The Government has failed University students for far too long, it is time for us to make a stand!
Higher education claims to create the leaders of tomorrow. If we want those leaders to be diverse then we need to ensure all students can access and thrive in our higher education system. Without a higher education system that gives opportunity for students from all financial situations to succeed, we cannot expect a world that has leaders with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds.
The government’s failure on student
- Maintenance loans have risen at a rate far slower than inflation.
- The parental (or household) threshold that allows students to gain the maximum financial support has frozen since 2008.
- Government interventions to support the public throughout this crisis often haven’t reached students, with most being unable to access the government’s energy bills support scheme, and no separate scheme set up for them.
- University hardship funds and the central government funding that supports them, which are meant to cover sudden and unexpected financial shortfalls, cannot solve this issue alone.
- On July 17, 2023, the UK government announced some new rules for international students in the UK. From January 2024, international students in the UK will not be able to bring dependents to the UK via their student visa. A dependent is stated as a partner (married or unmarried) or a child under 18 years
Without urgent action, there is a very real risk that we will undo years of access and participation work, pricing out the vast majority of students except those from the most privileged backgrounds.
There is also a risk of creating a class of graduates who have not been able to reach their full potential, as well as a group of individuals who had to drop out of university due to the financial pressures they faced.
There will be a UK General Election by January 2025.
Why does this matter to Brunel students?
Our future will be built by our students and young people of today - but only if they are heard!
When politicians make decisions, they look at who is on the electoral register and who votes. So, it is crucial that all young people and students are registered to vote.
There are new barriers that will make it harder for YOU to vote. It is now illegal for unis and colleges to block register students, and all voters will have to show a physical photo ID when they vote.
Mass registration
Free IDs
Empowering voters
You need to be registered to vote before you are allowed to vote in elections or referendums in the UK.
Registering to vote usually takes about 5 minutes, and once you are registered it means you can vote in any UK election or referendum that you are eligible to vote in.
How do I register to vote?
You need to register to vote on the UK Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also find information about registering using a paper form on this website.
You will be asked to provide your name, your date of birth, your nationality and your National Insurance number.
If you do not know your National Insurance number, you can get assistance in finding it here: https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number
Can I be registered to vote at more than one address?
Students are allowed to register to vote at more than one address if they consider both places to be a permanent home.
We know that students often split their time between their term-time address and their home address, so it's important that you are registered at both.
Even though you can be registered at more than one address, it is illegal to vote in two places - so you have to choose which address to vote at.
I’ve moved house recently; do I have to register to vote again?
You have to register to vote every time you change address.
We know that students change address more than most people, so it’s important that students double check that they are registered to vote.
You also need to register again if you have changed your name or nationality.
How old do I have to be to register to vote?
There are different rules about the minimum voting age in different UK elections.
In England and Northern Ireland you must be aged 16 or over to register to vote, but in Scotland and Wales you must be 14 or over.
This is because the minimum voting age in some elections in Scotland and Wales is 16, compared to 18 in the rest of the UK. The minimum voting age in General Elections is 18.
I am not a British citizen. Can I register to vote?
You do not have to be a British citizen to vote in UK elections or referendums.
There are different rules on whether you can vote depending on your nationality in different UK elections.
Use this tool to find out which elections you can vote in: https://canivote.org.uk/
Are there other benefits of being registered to vote?
Being registered to vote could improve your credit score, because banks and other lenders often use the Electoral Roll to help verify your identity.
This could help when it comes to things like taking out a mobile phone contract, especially if you do not have a long credit history.
It could also help if you’re looking to buy a car, rent, or even secure a mortgage.
I'm already registered to vote. What else do I need to know?
New laws mean you now have to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in General Elections in the UK. This was already the law in Northern Ireland.
You can find a full list of accepted voter IDs in each UK nation via the Electoral Commission here.
NUS have teamed up with Citizen Card to offer a FREE Voter ID (usually £18) to any student or young person who needs it. Sign up for your FREE CitizenCard and find out more about Photo ID below.
If you have any questions, are keen to have your voice heard and would like to encourage other Brunel Students to vote, please contact the Head of Student Support and Representation
Useful links
https://www.nus.org.uk/citizencard
Accepted forms of photo ID | Electoral Commission
Ward boundaries - Hillingdon Council
Can a Commonwealth citizen register to vote? | Electoral Commission
Find your polling station | Where Do I Vote?