National Campaign calling for action on UK Student Loan Debt is coming to UoGSU on 20th May.

Your SU plays a special and unique role in amplifying student voices: raising student issues together has far more impact than any individual could have alone – There is power in our Union.              

Our members tell us that they want a place that puts students first. Nearly 90% of our members believe we should champion the voice of students locally and nationally and over 90% of members believe student focussed campaigns are important.

You will have seen incredible campaigns this year from our Officer Team, with many of them focussing on a priority issue for students, the cost-of-living and student finances, and now we will be hosting NUS at Park Campus SU on the 20th May to get UoG students involved in the fight for a fairer student loan system.

We are one of the first Unions in the country to be asked to host the NUS UK Student Debt Doomsday Clock, which is a campaign tool highlighting that UK student debt is growing by roughly £1,258 per second, totalling over £200 billion.

Launched last month; it highlights ballooning debt, rising interest, and frozen repayment thresholds, aiming to push for a fairer student finance system.

Keep an eye on the SU Website and socials for more details on the day as we get them.

Key Aspects of the NUS 2026 Campaign:

• Rapid Growth: The clock shows debt increases by roughly £75.5k per minute, £4.5m per hour, and £108m per day
• The "Doomsday" Context: The campaign highlights that many graduates, particularly on Plan 2, see their debt rise even while making payments
• Campaign Goals: The NUS is demanding an end to freezing repayment thresholds and are protesting what they describe as "loan shark" practices by the government, which they claim leaves graduates with massive, insurmountable debt

The campaign serves as a visual protest against the long-term financial burden on graduates, many of whom will not pay off their loans before they are written off, resulting in a system where the interest alone increases the overall national student debt pile.

You can sign the petition calling on the Chancellor to reverse the freeze on loan repayment thresholds, reform interest rates so balances do not grow faster than repayments and introduce clearer, fairer terms as part of the ‘Don’t Freeze our Futures’ action here

At our heart, UoGSU is an education charity that champions students’ rights through collectivism, supports student wellbeing and is there to help when things aren’t heading in the right direction – By supporting and hosting campaigns like this from our national union, we are committing to this action.

If you want more information on current national campaigns calling for change through collective action, visit https://www.nus.org.uk/campaigns

If you would like information on how to start a campaign here at UoG, or start local collective action for a national issue you feel passionate about, email the student voice team at sustudentvoice@glos.ac.uk We can’t wait to hear from you!