Around five per cent of student unions in the UK are not affiliated with the NUS,[1] including 21% of student unions who represent Russell Group Universities (the Aldwych Group).
[Note 1][2] Some of the institutions have disaffiliated from the NUS, whereas others such as those in the previous Scottish Ancients Group (see: Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland) have never been affiliated.
[5] Oxford University Student Union was reported as having voted to disaffiliate in 2014,[6] but this was overturned after voting irregularities were uncovered.
[7] Four unions voted to leave the national body in 2016 Lincoln, Newcastle, Hull and Loughborough (Lincoln later rejoined but has since again disaffiliated).
[8][9] In 2022, Reading University Student Union voted to leave the national body [10] citing a lack of representation and concerns over the direction of the NUS.