Making Change

Use your voice. Make change happen.

You’ve got ideas. You’ve got opinions. You care about stuff.

Good - we do too.

Whether you want to run a campaign or just rant about the kettle in your kitchen, we’ll help your voice be heard.

Your SU exists to fight your corner - and we make it easy for you to speak up, get involved, and lead change.

Make the uni experience better - for you and everyone else.

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INSIGHTS & FEEDBACK VOTE LIKE A STUDENT SU COUNCIL STUDENT REPS CHANGE HAPPENS

Fancy winning £100? 👀

Your voice matters on a national level too - and it could win you £100!

The Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026 are open, giving you the chance to share what you love most about being part of Essex SU.

Thanks to your feedback, we were proudly ranked Top 10 Students’ Union in the UK for six years running (2017–2023).

It only takes a minute to share your thoughts and you’ll be entered to win £100 just for leaving a review. 💬

LEAVE A REVIEW

£50 up for grabs...

You deserve nights that feel like you; whether that’s dancing till late, chilled hangs, creative stuff, sober socials, earlier evenings, or something totally different.

This is your chance to shape your Essex experience by telling us what great nights should look like here.

It’s:

anonymous
quick (5–7 mins)
for everyone (night owls, homebodies, occasional partiers — all welcome!)

TAKE THE SURVEY

INSIGHTS & FEEDBACK

🎧 We’re all ears - and your voice.

Want to know what Essex students really think? We’ve crunched the numbers so we can champion student-led change. Whether it’s what’s working or what’s not, your feedback fuels everything we do.

Here’s a peek at what you’ve told us lately - the good, the bad and the “wait, what?”

✅ 98% of first-year students said Essex felt welcoming
🧭 41% said finding their way around Colchester campus isn’t exactly a walk in the park
🤝 81% feel like they belong here
🧠 Over 25% are struggling with anxiety

You’ve got chances to share your thoughts throughout the year - look out for surveys in your inbox after Welcome and at the end of each term. Your voice = your power.

Dive Into the Stats

VOTE LIKE A STUDENT

Voting isn’t just for grown-ups in suits - it’s for you, right here, right now.

Democracy isn’t just a buzzword - it’s how we make Essex fairer, louder, and genuinely better for students. If decisions are being made about your time here, you should be in the room (or at least, on the Zoom call).

Get involved:

SU Leadership Election (February): Stand or vote for your next full-time Student Leaders
SU Communities Elections (October & May): Choose (or be!) reps for SU Council and our brilliant student community officer roles

No dry politics. Just real decisions made by real students.

Tell Me More!

SU COUNCIL

Big decisions. Made by students. For students.

SU Council is where our elected Student Leaders, part-time officers, and council reps meet to steer the direction of your SU. Want in? You don’t need to be on Council to come along or have your say.

Feeling bold? Run in:

SU Leadership Election - Full-time role, paid, a year out or after your studies
SU Communities Election - Part-time role, voluntary, fits around your course

Council meets once a month - come for the impact, stay for the gossip (probably).

Tell Me More!

STUDENT REPS

📣 Help us help you (and your course).

Student Reps are the bridge between you and your department. They make sure your voice shapes your education - whether it’s feedback on lectures, timetables or how assessments are run.

It’s a chance to:

Make your course better
Build your confidence and skills
Add serious clout to your CV

Sound like your vibe? Join the Student Rep Squad 👊

find or become a student rep

FEEDBACK TO STUDENT LEADERS

Essex SU is run by a team of 5 elected Student Leaders. Each role works to improve a different area of the student experience - from welfare to education to activities.

They're real students, just like you. They have real power to influence change. Got ideas? Here's how you can get in touch with them 👇

I want to chat