Thanks to you, we've been shortlisted for ‘Students’ Union of the Year’ at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2024 🤩 

This makes it the sixth year in a row that your SU has been ranked in the top 10 nationally...  

And we couldn't have done it without you; our amazing members. The Whatuni Student Choice Award rankings are compiled based on responses from thousands of university students across the UK. So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts 💛

“We are incredibly proud to be shortlisted for this prestigious award and it’s so rewarding to see our incredible student members and the hard work of our SU staff recognised in this way” said Kieran Phillips, SU President. “For students to vote us in the top 10 is amazing, especially for the sixth year in a row, and I could not be prouder of this achievement”.

Here's just a few of the reasons why we've been nominated: 

• Our Student Leader led Cost of Living project - we worked and lobbied at the University to provide financial support for students during the Cost of Living crisis, including the agreement of an unprecedented package of support totalling more than £2.5m
• Our National Student Survey (NSS) results - we were ranked as one of the best Students’ Unions in the country for the quality of the academic representation it provides to Essex students in 2023
• We're the first Students’ Union to ever receive the prestigious King’s Award for Volunteering, the highest honour available for voluntary organisations in the UK
• We provided a sector-leading welcome and induction programme for Essex students that helped thousands of students settle and make friends, and lead to 97% of first year students saying they felt welcomed to the University of Essex
• We've achieved Essex’s highest ever ranking in the national BUCS Sports League tables this year, thanks to the performances of our brilliant students in our Essex Blades Sports Teams
• We run an unmatched calendar of student events encompassing everything from the famous SU Fireworks Display attended by 5,000 students to our series of intimate SU Makes events that allow students to make crafts at the same time as making new friends

Thank you again for your love and support. Results will be announced at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards on the 24 April 2024... 🤞