FIND OUT MORE
There’s so much more going on at UCASU than we can cover in this guide, so be sure to check out our social media channels (@ucasu for everything) – you’ll catch us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
You’ll find a UCASU office on your campus, right in the heart of things, so be sure to come and say hello – we’ll be happy to see you!
UCASU General Enquiries union@uca.ac.uk 01252 89 29 09
President Canterbury Joshua Singh-Hill presidents.su@uca.ac.uk
President Epsom Shayaike Hassan presidents.su@uca.ac.uk
President Farnham Phoebe Daniels presidents.su@uca.ac.uk
Advice, Support & Knowledge ucasu.com/ask 07827 316142
Activities (Clubs & Societies etc.) activities.su@uca.ac.uk
Elections & Course Reps studentvoice.su@uca.ac.uk
Glasshouse Events events.su@uca.ac.uk
Your UCA Students’ Union Digital Communities exist to connect you with other UCA students on your campus and beyond. Our Facebook Groups are for offer holders and current UCA students as a digital community space to meet others, find local accommodation, promote student-led projects & opportunities, and stay in the know about all things going on at UCASU! Find us on Facebook by clicking on your campus below:
You can read the full Terms of Use Policy on our website at UCASU.COM/ DIGITALCOMMUNITES, and if you have questions or feedback regarding the UCA Students’ Union Digital Communities, please contact UNION@UCA.AC.UK
Hi everyone! My name is Joshua Singh-Hill, I am this year’s elected Student President for Canterbury. As president it is my role to represent and support the student voice as a whole and help everyone feel heard.
I wanted to become president after becoming increasingly involved with the Students’ Union over the course of my Architecture Degree, and I saw an opportunity to help in a more dedicated way and work closely with the students themselves to make that change.
My main goal as President is to transform and improve the student spaces into a more welcoming and comfortable atmosphere whilst allowing students to have more creative freedom and input into their campus; we are an arts university after all, so I and many others figured we should show that.
An important part of those spaces is the faith spaces which I aim to be more accommodating to different faiths and beliefs.
In my spare time I love to read, write, play games, and most importantly climb trees. I also have a fond interest in psychology, cinematography, photography, and philosophy and love any opportunity to discuss them. If that’s you too, then come and chat!
Apart from finding me in my office, you can reach me or the other Students’ Union Presidents at presidents.su@uca.ac.uk for anything that you may need, from advice, to help with societies, to any issues you’re having as a student, or even an idle thought. Feel free to reach out to us at the Students’ Union whenever!
JOSHUA SINGH-HILL (HE/HIM) STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT (CANTERBURY) 2025/26
Hi, everyone! My name is Phoebe Daniels, I use she/her pronouns, and I am your newly elected President in Farnham! I’ll be one of your main points of contact for the Union and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all this year.
I have studied Fine Art at the Farnham Campus for three years, and I have an interest in philosophy and illustration. As a student, I was involved in the Students’ Union for two years, being a student trustee and president of the football club. I am delighted to now work alongside the Students’ Union as a president!
My goals for this year are to support the students through difficulties such as financial and mental health struggles. This will involve supporting the wellbeing services, offering new avenues of support, and providing more resources for students. I also aim to improve communication between students and the university and the Students’ Union.
My prime concern is making sure students have the chance to make the most of their time at UCA.
Our priority as presidents is to make sure students feel heard. We will do this by representing the student’s voice and uplifting your opinions and ideas.
This includes working with new and existing clubs, creating inclusive spaces, and giving you a platform to express your opinions.
You can get in touch with any of us presidents through our Instagram (@ucasupresidents) or our email (presidents.su@uca.ac.uk).
If you don’t like emails, come down to the Union Office on Farnham campus and come say hi! I’m here to support you though anything you need so we can chat about anything.
I can’t wait to meet you all and work together!
PHOEBE DANIELS (SHE/HER) STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT (FARNHAM) 2025/26
Hello everyone! I am Shayaike Hassan. I am your new President for the UCA Epsom campus! I use he/him pronouns, and I am excited to meet all of you this academic year.
I am a student here, studying Digital Marketing and Social Media.
While I was a student, I worked a lot with the Students’ Union. I was a Campus Officer before. Now, I am your President!
I have many goals for this year. A very important goal is to start a special group called the International Student Forum. This group will give strong support to students from other countries, helping with things like mental health and understanding UK culture.
I, and the other campus presidents, are here for all of you. We want to make sure you have a great time studying at the university! The Students’ Union is separate from the university. This means we can give you honest information and help.
You can reach me a few ways! You can send an email to shayaike.hassan.su@uca.ac.uk or presidents.su@uca.ac.uk, or you can send me a message on our Instagram page: @ucasupresidents. I will almost always be in the Epsom Students’ Union office, so please come and say hello or have a chat!
I also really want to have a yearly Part-time Job and Internship Fair. This event will help you meet people from different companies and past students. It will help you find good work experience or part-time jobs. And generally, I want to make sure your ideas are heard so our campus is truly shaped by students.
SHAYAIKE HASSAN (HE/HIM) STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT (EPSOM) 2025/26
UNION COUNCIL
ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES IS ‘CONNECTING STUDENTS TO EACH OTHER AND THEIR FUTURES’, YOUR VOICE IS AT THE HEART OF IT ALL. Your elected presidents and campus officers make up the Union Council and are responsible for promoting student rights and developing campaigns which represent you.
As a student, you are automatically a member of UCASU and are welcome to observe a Union Council meeting as well as submit policy for debate. Find out more at: UCASU.COM/UNIONCOUNCIL.
PRESIDENTS
UCASU PRESIDENTS ARE VOTED FOR BY STUDENTS, THEIR ROLE IS TO:
• Be the main student representation for all UCA students, collecting feedback and taking to the highest levels within the University.
• Deliver on their elected manifesto points and lead on campaigns.
• Liaise directly with UCA’s Senior Leadership Team, building strong communication skills and good university relationships.
• Be an active representative on University committees and working groups.
• Sit on the UCASU Board of Trustees; where decisions such as strategic direction are made as well as ensuring we are financially viable.
GET INVOLVED
CAMPUS OFFICERS
OUR CAMPUS OFFICERS ARE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE ELECTED BY YOU TO SUPPORT THE UNION. THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• Being a voting member of your Union Council.
• Acting as a student representative for their campus.
• Oversee Course Rep feedback and ensure updates are submitted to Union Council.
• Getting involved with the planning and running of Union events and activities.
CONTACT YOUR UNION PRESIDENTS TO FIND OUT MORE INCLUDING HOW TO SUBMIT POLICY FOR DISCUSSION.
If joining our Union Council is something you are interested in, we hold our annual UCASU Elections in Term 2. This is where any current UCA student at any point of their studies can run for the full-time President roles, and any continuing student can put themselves forward for volunteer Campus Officer positions. If you are interested in how to vote for your representation, you will have the opportunity to do that too – just keep your eyes out for Weekly What’s On emails from us and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates.
For more information about student elections and how you can get involved, visit: UCASU.COM/ELECTIONS
OUR COURSE REP SYSTEM CONNECTS YOU, YOUR COURSE STAFF AND YOUR UNION, ENSURING THE VERY BEST FROM YOUR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AT UCA.
WHAT IS A COURSE REP?
Course reps act as a voice for peers on their course. They represent the interests of students, work towards enhancing the overall academic experience and fostering a positive learning environment for everyone. Their main responsibility is to gather feedback and share this with academic staff at Programme Committees.
GET INVOLVED WITH COURSE REPS
Course Reps sign up and go through training at the start of each academic year.
We have Course Reps for every course at UCA, with no limit on how many representatives we have on each course.
Elected Campus Officers help support Course Reps and aim to regularly meet on campus for Course Rep Forums. Here, Course Reps are able to discuss common concerns and share praise from Programme Committees.
If you decide to sign-up as a Course Rep, we will empower and support you the whole way. There are many benefits to becoming a Course Rep.
On top of being the influential driving force for improvements to the student experience, you can:
• Gain professional skills such as networking, developing stronger relationships with academic staff, and meeting etiquette.
• Develop your feedback and communication skills by gathering students’ opinions, relaying this information to university staff, and reporting any comments and responses back to the student body.
WANT MORE ABOUT INFORMATION ABOUT COURSE REPS AND SEE THE POSITIVE CHANGES MADE AT:
You can access advice and support independent of UCA throughout your studies through UCASU. We know that sometimes things don’t go as planned and there are times when figuring things out or understanding academic processes might not seem doable.
THAT’S WHY WE EXIST, AND WE’RE HERE TO HELP AND SUPPORT YOU ACROSS A RANGE OF AREAS, INCLUDING:
• ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT & DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
• ACADEMIC APPEALS
• RESITS & RETAKES
• BULLYING & HARASSMENT
• COMPLAINTS
• MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
• REPORTING INCIDENTS
• SEXUAL HEALTH & ACCESS TO FREE CONDOMS
• FACILITATING MEDIATION
• ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALF TO THE UNIVERSITY
This is not an extensive list of the support you can access through UCASU and you can always contact your campus Student Engagement team for an initial confidential conversation. Our core support hours are between 9AM-5PM Monday to Friday. Get in touch at: ucasu.com/ask We also have an online Knowledge Base which is full of useful advice and guidance, spanning across mental health and wellbeing to more specialised information regarding changing courses.
Check out our Knowledge Base at: UCASU.COM/KNOWLEDGEBASE
We understand that a sense of community on campus is important and can really enhance your time at UCA. That’s why joining or starting a Club or Society on your campus is a great way to get involved with your Union and find your campus community.
WHAT ARE CLUBS & SOCIETIES?
Clubs & Societies are run by students, for students!
WHAT CLUBS & SOCIETIES ARE THERE?
We have plenty of established Clubs & Societies ready for you to join from day one. Clubs and Societies will vary depending on your campus, but don’t let that stop you from starting your own!
If fitness and dance are more your thing, we have exciting opportunities like Football, Yoga, and K-Pop Dance to take part in.
Every Club or Society on your campus has been started by a student and set up with the support of UCASU.
Each Club or Society has a committee of students responsible for making it happen.
THE STUDENT VOLUNTEER ROLES
ARE:
• Group President
• Experience President
• Membership President
So if you want to add to your CV and gain experience, the student volunteer roles are a great chance to do so!
DO I NEED EXPERIENCE TO JOIN A CLUB OR SOCIETY?
Absolutely not! Our Clubs & Societies are an opportunity to learn a new skill, find a new hobby or continue some of your favourite activities.
Clubs and societies will usually run Monday to Friday after 5PM, throughout term time –there’s no limit to the number you can join, so you’ll have lots of opportunities to try something new and meet new people!
ARE CLUBS & SOCIETIES FREE?
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED WITH CLUBS & SOCIETIES?
You can join Clubs & Societies at any point in the academic year, so if you don’t join during Welcome Week, don’t let that stop you from getting involved. We always have requests for new Clubs & Societies throughout the year so keep a lookout for our latest calendars on social media channels.
Our active Clubs & Societies will host FREE taster sessions for you to attend at the start of term. This means you can give it a go without the commitment of getting a membership right away, and you’ll find any new societies will offer this throughout the year too!
It ranges from £0 to below £100 to join Clubs & Societies, and it will depend on what you are signing up for.
You’ll find that sports clubs are cheaper to join through your Union than locally as we subsidise the cost to allow for student-friendly prices – all so you can get involved with activities alongside your studies. No student should feel like they cannot participate or are disadvantaged due to financial hardship or the need to purchase additional materials. So if you are struggling with the cost of joining or equipment, any UCA student can apply for our Participation Fund.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO FIND OUT WHAT CLUBS AND SOCIETIES ARE AVAILABLE ON YOUR CAMPUS!
Volunteering offers an amazing opportunity to meet new friends, boost your CV with incredible experience, and have fun. From event planning to student support, we have exciting opportunities for everyone. Getting involved is simple: just check out our website for what we have coming up, choose a role
that excites you, and follow the steps to apply. Plus, you’ll enjoy a great community of our volunteers, receive recognition for your achievements and make sure to track the hours you contribute to impress your future employers!
We respect your study commitments, so volunteering hours are flexible, but there are expectations and several meetings you will need to attend to keep your volunteer role.
I’M AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT. CAN I VOLUNTEER?
Yes! As an international student, you can volunteer alongside your studies in these roles. However, there are some restrictions to the types of volunteering that your Visa will allow you to do when in the UK – this does not apply to these roles.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Reach out to us via email at activities.su@uca.ac.uk
Get involved with our volunteering opportunities, and let’s create a brighter, more vibrant campus together!
Your on-campus supply shops in Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham are brought to you by your Students’ Union!
Our shops stock a wide variety of budgetfriendly art materials for all of your creative, design, and display needs. From your staple course supplies to 35mm film, clay, UCA merchandise and much more in between, be sure to pop in when you’re next on campus.
You’ll find our up-to-date opening times on our website at UCASU.COM/SHOP
Our Markets happen twice a year and are one of our greatest events!
We host a market on each campus, giving you as UCA students the opportunity to have a free stall to sell art or prints, handmade jewellery, ceramics, clothing, cakes or even something we haven’t listed –we are a creative community after all.
Timings will be confirmed soon, and we will advertise sign-ups for our Markets via your UCASU: Weekly What’s On emails, on our website and social media channels!
Click below to visit our Spring Gift Guide from 2025 for a taste of what to expect!
WHAT’S GLASSHOUSE?
Glasshouse is the number one nighttime venue in Farnham, based right in the heart of campus – it’s brought to you by your Students’ Union too! Whatever you’re into, we like to think that Glasshouse has something for everyone!
We host a few events a week during term time, from chilled Cocktails & Crafts and Games Evenings to Club Nights, featuring an eclectic mix of genres (including Emo, Rock, Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, Y2K, plus more), student-led fundraisers, and exciting live acts or performers.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT EVENTS YOU HAVE COMING UP?
We release a calendar of events every month, and the best way to keep up to date with Glasshouse is to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @UCASUGLASSHOUSE .
Starting in August 2025, we will have tickets for all events available at UCASU.COM/GLASSHOUSE!
You’ll need to purchase your event tickets online before you enter the venue, although there will be limited tickets on the door. Just have your ticket QR code ready to be scanned!
BUT
I’M NOT AT UCA FARNHAM?
Glasshouse is also the home of our Freshers, Halloween and Summer Balls!
All our members and UCA students can purchase and attend Glasshouse events, so if you are looking for a weekend away or find yourself visiting Farnham, we would love for you to come to an event and experience a night at Glasshouse.
However, there will be regular events off and on campus across Freshers for Epsom and Canterbury students, which will continue into each term. So, keep an eye on our Instagram for more announcements!
