Monday 12-10-2026 - 13:58

Your voice helps shape your Students’ Association. From the support you value to the issues you want us to campaign on, our Annual Survey helps us understand what matters to you.

This year, 1,075 students shared their views between 2 March and 30 April 2026. Thank you to everyone who took part. Your feedback helps us identify what is working, where we can improve and how we can make a bigger difference to your university experience.

Your highlights

A welcoming community: 88% of respondents agreed that the Students’ Association is welcoming and inclusive, up from 84% in 2025. Whatever your background, interests or stage of study, we want you to feel there is a place for you here.

Making your university experience better: 79% agreed that the Students’ Association contributes positively to their experience at university, while 71% felt that we represent them. Both results improved compared with last year.

More students looking to get involved: 74% were happy with their level of involvement, and 18% intended to become more involved. The proportion who wanted to participate but felt unable to fell to 8%, the lowest level recorded in six years.

Greater awareness of support: 82% knew about our Advice Centre, and 51% knew how to access it, the highest proportion recorded over the past six years. Knowing where to turn matters when you need independent advice and support.

Positive feedback on student spaces: Satisfaction improved for societies, Students’ Association events and Re:Union Bar. Among students who used it, Winter Warmer received the highest average satisfaction score for our building services, at 3.43 out of 4.

New questions, more insight

This year, we introduced questions to better understand how you see our work and what your university experience feels like.

Recognising real change: 72% agreed that they could identify positive changes the Students’ Association has made for students. This gives us a starting point to track how clearly students can see the difference their Association makes.

Understanding what we stand for: 75% agreed that they know what the Students’ Association stands for. We will keep showing how our work connects to your priorities, from representing your views to helping you find your community.

Finding information: More than eight in ten respondents agreed that they know where to find information about Students’ Association activities. When asked to rank communication channels, students put email first, followed by social media and GCU Learn.

Building connections: A new question about loneliness found that 28% of those who answered felt lonely always or frequently at university. Your responses underline why opportunities to meet people, build friendships and feel part of a community matter.

Campaign wins you recognised

85% knew about our successful campaign to continue free ARC gym membership and exercise classes on campus, helping students stay active without an extra membership cost.

We also asked about our work to secure housing legislation amendments benefiting students and priority marking for students with resits to meet visa deadlines. These results will help us communicate campaign outcomes more clearly, so you can see what has changed and why it matters.

Your priorities shape our work

The cost of living was the leading issue students wanted us to address, alongside affordable housing, wellbeing and access to suitable part-time work. You also asked for more opportunities to connect and clearer information about support, activities and opportunities.

Your feedback will help guide our services, communications and campaigning. Together, we can keep building a Students’ Association that reflects what matters to you.

Read the full Annual Survey 2026 report to explore the results.