What is NUS?

The NUS or National Union of Students is so much more than a useful discount card. The NUS exists to represent students to ensure that you are all listened to and supported. Over 600 Student Unions are part of NUS, meaning it’s the largest student organisation in the UK, representing millions of students and providing a national voice.

Some of its successes include the removal of the postgraduate loan cap for those over 30, securing exemption from Council Tax for all full-time students, providing a student rail card.

Durham Students Union is affiliated to the NUS making us a constitute member and able to send delegates to conferences including NUS National Conference and events, gain benefits for you through their commercial section and engage in national campaigns. This means you have access to resources, training and other networking events to ensure the most up to date information in the sector.

As an affiliated member, Durham can take six delegates to the NUS National Conference – one will be your Students' Union President Seun Twins. These delegates can submit a joint policy together on behalf of Durham students, vote on what policies they believe should be worked on by NUS and vote on who should be the next leaders of NUS.

You can find out more about NUS and its services here

What are member Unions entitled to?

Membership means Durham Students’ Union is entitled to the following:

  • National representation and campaigning (including but not limited to; National Conferences, Government Initiatives and HE Research)
  • Providing the opportunity for Students’ unions to engage in national and local policy making.
  • Collective purchasing for students’ unions (students’ unions receive cheaper prices for buying goods to be sold within venues and cafes)
  • Ethical clothing sales
  • NUS Extra discount card (this is not available to those who are not affiliated)
  • Support for elections
  • Training and development for Part-time and full-time officers as well as students’ union staff
  • Crisis consultancy

NUS Conference

This happens annually and is an opportunity for students from all member institutions to discuss and decide national policy and vote on next year’s leaders.

This year’s conference will take place on the week commencing 13 March. The location is yet to be confirmed, but Durham SU will take care of any travel arrangements as well as any costs incurred. 

In 2019, NUS changed the way policy is submitted to Natioanl Conference. Instead of lots of policies being able to be submitted by any delegate, now each affiliated Students' Union  can only submit one policy. This policy is written by the SU Officer Team and considers what is important and relevant to the students' they represent. The elected delgates then have the ability to vote on all the different policies submitted by every affiliated Students' Union. The 8 policies with the most votes are taken forward to be discussed and debated on at National Conference. You can read more on what policy is taken to National Conference and how it is debated here.

If you want to find out more about getting involved with NUS, take a look at our Get Involved section.