Students' Association

AUSA

The Aberdeen University Students' Association (AUSA) is the organisation that represents and serves your interests, and works to make your time in Aberdeen as happy and enjoyable as possible.

AUSA Student Advice Centre

AUSA attempts to alleviate student hardship through the provision of its services. The AUSA Student Advice Centre is a service that offers free and impartial advice and support to all students.  It is a safe place where respect and tolerance are key values and confidentiality is respected at all times. There are lots of reasons to pop into the AUSA Student Advice Centre; the staff can help with issues such as private accommodation, academic appeals and complaints, part-time employment, employability advice, money and health.

The AUSA Student Advice Centre provides a money advice service, which can help you manage your money and help keep you out of debt. It also provides a comprehensive resource of private accommodation which is also available online. AUSA is able to provide advice on contracts, landlords, and living on your own for the first time.

The AUSA Student Advice Centre also hosts a comprehensive overnight support service called Niteline, which is a confidential listening and information service run by trained volunteers. The Centre also runs a job search service to help you find part-time work and volunteering opportunities to enhance your CV.

Societies and Student Activities

AUSA runs over 100 societies and has divided them under the following headings to make life easier for you:

• Departmental Societies – relating to the various departments at the University
• Cultural Societies – dedicated to celebrating different world cultures
• Faith Societies – celebrating different world faiths
• Create Change Societies – dedicated to environment or political concerns
• Creative Arts Societies – who like to perform or create art
• General Interest Societies – who have a particular interest or hobby

AUSA has a plethora of activities going on at all times and run successful 'Give it a Go' sessions throughout the year where students can take part in one-off activities on campus or try out the activities of a particular society before deciding to become a full member. All current societies hold regular events and socials which offer a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded students.

Sporting Competition

AUSA is very proud of its sporting achievements, with many of its students actively participating in one of over 50 sports clubs. Successes have been achieved in a wide variety of sports: British University medals have been won in rowing, boxing, shooting, climbing and athletics; and in team events such as volleyball, golf, fencing, rugby, and tennis. The University has an excellent record in the Granite City challenge, where our students compete fiercely against our local rivals, the Robert Gordon University. This is the largest multi-sports event in Aberdeen, and is supported and enjoyed by the whole city. If you don't want to compete, AUSA organises a wide range of non-competitive clubs, intra-mural leagues and one-off sporting events.

Representation

AUSA works at many levels to represent students; Class Representatives work with AUSA to raise any course related issues and student representatives sit on a wide variety of University committees to make sure that student opinion is taken into consideration in key decisions. Externally, the Students' Association works with the National Union of Students (NUS) to fight hard on national and international issues like welfare, education funding and equality.

Student Media

The University of Aberdeen is one of the few UK institutions which operates a free fortnightly newspaper, called Gaudie. Gaudie is run by students, for students, and reports on news from the University and the wider world. The University also has its own radio station, called Aberdeen Student Radio, broadcasting online during term time.  Both offer great opportunities for students to get involved in media production and hands-on experience.

Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign

Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign is a collection of students from across Aberdeen who raise huge amounts of money for local charities through a variety of events. Two of the largest events are the Student Show; and the Torcher Parade, the largest torch-lit parade in Europe involving around 2,000 students, 45 lorries and 50,000 spectators. The Charities' Campaign also hosts a beautiful Fashion Show and provides a charitable second-hand bookshop in the Butchart Centre called Bookends.

Getting Involved

AUSA is run by over one hundred elected students, six of whom are elected "sabbatical officers", meaning they are paid to work for a year, essentially as full-time student ambassadors. The Sabbatical Officers are there to help you with any problems you may be having during your time at University.

It's easy to get involved with AUSA, it's incredibly rewarding, and a fantastic opportunity to meet new people. Elections are held every year, so there are regular chances to make a difference and get involved.

The Rector

The Rector plays an important role in representing and supporting students. The current Rector is Dr. Maitland Mackie. The Rector is a well-respected role and sits on the University Court. This ensures that, combined with the President of the Students' Association and the Rector's Assessor (his representative within the University), there is effective student representation at Court. On a day-to-day level, the Rector holds regular surgeries for students who would like to raise a particular issue or concern. The Rector also spearheads wider campaigns, both within the University and nationally, to ensure that student life at Aberdeen continues to meet the needs of all students.

Events

On a large scale, AUSA organise and host a variety of events each year including Freshers' Week and the Graduation Ball. It also hosts smaller events and campaigns such as the infamous 'Superteams' sporting challenge and welfare campaigns which bring student issues to the forefront of campus life.