Undergraduate prospectus

Student life: students' union

Essex has one of the most active and well-developed Students’ Unions in the country, dedicated to representing the interests of its student members.

Our mission

The Students’ Union aim is to make the student experience at Essex the best it could possibly be. To do this, the Union offers a wide range of services, ranging from academic support and representation to a diverse entertainment programme, a security minibus service, a fortnightly student newspaper, a radio station, and volunteer opportunities in the local community.

Your Union

As a registered student, you will automatically become a member of the Students’ Union (SU) and be able to take advantage of all the services and facilities available. You will also be able to take part in the democratic structure of the Union by running for elections to the Union Council and the Executive Committee.

Representation

It is the fundamental aim of the SU to provide effective representation for students within the University. The SU is a fully democratic organisation, with over 100 student representatives on various Union committees, headed by an elected Student Executive of twelve members. These committees are composed entirely of students and aim to ensure that the diverse range of cultures and interests on campus are catered for. It is in these committees that SU policies are discussed, decided and ultimately put into action.

Get involved

As well as making sure that you get the most out of the social and academic experience of university life, the SU also provides you with lots of opportunities to develop transferable skills. You can vote or stand for elections, join one of the many societies, become part of the Sports Federation, volunteer in the Advice Centre, get involved with the student media, or help in the local community through the V-Team programme.

Societies

The SU supports more than 165 clubs and societies covering social, political, religious, cultural and academic interests. Societies are a great way to meet people, as well as get involved in the SU. Freshers’ Fair, at the end of Freshers’ Week, is the best time to meet the various societies and sign up yourself.

Sports Federation

The Sports Federation aims to give all students the chance to participate in sports. Funding over 40 sports clubs, it provides the opportunity to compete at both local and national level, as well as the chance to try out new sports for the first time. The Sports Federation at Essex is a member of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and was named the ‘Most Improved University of the Year’ at the 2008 national British Universities Sports Association awards.

The SU website provides further information on what each club or society does and gives you the opportunity to join any of them online.

Entertainment

The SU co-ordinates a full and varied programme of events across several different venues. As one of the main entertainment hot-spots in the region, the SU regularly plays host to the hottest live acts, big name DJs like Trevor Nelson, Erol Alkan, Chris Moyles, Paul Oakenfold and Zane Lowe, award-winning comedians, and incredible club nights from the likes of Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi and BBC 1Xtra.

The highlight of the year is the SU Summer Ball. This black-tie event attracts 3,000 people and has featured headline performances from The Wombats, Wiley, Sugababes and Editors in recent years.

There is plenty to do on the Colchester Campus as there are a range of venues to suit every taste.

• Sub Zero: Officially recognised as the ‘Best Student Venue in the UK’ in the high profile BEDA* awards, Sub Zero is the SU’s new £1.2 million entertainment venue and home to all the biggest nights out on campus. Boasting a capacity of 1,200, Sub Zero represents the next generation of entertainment venues, matching cutting-edge design with the very highest specification of lighting and sound.
• Students’ Union Bar: The SU Bar is the largest bar on campus and is, unsurprisingly, hugely popular. Comfy sofas, affordable drinks, regular quizzes and karaoke, and a lively atmosphere make it a great meeting place for everyone. It’s also the place to go to watch live sport on a big screen.
• Level 2: As a venue, Level 2 oozes class, with wooden floors, leather seating and a stylish bar area creating an intimate atmosphere. By night Level 2 comes to life, showcasing a diverse range of club nights and live performances.
• Mondo: At Mondo you can enjoy a mouth-watering range of delicious pizzas, pastas, salads and Mediterranean dishes all freshly made on the premises, without having to leave campus. By night Mondo is transformed into a chic bar playing an eclectic mix of music from jazz and salsa to funky house and drum ‘n’ bass.

*British Entertainment and Discotheque Association.

Shops and services

The 24-hour Campus Shop is the largest shop on campus and sells a wide variety of fresh groceries, ready meals, sandwiches, newspapers and magazines, while the Union Shop sells snack food, stationery and University merchandise. Go Go Global is the first international food store on campus, stocked with the best food and drink from around the world. The SU Bakery is the campus’ newest retail outlet, serving up freshly-baked breakfasts, lunches and post-club snacks.

As the Students’ Union is a not-for-profit organisation, every penny you spend in the shops, bars and venues goes straight back into providing better services for you.

Welfare services

The SU is particularly proud of its welfare services. The Advice Centre is run by permanent staff together with fully-trained student volunteers and provides assistance with a wide range of academic and personal matters, including accommodation, immigration and visa renewal, loans and financial issues. It also provides a confidential service for any students who feel they need someone to talk to. The SU also provides a security minibus service which enables students to get to and from the Colchester Campus in the evenings.

Volunteering

The SU operates a number of different volunteer programmes designed to give students the chance to learn new skills as well as have fun. A large, student-led media department gives you the chance to get involved in almost every aspect of the media industry, from writing for the fortnightly student newspaper The Rabbit, to working on programmes for the SU radio station RED, or the award-winning TV station SX:TV. Full training and support is provided so you do not need experience, just plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

The V-Team volunteering programme provides opportunities for students to make a difference in the local community. Past projects have included building websites for charities, conservation work and sports coaching. The SU also runs successful fundraising events throughout the year as part of its Raise and Give (RAG) campaign.

Get online

The SU website is the main reference point for exploring all of the exciting services and facilities on offer. On the website you’ll find all of the latest SU news, details of forthcoming events, photos from recent nights out, and online discussion forums where you can chat with other students and make new friends. You can also find out more about the officers that have been elected to represent students on the Executive Committee, read their weekly blogs, and get in touch directly to ask them any questions you may have.

The SU now runs all of its elections via the website, offering students the opportunity to view candidates’ manifestos and cast their vote from the convenience of their own PC. The SU also operates an electronic ticketing system for events whereby tickets can be purchased in advance on the website and students gain entry to the venues by simply swiping their registration card.

At the Southend Campus

The SU is proud to introduce The Union, a dedicated social space for students at the Southend Campus. The Union is the gateway to all of the services and activities run by the SU, including representation, advice, entertainment, and clubs and societies. It’s also the best place in Southend to grab a coffee and muffin, watch Sky TV on the big screens, or have a game of pool. You can find The Union on Elmer Approach, adjacent to the main entrance to The Gateway Building.

All the facilities and services at the Colchester Campus are open to students studying in Southend.