more than just a nightclub

RUSU is an independent body ran by students, for students, and provides facilities, entertainment and opportunities to help you make the most of your time at University.

RUSU is a fully-inclusive community and is led by five full-time Student Officers who are voted into office by students each year. The Union acts as a collective voice for all students on campus, representing their needs and desires.

As well as a democratically elected body, the Students' Union is also the name given to the buildings on Whiteknights campus housing the RUSU offices, shops, cafes, bar and nightclub.

Every new University of Reading student automatically becomes a member of RUSU.

Representing you
The Students' Union represents the student body and is your voice at the University. You elect the student officers and they work for you. As members of the University's decision making committees, student officers have the power to campaign and lobby on your behalf.

Become a student officer
All students have the opportunity to put forward opinions and vote on important matters. If you want to get more involved, you can become a student trustee or student officer and help to shape the University for future students.

Independent from the University
Although partially funded by the University, RUSU is entirely independent. Café Mondial, Mojo’s Bar, 3Sixty and other commercial activity also help fund the Union. As a registered charity, every penny spent in the Union is reinvested.

Hundreds of activities and opportunities
As well as representing students, the Union is also here to support you and enhance your university experience. It runs bars, cafes and social events; a Student Advice team to help you with anything from academic appeals to financial problems; lots of volunteering opportunities; a student media centre; environmental and ethical projects; and administrates over 150 clubs and societies.

For a full university experience get involved.

How does RUSU work and what does it offer?

Students taking part in a Film, Theatre and Television subject taster day

Get Involved

The Union is home to a wide range of societies and clubs, all of which are run voluntarily by students. There are currently over 150 societies and sports clubs, which all students are welcome to join.

If you are feeling homesick or just want to try something new these friendly groups are a great way for you to meet people, get involved and feel part of a community.

Wherever your passions lie, there are over 150 clubs and societies at the University of Reading waiting to welcome new members. Joining a group is a great way to meet people and to develop new talents.

There are clubs and societies covering all sorts of interests including:

Academic and career – learn more about your subject or get ahead with your future career outside of the classroom.

Arts and dance – indulge your creative side with a range of societies covering art, music, dance and drama. You can start ballroom dancing or become a member of a gospel choir.

Campaigns and causes – show your support for the issues that mean most to you. Campaign for the increased visibility of the LGBT+ community or help promote the use of Fairtrade products on campus.

Culture and faith – meet people from your country, practise and discuss your beliefs or learn more about other cultures. International student? See what support we can offer you.

Hobbies and interests – whether you want to continue your hobbies or pick up something new, there's loads of opportunities on offer, from Anime to Wildlife conservation.

Political – get together, campaign and debate the issues that matter to you.

Sports and leisure – whatever your ability you'll find plenty of ways to keep fit and have fun with over 50 sports teams and societies.

Haven't seen a club or society you'd like to join? Then you can set up your own! The RUSU Student Activities Team are on hand to help with any support and advice you might need.

Find out more about the clubs and societies on offer Student activities, clubs and societies

Passionate about psychology? Curious about circus skills? Love Lego?

National student survey

RUSU is the reason some students come to Reading.

RUSU in numbers...

RUSU represents the views of over 18,000 students
Provides representation for students on 3 campuses
Administrates over 150 student sport clubs and societies
Facilitates 600 students participating in voluntary activities
Has 3 different types of student media, Spark* newspaper, Junction11 radio and RU:ON TV
Provides work opportunities for 170 student staff
Has 8 retail outlets, a 2,300 capacity nightclub, a café, bars and an unlicensed social space all dedicated to our student customers
Supplies a 94-place nursery to student parents
Employs 63 permanent staff that work for the benefit of our student membership

The campus is orientated to all sorts of social activities including a huge number of clubs and societies, coffee shops, a nightclub and meeting areas. This layout makes socialising a huge aspect of life, which is what makes university so enjoyable for me.

How RUSU can help you

RUSU offers a free and confidential advice service to all students. If you need help or guidance, Advice Services run drop-in sessions in the Students’ Union’s Advice and Representation Centre (ARC).

RUSU Advice Services can provide advice and support tailored to the individuals' needs and has advisers specialising in the following areas:

Academic services
Drug and Alcohol Advice
Housing Advice
Money Advice
Welfare Advice

The Advice Service is free, confidential, non-judgemental, independent and non-discriminatory. No Information will be shared with the University or anyone else without your permission.

For more information on the services available please visit the RUSU Advice website or call +44 (0) 118 378 4100

Read more about the services available

Dancing

3sixty is one of the best Student Union venues in the country and is certainly the largest venue in Reading. With a capacity of over 2000, 3sixty hosts a wide variety of events day and night and to suit all tastes.

The lively venue has hosted conferences, comedians, club nights and live bands. Pendulum, Zane Lowe, Scott Mills, Wretch 32, Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk, Professor Green and Greg James have all performed on stage at 3sixty.

RUSU hosts regular Union nights; Flirt on Wednesdays and Reading’s biggest student night: Saturday Union. 3sixty is the main nightclub in RUSU and the main room for Wednesday and Saturday Union nights.

The venue is also a space for clubs and societies to practice and rehearse in, and Upper 3sixty - the balcony and mezzanine area - is a popular area to eat lunch and study during the day.

Last year, Children in Need and the BBC took over 3sixty and broadcast live to the country, supported by the University's cheerleaders.

What's on at 3sixty?

LGBT+ Students

The LGBT+ society is run for and by LGBT+ students and welcomes anyone who identifies with sexual and/or gender minority.

Together RUSU and the LGBT+ society won ‘LGBT Event of the Year' at this year's National Union of Students LGBT+ Conference.

This inclusive, intersectional society is open to all University of Reading students, and aims to create an LGBT+ safe space and a community where everyone is accommodating and understanding.

The Society has recently been campaigning for gender neutral toilets on the University campuses, a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment, and the celebrating of a Transgender Day of Remembrance.

As a society, LGBT+ is committed to representing all people under the LGBT+ umbrella, and all people’s concurrent identities outside of LGBT+ – they currently have BAME, Disabled Students, Womens, Postgraduate, Bi* and Gender Variant Representatives.

Find out more about the LGBT+ Society and visit their LGBT+ Society web page.

Find out what the LGBT+ Society is campaigning for...

RUSU JCRs

Most new students will stay in University accommodation called Halls. Each Hall has a Junior Common Room (JCR) committee and JCR Representatives.

The JCR is an elected committee and the representatives are all students who previously lived in that Hall. The JCR committee volunteer their time to represent the students within that Hall. They also offer peer support and coordinate social events throughout the year.

As part of the Students’ Union, JCRs represent the students living in university accommodation. If the heating won’t turn on or if there aren't enough varieties of breakfast options they will represent the students' needs.

JCRs also create a sense of community in each Hall organising social events that everyone can get involved in. This includes the organisation of the official University ‘Fresher’s week’ social events for each Hall. JCRs also organise many other social activities throughout the year, such as sports competitions, annual formal dinners and community volunteering projects.

Being part of your JCR is a great way to make new friends. It costs £30 to join your JCR (or is included in the price of your Halls Freshers’ Week wristband). The money that you spend goes towards organising campaigns and events to ensure that your hall is a safe and exciting place to live all year round.

Being part of your JCR is a great way of making new friends

Eating and Drinking

Within RUSU there is a selection of places to eat and drink and catch up with friends.

Cafe Mondial

Café Mondial is the place to get your Starbucks fix, relax with friends, have some lunch or take advantage of free Wi-Fi. It also serves breakfast Monday-Friday.

Mojo's Bar

Mojo's is the largest bar on campus and serves a wide selection of pub-style food and drink. It's open six days a week and is a great place to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. it's also the venue for comedy nights and Thursday's Quiz & Karaoke evening.

During the summer months you can take advantage of Mojo's huge outside patio, and enjoy a cold drink whilst watching the ducks and the geese on Whiteknights Lake.

For more information of bars, cafes and restaurants on campus visit our campus and facilities page.

RUSU Campaigning for Students

RUSU campaigns on behalf of its members and gives students the ability to campaign for change in the University, the Union itself and on any issues that affect students.

Recent successful campaigns have included:

Campaigning and negotiating to keep halls accommodation costs down, saving students over £210,000.
Campaigning for the University Library to be open 24 hours.

Shopping facilities on Campus

The Union runs Campus Central where you can buy groceries, lunch, stationery, all your University of Reading and Henley Business School branded merchandise and lots more. Every penny you spend in the shop is invested back into the Union.

The Students’ Union building at the centre of campus also includes Blackwell's bookshop,a Korean food store (Seoul Plaza), Cerealworks Bagel shop, Bubble Tea bar, a hairdresser, and personal mailboxes and printing and binding service.

There is also a bank on campus and two ATM cash machines.

Blackwell's bookshop – open all year round, Blackwell's aims to stock all the texts you will need.

Box office – selling tickets for all RUSU events, including 3sixty nights and the summer ball.

Campus Central – a Co-operative supermarket selling a large range of food items - catering for all dietary needs, with lots of Fairtrade alternatives, as well as services to top-up mobile phones, pay utility bills and purchase bus tickets. So much under one roof - in fact it is the largest Students' Union shop in the country.

Cerealworks – the best bagels in town. As well as bagels, you can enjoy cereals,porridge, waffles, smoothies and juices.

Job shop – part of the University's Careers, Placement and Experience Centre. Services include advice on future careers, and support in finding part time jobs, vacation work, placements and graduate level jobs. There is also an online vacancy board, My Jobs Online, which is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Mail boxes and mail services – offers a wide range of printing and postal services

Pearls Bubble Tea – selling over 40 unique flavours of bubble tea, including mango milk tea and passion fruit green tea.

Seoul Plaza – a large store in the centre of the Union selling a huge and varied selection of really well-priced oriental food. From fresh vegetables to frozen shellfish, with a small selection of hot food, including tasty freshly steamed dumplings.

Student lettings – helping students find accommodation.

The Study – state-of-the-art study space for students who need to revise, write essays or hold group meetings. It contains a study room, a lounge area, outdoor study space, toilets and a kitchen.

Uni-cuts – unisex hair salon. Offers a full service including highlights and now, eyebrow threading.

Because RUSU is a registered charity, any money you spend in the Union outlets is invested back into student life - creating even more opportunities for you to enjoy.

more than just a nightclub

Get Involved

National student survey

How RUSU can help you

Dancing

LGBT+ Students

RUSU JCRs

Cafe Mondial

Mojo's Bar

Shopping facilities on Campus

Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects F-G

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects U-Z

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects Q-Z

more than just a nightclub

Get Involved

National student survey

How RUSU can help you

Dancing

LGBT+ Students

RUSU JCRs

Cafe Mondial

Mojo's Bar

Shopping facilities on Campus

Ready for more?