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- In the United Kingdom, students' unions are organisations that exist at universities to represent the interests of students. Although most are known as Students' Unions other common terms include Guilds of Students and Students' Associations, the latter being the more common term in Scotland. Student unions facilitate student societies, such as sports clubs and student newspapers, as well as representing students politically to their respective universities and at a national level. However, it is possible for individual students not to be a member of their union. The majority of unions are affiliated with the National Union of Students, although a minority are not and unions can disaffiliate from the NUS. There are several other representative bodies of which unions may be members such as the Aldwych Group, for unions of Russell Group institutions, and the National Postgraduate Committee, which represents postgraduate students. In Northern Ireland, all unions are members of the National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland. Students' unions tend to be run by a team of student-elected sabbatical officers. Funding for the unions comes from a "block grant" from the university and the provision of services to members through the running of shops and bars. Students' unions are regulated under the Education Act 1994, an Act of Parliament which states that student unions must be run in a democratic manner. Edinburgh University Students' Association is the oldest students' union in the United Kingdom and Liverpool Guild of Students is England's oldest students' union. The University of Glasgow is unique in having two independent students' unions, although undergraduates usually only join one of these (but can choose to join both). Some Common Rooms at collegiate universities also have the status of students' unions under the 1994 Education Act and exist as independent charities. (en)
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