UBU: by students, for students

By:: Oshan
Published: 11 November 2025
Tagged under:: Societies; Students' Union

Oshan, an executive member of the University of Bradford Union of Students, shares how the UBU impacts student life. She highlights the support available, the exciting events students can get involved in, and how every student has a voice.

Students sat in front of Richmond entrance.

Hi! My name is Oshan, and I am in my second year of BSc (Hons) Computer Science.

I currently hold multiple roles within the University of Bradford Union of Students (UBU), which include council member, committee member, and executive member. In this blog, I would like to tell you more about the students' union at Bradford.

What is the Union of Students?

The University of Bradford Union of Students (UBU) is an independent body run by students, for students. UBU is committed to supporting students, providing quality experiences and giving students a voice of advocacy.

You can immerse yourself in a wide range of fun activities and societies, take part in cultural festivities, attend events and have access to support services. You can find more about UBU on their website or follow them on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

Societies and sports

UBU is home to more than 70 societies!

You can always find a society to suit your interests. During Freshers Fayre, which is in September, or Refreshers Fayre, which is in January, you have the chance to explore the societies on offer and meet the teams.

There's a society for nearly every interest. Whether you're interested in cultural societies, leisure hobbies, creative interests or academic societies, there's something for everyone.

In terms of sports, if you can name it, we've got it. And if not, you can make your own society for it. Be it cheerleading, archery, boxing, badminton, or fencing, we've got a wide range of sports facilities available. You can benefit from training by professional coaches and players and can participate in these sports for leisure or professionally, including participating in competitions. Most of the sports sessions are held twice a week.

Yearly fees

Usually, each society or sports club has its own yearly membership fee, which gives you access to sessions, events and benefits. The yearly fee means you can participate in the various cultural events, parties, movie/games nights of your chosen cultural society. For societies such as baking, crocheting, and gaming, you'll be able to join their regular monthly sessions. And if academic societies are more your thing, you can participate in study sessions, field trips and guest lectures.

Trips and fun activities

UBU organises trips for only £20 all year round in the UK. Some of the most popular ones are Alton Towers, Wales, Blackpool, London, and many more.

It's not just trips that you can get involved in, you also have the chance to sign up for programmes such as the Kickstart Residential, or you could even give Go Karting a go! If neither of those appeals to you, you can check out plenty of other activities on the website, like the Varsity and Qawwali Night.

Oh, and you can't forget about the UBIES (Year End Award Gala) that we host every year. The UBIES are a great opportunity to celebrate individuals who have made a significant impact on student experience, academic excellence, and the overall university community.

Students partying in a room with blue and purple lights.

Fancy a break?

If you're not looking to join a society and are just looking to take a break, then there are a bunch of facilities available around the Students' Union. The Games Space in SC02 is a great place to chill with activities like table tennis and darts.

There are plenty of food options – the Morrisons Daily is great for grabbing snacks with your friends after your lectures. There's also the recently refurbished Brew and Co Kitchen and BelowOne, which have a wide range of food options, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Other services

There are a bunch of other services available at the students' union, and the staff members at the UBU reception are always happy to help in case of any queries. UBU isn't just about societies; you can also sign up for volunteering and put yourself forward to represent your fellow students or faculty.

In case of any issues during your academic journey, you can book a meeting with a UBU Advisor, speak to the Sabbatical Officers or raise an issue with the UBU Student Council Executive Members.

Oshan and another student in mock court.