Queen Margaret University Students’ Union is holding a referendum on membership of National Union of Students Scotland.
The question students will be asked to vote on is “Should Queen Margaret University Students’ Union disaffiliate from the National Union of Students?”.
We are asking QMU students to vote to remain part of NUS Scotland. Only by staying together can we work to improve the lives of students at QMU Students’ Union, and across Scotland.
How can I help?
With a required turn-out of only 250 students, 126 votes could take QMU Students’ Union out of NUS Scotland – less than 2% of students could stop your union being part of the national voice for students in Scotland. Being a voter really matters – and every single vote really, really counts.
So, how can you help?
- BE A VOTER! Voting will take place in the University main entrance by the LRC on: Tuesday 12 March, 9:00am-5:00pm; Wednesday 13 March, 9:00am-2:00pm, and Thursday 14 March, 11:00am-3:00pm
- Speak to as many of your friends and class-mates at QMU and let them know why they should vote ‘No’, to remain in NUS Scotland. Or send them a message telling them why it’s so important that they too are a voter.
- Tell folk on your social media why you’re voting to remain in NUS Scotland. If you’re on Twitter, use the hashtag #QMURemain
- Download and share our leaflet
What has NUS Scotland done for QMU students?
Ensuring your voice is heard in parliament
We ensure students are represented at the Scottish Parliament at Westminster – NUS ensured the QMU President had the opportunity to quiz Scottish Government Minister’s at this year’s Presidents’ Roundtable.
Scrapping graduation fees
NUS Scotland research found that students across the country are out-of-pocket because of graduation charges. At Queen Margaret University, students are charged £45 for graduation, with £42 charged for mandatory robe-hire.
This year alone we’ve supported students’ associations at Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Stirling and Robert Gordon to scrap graduation charges at their universities. We’d love QMU to be next. Read our open letter to all Principals, calling for all institutions to ensure it’s ‘Free to Graduate’ for Scotland’s students.
Better cost-of-living support for QMU students
Following NUS Scotland’s ‘Budget for Better’ campaign, the Scottish Government committed to investing an additional £21 million in student support, which will benefit QMU students giving them more money in their pocket.
More higher education students now receive increased bursary support. The care experienced bursary is now up to £8,100. And from 2021, QMU graduates won't have to pay back student loans until they're earning £25,000 and over – up from £18,330 right now!
More support for student-nurses’ study costs
NUS Scotland, through its place on the review group, supported the Royal College of Nursing to lobby the government to increase the Scottish nursing and midwifery bursary to £10,000 from 2020/21.
Better mental health support on your campus
Because of NUS Scotland lobbying efforts, QMU students will benefit from new counselling provision as part of a £20 million Scottish Government investment.
Following NUS Scotland campaigning, last autumn the Scottish Government announced a £20 million investment to recruit 80 new counsellors at universities and colleges over the next four years – including QMU.
We also successfully lobbied for a requirement that all institutions work with their students’ association to put in place a range of mental health support services for students. Read the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education, and Science ‘Letter of Guidance’ from last April, which sets this out.
Winning Liberation campaigns
NUS Scotland’s Liberation campaigns represent Black, Women, LGBT+, Disabled and Trans students on local and national issues. For example:
- We successfully lobbied for free sanitary products at Scotland’s colleges and universities, with a £5.2 million Scottish Government investment aimed at ending period poverty among pupils and students.
- We have campaigned for a fair system of gender recognition for trans and non-binary people - by responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, and support students’ associations to do the same.
- After our Bin the Blood Ban campaign, changes to blood donation rules were implemented which allow men who have sex with men, and other groups, to donate blood within three months of sexual activity - instead of the current 12. We will continue to campaign for a system where donation criteria are based on individual risk, rather than a blanket ban.
- NUS UK has been supporting students’ associations to tackle the Black Attainment Gap and carrying out UK-wide research on the topic, with a view to publishing a report later this year.
- Thanks to NUS Scotland campaigning gender-based violence support cards were rolled out to university staff ahead of this academic year to enable them to better support victims, and as part of the #EmilyTest campaign new government investment was secured to tackle gender-based violence on campus.
And much, much more…
Fighting for students in the face of Brexit
NUS Scotland campaigned for a Remain vote during the EU referendum. While that wasn’t the outcome of the referendum across the UK, we’ve been campaigning to protect student priorities. Read more about our campaigning priorities – including certainty for EU students looking at study in the UK, ensuring international students have the ability to remain in Scotland after their studies, protection of student mobility schemes, a People’s Vote, and much more!
Students, and their students’ unions, working together across Scotland made these changes happen. Make sure QMU students are part of our future success.
#QMURemain: remain in NUS Scotland, vote NO
