NUS Referendum – Information for Voters
As part of the Student Elections 2025, students will also be invited to vote for whether ENSA should remain part of the National Union of Students (NUS) UK and Scotland.
To help you make an informed decision, this article provides some neutral information about the NUS, and what being a member provides ENSA and all Edinburgh Napier University students.
What is the NUS?
The National Union of Students is a voluntary organisation run by elected representatives. It seeks to represent the views and interests of students nationally whilst carrying out campaigns, releasing petitions and lobbying on behalf of students and member students' unions. It is a confederate association of approximately 400 students' unions.
NUS UK & Scotland are the campaigning organisations that are responsible for championing student issues at a national level. It is ENSA's continuing membership of NUS UK & Scotland that students are voting on in this referendum.
You can see an NUS article on the impact and value of membership here.
NUS Charity provides students' unions with training, services, resources and support. Membership of NUS Charity is not subject to referendum.
Please note that this referendum is for affiliation to NUS UK & Scotland only and does not include NUS Charity.
How much does NUS membership cost ENSA and what does this get ENSA?
To be a member of NUS UK & Scotland, ENSA must pay an annual membership fee. NUS membership fee calculation is based on 3% of the financial contribution from the students' union parent institution (i.e. Edinburgh Napier University) with a maximum cost of £37,500 annually.
For the academic year 2024/25, ENSA paid a total of £10281.66 to NUS UK & Scotland. This cost is subject to rise in the next academic year.
For the annual fee, ENSA's elected Student Co-Presidents have the opportunity to attend and access NUS Conferences (for an additional fee), campaign training (for an additional fee) and lobbying activity. Any representative that we send to the conference also receives a vote on the wider policies of NUS UK & Scotland also.
It is worth noting that NUS membership does not restrict the Student Co-Presidents in accessing other training or engaging in lobbying and representative activities independent of NUS. Currently, ENSA's Co-Presidents regularly engage with alternative training opportunities outside of NUS.
If ENSA votes to remain a member of NUS UK & Scotland, what will happen?
If student's majority vote to remain a member of NUS UK & Scotland, ENSA will remain a member and continue to pay an annual membership fee. For academic year 2025/26, this annual fee is expected to be either £10281.66 or more.
ENSA's elected Student Co-Presidents will continue to engage in lobbying and representative activities on student issues such as housing, transport and student finance both within and out with the NUS. Engagement with NUS training will depend on suitability and budget.
If ENSA votes to leave NUS UK & Scotland, what will happen?
If student's majority vote to leave NUS UK & Scotland, ENSA will cease its membership beginning from the next academic year. ENSA will no longer pay an annual membership fee to NUS. This money will be reallocated within ENSA to other student-facing projects, campaigns and events.
ENSA's elected Student Co-Presidents will continue to engage in lobbying and representative activities on student issues such as housing, transport and student finance outside of the NUS. This includes working with the other students' unions in Edinburgh on issues such as housing and transport and working more widely with other external organisations and stakeholders.
So how do I vote?
The NUS Referendum vote will be run alongside the vote to elect the next Student Presidents. Voting will be done entirely online using your student login and can be done from any device.
Vote online between Monday 10 March and Friday 14 March at www.napierstudents.com/vote