Winchester Student Union

We believe that students can be powerful change agents in shaping their academic experience at university, and we greatly encourage you to get involved with our rewarding Education Zone schemes. Through the Education Zone you can also get involved with our environmental and sustainability initiatives.

Student Academic Representatives Scheme (StARs)
Be the voice of your cohort and represent fellow students on your course at Student-Staff Liaison Committees, or be elected as Student Chair. You will receive comprehensive training, a free StARs hoodie and be part of our StARs reward scheme!

Student Fellows Scheme
This scheme pairs you with a member of staff to work on a project to improve the student experience, offering comprehensive training/workshopping and a Student Fellow bursary.

Student-Staff Recognition Awards
An evening hosted by the Union to celebrate exemplary practice from both students and staff.

Student welfare is a priority for the Student Union, and we understand the challenges many students face when going to University. The Student Union runs campaigns throughout the year to promote positive student wellbeing, such as University Mental Health Day, “Let’s Talk About Sex” Week, and Diversity Week.

Student Recharge Days
Our Student Recharge Days encourage you to take a break from studying and focus on your wellbeing. We offer massages, therapy dogs, smoothies and breakfast bars, wellbeing support and tips, and ‘night off’ movie nights – all for free!

Period Poverty/Sexual Health ‘Freebie Bin’
The Union is tackling period poverty on campus and promoting safe sex and student welfare. We offer free sanitary products, condoms, pregnancy tests and personal safety equipment – all available for free to all students as part of our Advice Centre.

Nightline
The Union works with Nightline to provide an out-of-hours listening service run for students, by students. During term-time, Nightline provides confidential listening, support and practical information via phone, text, instant message or email. 
nightline.org.uk

Student Listeners
This is a peer support scheme run for students, by students who have received training in listening and support skills. Speak to our Student Listeners about anything from homesickness, low self-esteem, relationship/housemate difficulties, to course worries and more. Why not become a Student Listener yourself?

Winchester Student Union Advice Centre offers free, independent and impartial support and guidance on a range of issues that may be impacting upon your University experience. We specialise in supporting students through the academic processes of appeals, misconduct or complaints, and the Advice Centre also provides support on issues such as wellbeing, money, and housing. Visit www.winchesterstudents.co.uk/advice to read our toolkits and find out more. 

Our activity groups are open to all, and if you wish to join one or 10, please do! Or if you want to start a new activity group we will support you with setting this up and provide funding. Through the Activities Zone you can also get involved with volunteering, community action and fundraising.

Sports Teams
We have an impressive range of both competitive and non-competitive level sports. With around 54 sports teams available, we pride ourselves in being open to all, whether you want to try something brand new or join the sport you’ve been playing for years. See what teams we have.

Societies
We have over 40 different societies representing a huge variety of interests and areas of life. Societies are student-led groups that are supported by the Union, allowing you to express your passions and become part of a community at University. See what societies we have.

Representational Networks
Representational networks receive additional support from the Union and have an increased focus on advocating equality, diversity and accessibility within specific underrepresented student groups to directly improve the experience of students from the background they represent. See what networks we have.

Winchester Student Union is a not-for-profit charity, which means that all income generated from our Services, across our bars, venue, events, shops and laundrettes, goes 100% back to the Union to fund all our activities and directly improve the student experience.

King Alfred Centre
The Student Union is located in the award-winning King Alfred Centre. The Vault, Terrace Bar and The Lounge are the social hub of the campus, Events take place regularly and include club nights, quizzes, comedy evenings, live music, promotions, multi-venue events and theme nights.

The Vault is the biggest and best venue in the city and was awarded national runner-up at the NUS Best Bar None Scheme 2019. The Vault can play host to a wide variety of events and entertainment and the Terrace Bar is our more relaxed coffee bar offering Costa Coffee. With fantastic indoor and outdoor seating, the Terrace Bar and The Lounge offer a great atmosphere and the perfect place to relax between lectures.

Shops
The Union also runs shops and launderettes on campus. These commercial services provide value for money for students and income to support Union core activity.

Safety Bus
We want to ensure you get home safety after a night out in the Vault, so our free Safety Bus will take you home after the Union’s bigger late night events.

NUS TOTUM Discount Card
Once enrolled, you can apply for your National Union of Students (NUS) card, giving you access to plenty of student discounts. Find out more at www.totum.com

We want to give you the best welcome to Winchester, and will be providing a number of activities, events and welcome sessions to help you to settle into university life. Freshers Week is your chance to meet new people, get involved and find out what your Student Union can do for you. For more information about Freshers and an idea of the programme of activity, please visit our website.

The Student Union website is the only place to book onto official Union events, so be wary of any other sites claiming to provide freshers events.

Freshers Fayre
Our Freshers Fayre is an opportunity for you to discover the many extracurricular and cocurricular activities which are available to you from your Student Union, the University and beyond. It will also be an opportunity to discover some of the local regions, leisure, culture and employment opportunities.