Overview:

The Oxford University Student Union is the official students' union of the University of Oxford. It exists to represent Oxford students in University decision-making, to act as the voice of students in the national higher education policy debate, and to provide direct services to the student body.

OUSU is both an association of Oxford's more than 19,000 individual students and a federation of the affiliated JCRs, MCRs and other Constituent Organisations that represent all undergraduate and graduate students at the University's 44 colleges and Permanent Private Halls.

Affiliation:

Individual Common Rooms can disaffiliate; at Exeter, we affiliate to OUSU on an annual basis. Affiliation for the next year will be subject to a simple majority vote at the final General Meeting of Trinity Term.

Finance:

OUSU is financed by common room subscription fees, specific grants from the university and the activities of commercial subsidiary Oxford Student Services Limited (OSSL). Unlike other students' unions, OUSU does not receive a block grant from the university, instead receiving grants for specific projects, activities and positions.

Organisation and Governance:

OUSU is led by a 22-member Executive Committee, which includes 6 full-time salaried sabbatical officers, and 16 part-time Executive Officers, who serve while continuing their studies. Included in these totals, there is one sabbatical and 3 part-time executive positions which must be occupied by graduates.

OUSU Council, which meets every Friday afternoon, acts as the sovereign body of the Student Union, and has over 150 eligible members, specifically: every OUSU Executive Officer; 3 representatives from each affiliated JCR; 2 representatives from each affiliated MCR; and one vote representing each of the 6 OUSU Autonomous Campaigns. If a JCR or MCR has fewer than 100 members, it receives one less council vote. The Chair of Council is elected by the Council itself in each academic term.

At Exeter, the JCR President and OUSU representative attends. We always have one extra space for anyone who would like to go. If you would ever like to attend, email Katy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it