Here we’ve produced a timeline to highlight our progress, our successes and the key moments in our history.
1922
Foundation of NUS.
1924
All university colleges are now members of NUS.
1937
NUS membership is extended to teacher training and technical colleges.
1940
Charter adopted at the Leeds Congress in 1940 calls for the widening of access to higher education and other progressive education policies.
1939-1945
NUS takes an active lead in mobilising students for the war effort and the fight against the Fascists/Nazis. Following the war, NUS took a leading role in the new International Union of Students (IUS).
1962
NUS pressure brings about the introduction of the student grant system.
1973
An annual review of student grants is set up as a direct result of NUS’ work.
1976
NUS succeeds in getting student fees abolished and foils attempts to charge overseas students more.
1977
NUS negotiates with banks to provide cheque cards and fee banking for students. NUS elects its first woman president, Sue Slipman.
1978
NUS elects its first Black president, Trevor Phillips.
1992
After NUS organises opposition, the Government concedes to include student representation on the governing bodies of the new further education corporations and to maintain it on the higher education corporations.
1993
NUS produces its own 'Student Charter' which is hailed by the education world as a clear and challenging step in the right direction.
1994
The 1994 Education Act is a triumph for NUS lobbying after the Government climbs down during the debate. The Act in its original form would have led to the separation of SU services, creating increased costs for students’ unions and destabilising their bases.
1995
NUS succeeds in tabling amendments to the Education (Student Loans) Bill, designed to privatise the Student Loans Company, in both Houses of Parliament.
1996
NUS is vocal in calling for an independent inquiry into further and higher education.
1997
NUS plays a key role in the most successful voter registration campaign ever, working alongside the ‘Rock the Vote’ campaign to ensure an extra 300,000 students are registered to vote in the May 1st general election.
NUS wins exemption from tuition fees for ‘gap year’ students entering higher education in 1998.
40,000 students march in 14 cities up and down the country against plans to introduce tuition fees.
NUS holds a week of action to ‘stop fees now’. The Government announces plans to introduce fees in the Teaching and Higher Education Bill, but significant safeguards are won to prevent universities charging ‘top-up’ fees.
NUS wins places on a series of Government advisory committees, including the influential Booth Committee, representing the opinions of students.
1998
NUS calls for a one day shutdown of higher education to underline its continued opposition to tuition fees, and announces a UK-wide student referendum on the introduction of fees.
NUS pressures the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) to prevent universities from levying administration charges on the collection of tuition fees.
2001
NUS persuades over 100 MPs to sign up to an early day motion against top-up-fees. This battle against fees results in the abolition of up-front tuition fees in Scotland.
2003
The ‘Stop Fees Now’ campaign brought 31,000 students from around the country to central London in the largest student demonstration NUS has organised.
For more recent NUS victories, please see our latest successes.