Wednesday 26-02-2025 - 13:48

Every year NUS Charity surveys our members on the funding they receive from their partner institutions as part of the Big SU Survey. This helps members understand the funding within the sector and the accompanying dataset helps members to benchmark. This year we’ve moved the process forward with a February publication to aid members who are entering into funding discussions with their institutions.

This year's survey has so far been responded to by 109 HE members (65%) and 19 FE members (9%). Results across the last two years of surveys have been used to analyse trends.

Key findings from the report include:

• SU funding has increased, but this increase has been below the rate of inflation.
• Within mission groups, the Russell Group and GuildHE are receiving above inflation rises, this is not the case in most Post-92 members and within the Cathedrals group.
• Students’ unions are facing significant uncertainty over funding, reflecting the wider picture in the HE sector. Many are expecting cuts, some of which are significant.
• Cost of living and rises in NI contributions are putting pressure on finances and members are negotiating for these to be recognised.

This year we have also included more data to give members and broader picture on the funding landsape. This includes data from the Charity Commission and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Office for Students and the Higher Ecucation Statistics Agency. We have provided some basic analysis of this data. There is an accompanying dataset which will allow further analysis by members. If you’re interested in any element of this work and want to undertake some data analysis or share good practice please contact membership@nus.org.uk

Download the Big SU Survey: Member Funding 2025 here (.pdf)

Download the SU funding data here (.xlsx)