The students’ union is at the heart of your university experience. From societies, sports and clubs to cheap food, drinks and nights out, the students’ union is your foundation for making new friends and memories.<\/p>\n
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What makes a good students’ union? By researching different important features — including the number of clubs and societies, the cost of food and drinks, and representation of international students and of academic interests — we've ranked the top ones for you! <\/p>\n
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It’s official: Sheffield has the best student union in the UK and Ireland<\/b><\/h2>\n <\/h2>\n
It’s clear why Sheffield Students’ Union<\/a><\/a> is often heralded as the UK’s top student’s union. The University of Sheffield offers students over 350 clubs and societies<\/a><\/a>, more than any other SU. As a result has the highest student satisfaction rate for the variety of activities provided, at 87%<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This includes a broad offering of student union societies and support for international students. Sheffield<\/a><\/a> has one of the highest percentages of international students, at 32<\/a>%<\/a>. This includes 5,874 Chinese students, accounting for around 20% of the whole student population of the university.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notably, National Student Survey<\/a> results<\/a> show 69% of Sheffield students feel their student's union properly represents their academic interests. Sheffield students benefit from feeling supported through their studies and beyond to excel in post-graduate life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While Sheffield Student Union has the best total score, other university students’ unions stand out in their categories.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When it comes to student satisfaction with the variety of activities offered, it turns out quantity isn’t everything: our top student unions for societies and activities have anything between 100 and 350 individual groups: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n #1) <\/b>Sheffield<\/b><\/a><\/a> Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 350+ student union societies<\/p>\n 87% student satisfaction score<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #2) Dundee University Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 250+ student union societies<\/p>\n 85% student satisfaction score<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #3) The University of <\/b>Birmingham<\/b><\/a><\/a> Guild<\/b><\/p>\n 250+ student union societies<\/p>\n 83% student satisfaction score<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #4) <\/b>Loughborough<\/b><\/a><\/a> Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 100+ student union societies<\/p>\n 83% student satisfaction score<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not only is Loughborough one of the top universities for societies overall, but it's also the UK's best university for sports, including sports clubs. Loughborough University offers 55 sports clubs<\/a><\/a>, including football, rugby and rowing to cheerleading, trampolining and windsurfing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #5) <\/b>Leeds<\/b><\/a><\/a> University Union<\/b><\/p>\n 300+ student union societies<\/p>\n 82% student satisfaction score<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For those with niche interests, certain SUs stand out for having quirkier societies. In no particular order — as all these socs are uniquely weird and wonderful — here are some of the strangest university societies:<\/p>\n The University of Oxford<\/a> Quidditch Club<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n <\/p>\n As the central hub of your social calendar for the next three years, it’s important that your student union is affordable! Luckily, in the UK and Ireland's most affordable student unions, a meal and a pint can cost as little as £5 or less!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #1) Dundee University Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n Meal: £1.80<\/p>\n Pint of beer: £2.50<\/p>\n Total: £4.30<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #2) <\/b>Northumbria<\/b><\/a><\/a> University Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n Meal: £2.10<\/p>\n Pint of beer: £3.00<\/p>\n Total: £5.10<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #3) <\/b>Loughborough<\/b><\/a><\/a> <\/b> Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n Meal: £2.90<\/p>\n Pint of beer: £3.08<\/p>\n Total: £5.98<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #4) Nottingham Trent Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n Meal: £3.25<\/p>\n Pint of beer: £2.80<\/p>\n Total: £6.05<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #5) <\/b>Glasgow<\/b><\/a><\/a> University Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n Meal: £2.65<\/p>\n Pint of beer: £3.65<\/p>\n Total: £6.30<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Student Unions represent and support students of the university from all backgrounds, including international students. Our top cosmopolitan student unions are:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #1) The University of St Andrews<\/b><\/p>\n 39% of students are from overseas<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #2) The University of Sheffield<\/b><\/p>\n 32% of students are from overseas<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #3) The University of Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n 32% of students are from overseas<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #4) The University of Liverpool<\/b><\/p>\n 26% of students are from overseas<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #5) University College <\/b>Dublin<\/b><\/a><\/a> <\/b><\/p>\n 25% of students are from overseas<\/p>\n UCD is the most cosmopolitan university in Ireland!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finally, it should go without saying that a good SU is there to academically support you throughout your studies through student services, job fairs, work experience opportunities and representing members’ voices as a community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The National Student Survey<\/a> results<\/a> show students feel their academic interests are best represented at these top student unions in the UK and Ireland:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #1) The University of St Andrews Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 69% of students feel academically represented<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #2) Sheffield Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 69% of students feel academically represented<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #3) The <\/b>Bath<\/b><\/a><\/a> Students’ Union <\/b><\/p>\n 64% of students feel academically represented<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #4) Bangor University Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 63% of students feel academically represented<\/p>\n <\/p>\n #5) Loughborough Students’ Union<\/b><\/p>\n 63% of students feel academically represented<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now you’ve fallen in love with your new student union, it’s time to find the perfect accommodation! Fresh student lettings across the UK and Ireland offer a comfortable and convenient home for you during your studies. Visit our website to find the best student accommodation<\/a><\/a> options in your city. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Method<\/b><\/p>\n Student Union scores are calculated by adding:<\/p>\n The students’ union is at the heart of your university experience. From societies, sports and clubs to cheap food, drinks and nights out, the students’ union is your foundation for making new friends and memories. What makes a good students’ union? By researching different important features — including the number of clubs and societies, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":3304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-living"],"metadata":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":["The Best Students\u2019 Unions UK & Ireland | Fresh"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["What makes a great students\u2019 union? We research different important SU features to discover the best students\u2019 unions in the UK and Ireland."],"_yoast_wpseo_metakeywords":["student union uk best student union uk top student unions in uk student union in uk\u00a0 top student unions uk student union societies"],"_thumbnail_id":["3304"],"_wp_old_date":["2022-07-03"]},"yoast_head":"\nOther top Student Unions in the UK and Ireland<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Best Students’ Union for Societies and Activities<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n
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What about the weirdest societies?<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Best Student Union for Affordability<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n
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Most Cosmopolitan Student Union<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n
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Best Student Union for Representing Students’ Academic Interests<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n
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Complete your uni experience with top student accommodation<\/b><\/h2>\n
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