Hillhead Review can reveal that the four student unions are receiving record amounts of funding from the University. Freedom of Information (FOI) documents show that in 2024, the University donated £2,666,983.30 to the Glasgow University Union (GUU), Queen Margaret Union (QMU), Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA), and Student Representative Council (SRC). This is up 42% on the £1,881,846.93 donated in 2021.
Even when inflation is considered, the funding has increased by around 18% in real terms, according to Bank of England figures. The money includes donations from the University, payments to the unions, and further funding from the University.
The SRC have consistently received the most funding, with last year’s figure sitting at £1,050,489.60. This is a significant increase on the £876,426.52 received in 2023. The SRC have received nearly double the funding of the GUU, at £578,443.34. Compared to the £291,699.82 received in 2021, their funding has nearly doubled in just three years. This is the most significant increase out of all the unions.
The QMU also saw a small increase in their funding, and received £536,003.30 in 2024. Again, this is a large increase on the 2021 figure of £442,794.12.
GUSA are the only student union to see a decrease in their University funding – the £502,047.06 received last year is down on the 2023 figure of £649,372.01. However, it is still an increase on the 2021 sum of £345,872.92.
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