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Throughout first term, we have been supporting, empowering and celebrating everything that makes life at UCL (especially life outside of the classroom) simply unforgettable. Read about some highlights from this term below.
This term has shown what it really means to be part of a community and find belonging. Joining societies and clubs, meeting new people, volunteering, and running campaigns, to finding support when you needed it, discovering your passions and finding your voice through student representation. These are the experiences that bring UCL to life, and it's what you remember when you leave (and go on to do more incredible things).
This term, you've been at the heart of it all. We’ve celebrated important awareness months, taken your voices all the way to Parliament, and ended the term with plenty of festive fun. Thanks for being at the heart of it all.
Kicking things off with our largest Welcome yet
To kick off the 2025/26 academic year, Welcome Week brought the campus to life with over 800 events spanning arts, sports, volunteering, career support, and endless chances to connect and make memories.
We transformed Gordon's Square into a festival ground to act as the stage for our Welcome activities, before heading over to UCL East for our biggest Welcome Fair yet - complete with freebies, a whole host of clubs and societies ready to meet you, and an appearance of our brand-new mascot, Jeremy Beartham.
Representing you: our student leaders
Rep elections
In October, we elected our new reps. After a week of campaigning, 6,429 of you voted and chose representatives who will play a vital role in shaping your student experience and ensuring your voices are heard across UCL. You can check out the results here.
Each year, thousands put themselves forward in the Leadership Race. And each March, every student at UCL votes to elect their future leaders. Your chance to choose who leads your club, society, and Students’ Union.
If you're interested in becoming a student leader, you can register your interest here.
Making your voice heard in Parliament
Our officers have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to represent you on the issues that matter most.
Eda, your Equity & Inclusion Officer and Vanessa, your International Students' Officer joined other Russell Group Students’ Union Officers at the APPG for International Students to discuss the impact of the proposed International Student Levy and make sure international students’ voices from UCL are represented.
Later in the term, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Eda, Education Officer, Sarah, and International Students Officer, Vanessa joined MPs and Lords for the first All-Party Parliamentary Group for Students of the year, speaking up about student finance and support.
Unveiling Print Room Cafe's brand new look
During Welcome Week, we celebrated the reopening of Print Room Cafe - Jazz society welcomed us in with an incredible set, and Anam, our Students' Union President, cut the ribbon to signal Print Room was OPEN!
The new look includes more plugs, more seating, and a new and improved counter layout - all of which were suggestions made by you. If you haven't already been in this term, make sure you check it out.
Moments that brought us together
The UCL Charity Swimathon
Over 80 of you came together for the The UCL Charity Swimathon, swimming a total of 3626 lengths of London Aquatic Centre's iconic pool, raising funds for Movember!
The UCL Halloween 5k
Spooky, speedy and full of community spirit! Students and staff from Bloomsbury and UCL East came together for the Halloween 5K on 29 October - amazing costumes and high-fives all round! We're already looking forward to The UCL Campus Run next term... watch this space!
Events in our bars
From Game Nights to Glittoris, our bars were the place to be this term - with fun, friends and plenty of laughs guaranteed. Keep an eye on our What's On calendar for all the fun coming your way next term!
An incredible term of artsUCL shows
A huge shoutout to everyone who has taken to the stage or worked tirelessly behind the scenes - they’ve brought this term’s arts shows to life and made every moment unforgettable. And a big thank you to everyone who came along to watch, cheer and support their amazing work!
This season bought a fresh and diverse range of student-led productions, featuring bold reinterpretations of Medea and Hedda Gabler, the iconic Chappell Roan’s Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess, and the glorious Sister Act, and more. Keep an eye out for everything coming next term!
Celebrating our community
Black History Month
We celebrated Black History Month with a diverse programme of events, led by our student leaders, groups, and societies. It was brilliant to see so many of you joining us to elevate and celebrate the voices of our Black students through storytelling, discussions, exhibitions, and food to showcase black history from the UK and beyond.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Our clubs and societies came together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wearing pink to training to mark the moment.
Disability History Month
This UK Disability History Month, we've been honouring the achievements, stories and activism of disabled people throughout history. It's been a chance to learn from lived experience and make campus more inclusive - there's still plenty of events happening throughout the rest of the month.
Movember
This year, our incredible student community came together to support Movember with events, challenges and fundraising efforts across campus. With Movember Ambassadors King Chalapati and Joe Lock leading the campaign, we raised nearly £26,000.
Liberate: The Phineas Art Gallery
We held the second launch of Liberate: The Phineas Art Gallery this term - a space to celebrate art, identity and community. Led by Eda, your Equity and Inclusion Officer, we were able to meet the incredible student artists whose works now fill the gallery walls. What tied them all together was a shared courage to create and to speak through art when words are not enough.
A term of giving back
This term, our Social Impact team has been leading the way in giving back, from Big Help Outs to social enterprise events, creating plenty of opportunities for students to get involved - big or small! None of it would have been possible without our amazing student volunteers, whose dedication and creativity have made a real difference. Keep an eye out next term for even more ways to make an impact in our community!
Festive fun to finish the term
To finish off the term, we brought the festive vibes to campus with Christmas markets, carol singing, festive treats and Discover London trips!
As we wrap up the term, a massive thank you to every single student who made it so special. Whether you’ve been volunteering, performing, competing, or just getting stuck into campus life, none of it would’ve been possible without you. Now it’s time to recharge and enjoy a well-earned break - you’ve earned it!