We want to create a fair that's accessible to every student, which is why we've taken some extra steps to ensure everyone can join us!
Well…it’s us! We’re your Union of Students, and there are so many ways we can help you throughout your time here!
A huge part of the student lifestyle is finding friends that you’ll keep for life. We want to help you find your tribe, so we thought we’d share a few tips on the best ways to make friends whilst you’re here.
We’re so glad you’re here! Welcome to the University of Derby – your new home for the next few years.
On Wednesday the 4th June we held a Live Q&A session in response to the concerns raised in regards to the University's recent changes to the bus provision. As a Union it's our duty to support and empower student voice. Many of you had raised important questions and shared your frustrations, and we wanted to ensure that students had the opportunity to be heard and to offer an opportunity for you to understand the reasoning behind why those decisions were made.
We’ve seen and heard your concerns around the recent changes to the University’s bus provision. Many of you have raised important questions and shared your frustrations, and we want to ensure you have the opportunity to be heard and to understand the reasoning behind these decisions.
Following recent events and political changes in America, we wanted to assure our students that our core values remain the same, and we are committed to our zero tolerance policy.
When moving away from home for the first time you might be taking on more responsibility for picking and preparing your food that you’ve had previously. So, how can you help and do your bit to avoid food waste, and save yourself from wasting money at the same time? We’ve put together some simple tips and tricks to help.
Student voice means students get a say in the conversation about their own education and campus life. Whether it's course content, campus facilities, or student wellbeing initiatives, your feedback is essential in influencing the changes that matter most and ensuring students' needs are considered in every decision.
The first Online Student Forum of the 24-25 academic year was hosted by the Union of Students and the University of Derby Online Learning team on Monday 4th November. There was a lot of discussion around learning and teaching and opportunities and careers and these points have been summarised below.
Our Snap Elections are now finished and we would like to thank all of the students who ran for positions, it has been great to see your hard work in campaigning and all of your determination.
Have you got a question for the Dean or Deputy Dean of your college?
Hi everyone, I’m the Vice President (Welfare) here at the Union of Students, here to tell you about a project I’ve been working on with the University.
We are looking for two trustees to join our friendly and ambitious board.
The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual survey conducted in the UK that gathers opinions from final-year undergraduate students about their experiences at university.
Could you be the designer of our next Freshers welcome bag?
The Education Awards are all about celebrating the academic successes and achievements of our students and staff from the past academic year.
Last night was the 2024 Community Awards where we celebrated the successes and achievements of the year. Here's a list of all of the winners!
Wondering what's going on and why Elections are back so soon? This handy article will explain all things By-Elections!
The Union of Students will be holding an All Student Meeting on Wednesday 15th May from 2.00pm - 3:30pm and all students are invited to hear about and question the Union’s performance in the last academic year from its Trustee Board, plus propose new policies and vote on changes to the Union's Standing Orders.
Are you interested in sustainability? Would you like to gain skills that'll boost your CV? Well we've got just the opportunity for you! Apply now to be a Responsible Futures Student Auditor.
Voting for our annual referendum on the Union of Student’s affiliation with NUS UK closed this morning at 10.00am.
Brought to you by Advice, Destresstival week takes place on the week commencing 22nd April and is an opportunity for you to destress before the exam/assessment period.
The results were formally announced at the Election Results Night event on Wednesday 13th March in the...
As it’s the Union Elections season, candidates are stepping up to the plate, ready to vie for your vote and make their mark on campus. The Hustings, a pivotal event in the electoral process, serves as a platform for candidates to present their visions, answer pressing questions, and engage directly with the student body. Officer trustee candidates (President and the VPs) were posed with two questions each, whereas student officers received only one question each during the Hustings.
In order to help students who may be struggling, we've set up a Community Pantry to help support those in need.
The Scrutiny Panel is a meeting held by the Union of Students four times a year where your elected full time Executive Officers give updates on their progress within their roles and towards their personal statement aims to a panel made up of students with elected roles within the Union.
The University's Sports Therapy students and academic staff have re-opened their Sports Injury Clinic for semester two!
We recently had a photoshoot with our 2024 Varsity captains and caught up with them about their preparation for Varsity and what being this year's captain means to them. Keep an eye on our socials (@derbyunion on everything!) to see the snaps and also some extra behind the scenes videos.
As the nights get lighter and the weather gets warmer, you can treat yourself to a Spring time pick me up with Blends Spring Specials.
Your Union President, Dominic White, is holding an Elections drop in session to answer questions about the elections and offer some tips on writing personal statements.
We will soon be holding our annual referendum on our affiliation to NUS UK, which is written into our Standing Orders to occur each year during the elections period. We are looking for a campaign lead for both sides of the debate, as well as members of the campaign teams.
Every year we celebrate the success and achievements within the Union with three awards ceremonies – the Community Awards, the Sports Awards and the Education Awards.
Why not kickstart the new year with a new hobby? Did you know the Union has over 80 different clubs that you can join; from musical theatre to motorsport, eSports to equestrian, there’s something for everyone to get involved with!
Here's everything you need to know about our upcoming Extraordinary Scrutiny Panel on Thursday 25th January from 11:00am – 12:00pm.
Whilst Christmas is a time for celebrations, it can also be a tough time of the year for many people. Here are a few tips on how to combat loneliness at Christmas.
On Tuesday 28th November the Union held its first All Student Meeting, where a series of changes to the Union of Students were voted on by over 50 students.
Disability History Month is being celebrated from November 16th – December 16th 2023, and it’s something that everyone can get involved with. This year, the focus of DHM is “the Experience of Disablement amongst children and young people in the past, now and what is needed for the future.”.
It can be tricky finding where you belong when you’re thrown into a new setting like university; it’s the start of a lot of new beginnings and it can take a while to find your feet. A huge part of university life is getting involved in extracurricular activities, whether it’s trying a new sport, joining a society or getting involved in student elections.
In January, nominations open for the main elections where the student body will vote to elect the next group of Executive Officers, which includes Union President, Vice President (Welfare), Vice President (Education) and Vice President (Activities). This is an opportunity to have your say and decide who represents you.
If you don’t, fear not. Recycling in Derby is super simple.
We are deeply saddened by the devastating events and violence that is currently unfolding in the Middle East.
To frappe or not to frappe? That is the question.
Team Derby are delighted to announce that their Just Play social sport programme will restart w/c Monday 25th September.
So you're getting a free Freshers wristband, here's how to make the most of it!
We exist to represent you, provide you with lots of fun and exciting opportunities, and to make sure you have the best possible experience whilst studying at the University of Derby.
Many students are facing the challenge of a marking boycott.
Over the last two months, we have been busy celebrating student success.
The University is looking to offer additional financial support to International and European Union students.
We are currently going through a referendum for our affiliation with NUS UK
Inclusive Sports Fortnight has seen lots of student and staff taking part in para and inclusive sport, which for many is the first time!
Please be considerate of exam areas to avoid disturbing exams.
The menu features delicious basics, warming comfort food and moorish snack foods that you can eat with one hand - for when you're typing like mad to meet a deadline!
These workshops will look great on your CV!
We are looking for students to share their experiences, insight, and thoughts around equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education.
Reflecting on a successful competition season.
Inclusive Sport Fortnight is part of my Yes You Can campaign which aims to increase accessibility in sport and diversifying the offer.
Today we welcomed new and returning students at the Refreshers Fair.
Did you miss our elections event yesterday? Here's what you missed!
In response to the cost of living crisis, the University and College Union (UCU) have announced its plans to carry out a national strike for all academic staff on 24th, 25th and 30th of November.
The RAG committee are happy to announce that from week one Freshers we’ve been able to raise £397 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We're here to support you to make the most of your first few weeks (and beyond!) on campus and can't wait to meet you!
We join the nation and the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.
Honorary Life Membership to the Union of Students is awarded to only four final year students each year who have really gone above and beyond.
Keeping everybody safe whilst at University.
Whether you’re a candidate or a voter, the elections are a great opportunity to get involved with the Union and have your say.
The campaigning has stopped, the votes have been cast, the virtual confetti canons have been… cannoned… and just like that - it’s all over for another year. The Union Elections 2021 was a spectacular display of committed candidates, fantastic and creative online campaigns and we can’t quite believe it’s all over.
Our voting system uses a Single Transferable Vote, which is a great way to make your vote count. In short, it means you can rank the list of candidates based on your order of election preference.
Our latest weekly update aims to share with you the latest work of the Officer team to advocate for change and improvements to the student experience during this challenging period.
Our latest weekly update aims to share with you the latest work of the Officer team to advocate for change and improvements to the student experience during this current lockdown.
We hope the Government guidance gave a hope that there is in fact a way out of this lockdown and that soon, we may be able to return to some sense of normality, see loved ones, and begin the roadmap out of lockdown.
Welcome to this week’s instalment of keeping you as up to date as possible with all the great work we have going on over at the Union. We would like to thank everyone for continuing to observe the government guidance to keep yourselves, those around you and the wider University community as safe as possible. If you need any advice or are experiencing significant hardship at this time, our advice service remains ready to help in any way they can.
I am pleased to say that we have been able to make significant progress against some of the core areas that were outlined to us as student concerns. We have maintained our commitment to work collaboratively with the University and keep student voice at the heart of the conversation, at all levels across the institution.
We have been working collaboratively at all levels of the University to advocate your voice and the challenges that students are facing during these difficult times
In light of the latest lockdown, the Union are working very closely with the University to work through some of the key areas of student concern. Please find below an outline of our conversations with the University to date, and the progress we hope to make in the coming weeks
16 students took part in a Fish ‘n’ Picks event in collaboration with Down To Earth Derby.
Be part of the change you want to see!
Have an interest in Sports or Societies?
Need some social media/marketing work experience?
... Check this out!
Each year, the Union awards Honorary Life Membership to students who have gone the extra mile during their time at the University of Derby.
Congratulations to everyone that has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership!
As preparations begin for September Freshers 25/26, the Union of Students has decided to hold a little competition. As part of Freshers' Fair, every new student will receive a welcome bag on behalf of the Union, featuring the Union of Students logo. This year we are giving you, our students, a chance to design the logo to go on our bags!
The University is reviewing its policy on staff/student relationships in line with regulatory requirements from the Office for Students.
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The results were formally announced at the Election Results event on Friday 4th April in the...
The University are looking for feedback from students so they can evaluate the effectiveness of the financial support they offer and understand more about of the financial wellbeing of students.
Did you know the Union is here to support you every step of the way? One of the key ways we do this is through the Student Rep Scheme.
In the 2024 National Student Survey students were shown to be spending an average of £86 per month on their energy bills, and for many students this may be the first time that they’re having to budget for this cost, and with the added cost of living crisis things can be even harder for some.
We have a host of fun sports competitions FREE for all students living in halls of residence. So far we’ve enjoyed lots of success in table tennis, football and pool, with Nunnery, St Chris and Peak Court being victorious.
The first College Forum of the 24-25 academic year was hosted by the Union of Students and the University of Derby college Deans and Deputy Deans on Thursday 24th October. There was a lot of discussion around course resources, and placements & work experience and these points have been summarised below.
Throughout the year we (the Sport & Physical Activity team) offer a variety of social sport activities and events. This includes weekly social sports, a Friday night football league, Santa Run and halls sports competitions. Our activities are about forming friendships and having fun!
Want to know more about what our Snap Election is all about? Then this is the place for you!
We caught up with our new CEO Emma Taylor-Large to find out more about her vision for the future of the Union.
We are deeply saddened and distressed by the recent terror marches and racist acts of violence happening across the country.
The Sports Awards are all about celebrating the successes and achievements of sporting community from the past academic year. Last night was a wonderful night of celebration as the sporting community came together to support one another. A big congratulations to all of the nominees and winners, we hope you had a blast!
The votes have been cast, and you've chosen your new Officers for the 2024/25 term! The 2024 Union By-Elections displayed all of the amazing creativity and determination of the candidates; it was great to see so many passionate students campaigning for changes to improve the student experience.
As per our Standing Orders we are holding our annual referendum on the University of Derby Union of Student's affiliation to the NUS UK.
Excitement is building as we confirm the lineup for the Spring Term with thrilling netball, table tennis, football, and pool competitions already confirmed.
The Snap Elections happen just after Freshers every year (when needed) to fill any vacant positions after Main Elections and By-Elections.
Are you aware of the wellbeing services available to you?
Many of you will have heard about the emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and the impact that this may your academic experience.
You have probably heard people using the word “neurodivergent” before or calling themselves “neurodivergent”, but what is it and what it’s like being neurodivergent?
Find out what we have planned between 13th-17th March for Go Green Week!
Being an Officer Trustee is not an easy job, but it is exciting for sure.
Take a trip to the LoveSHaC (Love Sexual Health and Consent).
Who do you think has gone above and beyond this year and deserves Honorary Life Membership