Council members are elected through a combination of open places in a cross campus ballot, and from the devolved areas of responsibility — the assemblies of academic (programme and faculty) representatives, sports clubs, and activities groups (societies).

Many of the sports teams feature Bradford's traditional colours of black with red and white accents for their playing kit.

[6] In September 2008 the General Meeting of students decided that the call for Free Education should be the campaign priority for the academic year and voted to allocate over one thousand pounds to the cause.

[13] In December 2023 the Union passed fresh policy calling the UK Government to "support an Inquiry into the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

Historically, like many other students' unions, UBU ran the shops and bars on campus, and in the late 1970s the Union-run businesses had a combined annual turnover of more than £1 million.

A joint board was set up during the 2010 refurbishment of the Student Central building and identified that due to significant losses the Student Union entity was no longer a viable option to manage a commercial development which resulted in the bars and shop areas falling under the University's commercial services.