The Students’ Union is run by students for students – that means we’re completely dedicated to representing students at Staffs and helping provide what they want from their student experience. That covers everything from advice and support, great venues and events to representation, sports clubs, activities and even a dedicated student media service.
We’re constantly striving to ensure the best possible experience for all students at Staffs and free membership of the Students’ Union is automatic on enrolling at Staffordshire University. That means our students get to have their say in what we do and how we do it.
Staffordshire University Students’ Union is a democratic organisation, working entirely for the benefit of students.
The Students' Union sponsors and supports a diverse range of student-run groups. These include both competitive and recreational sports groups, special interest groups, academic societies and some that we are unable to categorise! You can find out contact details and any info the groups have posted by following the links below.
The Student Advice Centre (SAC) offers confidential and impartial advice on a variety of issues, such as: student finance, academic affairs, student housing, debt management etc. In addition, there are a number of online self help materials which you can access from the Advice Guide.Find out more...
Academic Reps can raise issues when something is wrong or tell the University what works for you and your student experience. If you need advice regarding your course then contact your Academic Rep.Find out more...
Money Doctors is part of the Students’ Union Student Advice Centre. It is free, independent, impartial and confidential. Click on the logo to see how we can help you keep your finances healthy and make your money achieve what you want it to.Find out more...
You can feel safe in the knowledge that the University has a Cop Shop with a friendly campus police officer who is around to answer any questions. You can speak to him about anything from the security of your property, your personal safety or to report a crime.Find out more...
LRV is the Stoke Campus nightclub and holds our regular clubnights such as the ever popular Gobble on a Wednesday night and Super Friday. LRV is the Union’s largest venue with 1300 capacity.Find out more...
Legends and The Lounge are the Union's Beaconside campus venues. The Lounge is a recently refurbished, stylish bar serving great food and coffee as well as the traditional bar refreshments seven days a week. Legends is the Stafford Campus's nightclub and holds our weekly clubnight Mukky Duck as well as regular live music performances. Find out more...
The Ember Lounge is Staffordshire University Students' Union second Stoke Venue. Winner of Best Late Night Venue Midlands and Wales and a Best Bar None award, the Ember Lounge offers something for everybody. Whether it's an early morning espresso to get you ready for the day, a great value lunch or a night of cocktails and entertainment, we aim to deliver. Find out more...
The Squeeze Box has a delicious menu for both breakfast and lunch. For those wanting something healthy, yet tasty, Squeeze Box caters for all with options big and small. There is also a wide variety of hot drinks, with Fairtrade products being used where possible. Find out more...
Verve is Stoke’s newest venue offering students a funky place to relax and enjoy a tasty burger and the creamiest milkshakes. Open all day, students can pop in for food and drink, listen to some music, catch up on the latest magazines and just take a break from the world outside. Find out more...
The Students’ Union is a student-led organisation, and in that spirit endeavours to hire students and harness their skills where possible.
The latest video updates from the officer team about their work on behalf of the students at staffordshire University
The Shopping Cart will tell you what products you have purchased.
The hardest part about being in debt is actually facing up to the fact that you’re in difficulty. Once you’ve done that, you can begin to sort things out by following the steps below.
This will provide you with an accurate financial picture, make you look at what you’re spending and help prevent you from running into further debt. When you’re doing your budget, remember to be honest and to list realistic figures – your budget has to be something which you can keep to!
On the income side, list all your income and divide this as well as your student loan into either 52 weeks or 42 weeks (if you’re sure you will have income other than your student loan over the summer period).
On the expenditure side, list all your priority expenditure (see attached financial statement as to what this includes) and don’t forget to include course costs and tuition fees (if you have to pay them). At this stage, don’t include any debt repayments you have to make. If you’re converting calendar monthly figures to weekly figures, multiply by 12 and divide by 52. If you’re converting quarterly figures to weekly figures, multiply by 4 and divide by 52.
Once you’ve done your budget, analyse it. If you haven’t enough income to cover your basic priority expenditure, are there any ways in which you can reduce your expenditure? If you are not sure and require some help, please see our list of tips for saving money on this website. Also, are there any ways in which you can increase your income? If you want to ensure that you’re receiving all the funding and social security benefits that you’re entitled to as a student.
Then divide your debts into priority and non-priority debts.
Priority debts are rent, mortgage, gas, electricity, council tax and any Magistrates Court Fines. These are referred to as priority debts because of the consequences of non-payment. For example, losing your home, being disconnected or, in the case of council tax and certain magistrates court fines, being imprisoned.
Non-priority debts include personal loans, credit cards and store cards (as long as these are all unsecured), not because these are not important to deal with but because the consequences of non-payment are not as severe as the consequences of non-payment of priority debts.
After you have listed your debts, check if anything needs dealing with urgently.
After you’ve looked at your income and expenditure, can you realistically afford to make your contractual payments to creditors and pay off any arrears you owe? If the answer is no, but you have some excess income, offer that income first to priority creditors. Then, if you still have some income left after you have done that, pro-rata this amongst non-priority creditors using the following calculation:
AMOUNT OWED TO THE CREDITOR, DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO ALL YOUR CREDITORS, MULTIPLIED BY THE TOTAL INCOME YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO OFFER YOUR CREDITORS.
Pro-ratering basically means that the creditor who is owed the most, receives the largest share of the available income you have and the creditor who is owed the least, receives the least share of the available income you have.
If you have no available income to offer creditors, after essential expenditure, ask creditors if they will allow you to make token payments, suspend payments for a certain amount of time or, if the circumstances warrant it, request that the debt is written off.
And finally…..remember to stick to your budget or you won’t be able to keep to the offers of repayment you make to your creditors.