Edinburgh University Students' Association Members Guide 2015-16
study space
support
advice place
peer support
events student council
have your say special guests
in your school
grad ball
class reps
pleasance sessions weeklys
Congratulations, you’re a member of Edinburgh University Students’ Association! Have a look inside to find out more about…
Entertainments Your four venues Student activities Have your say Student support
EUSA members guide // contents
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Sabbatical Officers
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EUSA members guide // INTRODUCTION
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Welcome to EUSA! We are your four student sabbatical officers, elected by students to be your representatives this year. We work full time to campaign on your behalf, voice your opinions, and make sure that EUSA provides all the activities and services you need to have an amazing time here. You can come and find us for a chat in the EUSA office in Potterrow or look out for us around campus!
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Jonny, Andy, Urte and Imogen
EUSA is your organisation and forms a community of over 30,000 University of Edinburgh students. Your automatic membership to EUSA, as a student at Edinburgh, means that you benefit from various types of support as you make your way through university.
we’ll even throw in some great nights out in our buildings that feel like a home away from home. No matter what you need we’ll be here from Freshers’ Week right through to your Graduation Ball. Visit www.eusa.ed.ac.uk to find out more.
We’ll give you opportunities to get advice, try new things, make changes that benefit students and EUSA MEMBERS GUIDE // INTRODUCTION
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Entertainments Whether you are into club nights, live music, comedy or quizzes...
With four union buildings there’s something for everyone every night of the week. You’ll find plenty events to choose from and lots of them are free! In October you’ll even find the best local Scottish talent gracing the stage at the Pleasance Theatre at our very own music festival, The Pleasance Sessions. Find out more about our events at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/whatson.
EUSA members guide // ENTERTAINMENTs
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Your four
venues
With four venues to choose from we have ample space for you to study, meet up with friends, grab a coffee or a bite to eat, get involved with a society or volunteering group, or have a great night out. All of the profits made in EUSA venues go back into maintaining your student union venues and providing support services. Find out more about our spaces at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/eatdrink.
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EUSA members guide // YOUR FOUR VENUES
King's Buildings The Pleasance Potterrow Teviot
Bars EUSA runs fourteen different bars, all with great student-friendly atmospheres and prices. Each has its own personality, so you can choose to relax in Teviot Lounge listening to jazz, sip on a cocktail in the New Amphion, play some pool in the Sports Bar or enjoy some real ale in the Library Bar.
EUSA members guide // YOUR FOUR VENUES
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Food and drink
Catering In all of our four union buildings, you’ll find Fairtrade coffee and a great range of hot and cold food, including vegan and gluten free options. We’ve got spaces you can study in, meet friends in, or big comfy armchairs to relax in – your home away from home.
Retail The EUSA shops around campus stock all your student supplies, everything from stationery, freshly baked goods to groceries, all at excellent student prices. You can also get a range of university clothing, including hoodies and T-shirts!
EUSA members guide // FOOD AND DRINK
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You are part of a community of over
30,000 students.
Student activities
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EUSA members guide // STUDENT ACTIVITIES
We have Societies hundreds EUSA supports over societies, ranging of student 240 from the African activities for Dance Society to the you to get Zoological Society, with appreciation involved in! for everything from
baking to Harry Potter in between. Whether you want to compliment your degree or get involved just for fun, there’s a society for you. You can even set up your own!
Volunteering
Global
EUSA has loads of volunteering opportunities on offer. Whether you want to gain some valuable experience, make new friends or simply give something back to the community, we’ll be able to find a role that suits you!
We also run the awardwinning EUSA Global programme which aims to enhance the global experience for Edinburgh students through activities such as Tandem Language Exchange, Gather Festival and various events throughout the year.
Find out more about societies and volunteering at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/ activities
Find out more at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/ global.
EUSA members guide // STUDENT ACTIVITIES
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Have your say 14
EUSA members guide // HAVE YOUR SAY
Sabbatical Officers Sabbatical Officers are four students who are elected for a one year term to raise awareness of issues students are facing to the University and beyond. They sit on university committees and actively shape university decisions to benefit students. You’ll often see them on campus speaking to students and finding out how they can help to change things for the better! Don’t be afraid to seek them out when you see them around or drop them an email. Find out more about the work of our Sabbaticals at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/representation.
A big part of the reason EUSA exists is to give you a voice. We represent your interests and effect big changes within the University and at a local and national level.
Student Council
School and Class Reps
Student Council is a great place to raise any issues, bring your ideas and maybe even get funding to turn your suggestions into a reality. Get involved by standing to be an elected rep, or by attending Council meetings or submitting a proposal. How involved you get is up to you!
If you have ideas for changes you’d like to see in your school or have an issue you can go to your Class Rep or School Rep. EUSA supports over 1,000 class reps and School Reps in every school so there is always someone nearby to help. Find out more about your representatives, student council and how you can get involved at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/representation.
EUSA members guide // HAVE YOUR SAY
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Student support The Advice Place
Peer Support
The Advice Place, EUSA’s free, confidential and impartial advice service, is here to support you. Get advice on everything from managing finances to finding accommodation. They can help with academic appeals or complaints and guide you through Discretionary Fund applications if you need emergency financial help. You can also sign up to the C:Card Scheme to receive free safer sex products.
Peer support is a great alternative way to learn from your fellow students as well as meet more people from your course. You can link in with a student-led learning group based on your course, sign up for a student buddy or a mentor and join an academic family. Getting involved in Peer Support has also been shown to improve your marks!
Find out more at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/advice.
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EUSA members guide // STUDENT SUPPORT
Find out more through your School or at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/peersupport.
potterrow
bars
food and drink
king's buildings
social
global
venues elected students pleasance
student activities
teviot Potterrow, 5/2 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL
volunteering
eusa.ed.ac.uk
societies Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) is a charity (SC015800) and a company limited by guarantee (SC429897) registered in Scotland.