Whether you’re passionate about education, equality, student welfare or the environment, you have a powerful role to play; you are now part of a union. This means there will always be someone there to stand up for you and always someone for you to stand up with. NUS Scotland is your union, and you are NUS Scotland.
Contact Details
29 Forth Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3LE
NUS Switchboard: (9pm-5pm): 0131 556 6598
Press Contact: Mike Heffron 07554 451 941
Fax: 0131 557 5679
Email: mail@nus-scotland.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nusScotland
Twitter: @nusScotland
Student enquires about NUS Extra Card and other general enquiries should be directed to the NUS switchboard on 0131 556 6598.
Policy enquiries should be directed to Jane Brown, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, on 07870 566 796.
Our full-time sabbatical officers
NUS Scotland's sabbatical officers for 2011/12, from left: President Robin Parker, Women's Officer Kelley Temple and Depute President Graeme Kirkpatrick.
Our location and opening hours
The office is open Monday-Friday, 9:30am - 5:30pm.
NUS Scotland's office is located at the corner of Forth Street and Union Street in Edinburgh. The area is well-served by a number of Lothian buses. The office is a 10-minute, downhill walk from Waverley rail station and a five-minute walk from Edinburgh Bus Station.
Vistiors coming from the airport should take the #100 Airlink bus to its final stop outside Waverley rail station. Journey time from the airport to Waverley Steps is 30-45 minutes.
Our mission
NUS Scotland will change students' lives by:
- Promoting, defending and extending the rights of students
- Developing and championing strong students' associations
NUS Scotland is recognised by the Scottish parliament as the key voice of students in Scotland. We work with trade unions, campaigning and voluntary organisations to influence the Scottish Government and have a track record of winning for students. NUS Scotland is autonmous from NUS UK, meaning it's campaigns, policy and tactics may take a different position, particularly in relation to devolved issues such as education.
Our successes in 2009-2011
In the past year, our campaigns have won benefits for all kinds of students in Scotland:
- 85% of MSPs in the new parliament have committed to not introduce tuition fees, protect college places and graduate numbers, and improve student support.
- The poorest mature students now have an extra £1,200 and a new independent students bursary.
- The poorest young students have an extra £620 through loans and grants.
- A cut to college bursaries was stopped and an additional £15m in support was added to the 2011 Scottish budget.
- We've stopped landlords being able to rip you off when you move out through the introduction of a tenancy deposit scheme.
- We won an extra £2m for student parents with a commitment to go much further.
- Publication of Beyond Borders, a mapping project of international students' engagement in the Scottish higher education learning experience.
- Publication of Wish You Were There?, a guide for Scottish students interested in studying in Europe.
- Publication of the Still in the Red report, documenting the state of student support in Scotland in 2010
Our goals in 2011-2012
- We want to make sure that the money government has to spend goes into our pockets now, while we’re studying - not after we graduate.
- We want to make sure support for student parents and further education students are a right, and not a postcode lottery.
Our campaigns in 2011-2012