU.
From its home in the Portland Building, the SU works hard to make sure your university experience is the best it can be. From the day you arrive to the day you graduate, they’re here to make sure that you can experience a huge range of social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities, make changes by standing up for what you believe in and find support when you need a helping hand.
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Societies – get involved, have fun
You can join any of the SU’s diverse and vibrant societies. With over 200 societies and over 70 sports clubs along with other student-run groups and services, you can pursue your current passion or hobby, find a society or organisation specific to your degree, or try something completely new. You might even want to start your own society or adopt one that interests you.
Join a society or sports club during Welcome Week by attending the Welcome Fair or join them online using the SU website.
Life Sciences Societies
We have many societies dedicated to supporting and putting on a range of events specifically for life sciences students. Join them or find out more about each one below:
Why not browse what else is on offer and decide what you may want to join? Societies often have a small charge to join them, but you may find some that are free. If you can’t find your subject society or would like to start a new one speak to a member of staff at the Students Union on more information on how to do this.
Browse societies
Become a course rep and get your voice heard
Become a Students’ Union (SU) course rep
Course reps are a vital part of the student voice, and if you have been involved in School Council or want to help inspire changes to your degree – being a rep could be for you. Your experience matters and we take student voice into account when making changes that impact you and your peers. Your role would be to gather feedback from your peers, sitting in and contributing to key meetings and by lobbying, campaigning or advocating for positive change, you can make a real difference to the academic experience of those on your course. Changes to first year will have been made using information given to us by previous course reps and we are always championing changes inspired by our students in Student Staff Forum meetings.
Find out more
You can also email here.
Case study
Read about this students’ experience of being a course rep and the skills they have gained.
Being a course representative and championing the student voice has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey – even more satisfying than finally mastering the art of pipetting! This role has boosted my confidence, made my CV shine and enhanced my reputation among peers and academics, leading to incredible opportunities and friendships. I have seen firsthand how our voices can shape the future of our degrees, from simple Moodle changes to larger discussions about lecture accessibility and assessments.
Coming from a low socio-economic background, my dedication to this role over the last three years has fuelled my passion for improving the student experience for those from similarly disadvantaged backgrounds. I wholeheartedly recommend this role to anyone who wants to make a real difference and create lasting impacts; plus, you will become an expert at navigating university life – and that’s a skill you cannot learn in a textbook!
Joining networks
Networks are separate to societies and aim to help students with specific needs or characteristics and provide a safe space to discuss issues, network with others and attend events aimed at supporting you. It is an excellent way to get involved with campaigning for change and improving student experience.
See the networks available to join