Visiting & Associate Membership 2025/26
Students' Union UCL offers the visiting and associate membership programme to welcome a variety of visitors and alumni to give them access to some of our top class services, sports clubs and societies. Whether a student from another university studying at UCL, or alumni wishing to stay connected with their old society, there is a range of activities you can access with visiting or associate membership.
Though we offer visiting and associate membership to hundreds of students, staff and alumni each year, not all applications are successful. Our primary function is to provide services for current UCL students and we have to make sure that the visiting/associate member's inclusion either enhances the opportunity and experience of UCL students, or make sure no opportunity is taken away from a UCL student as a result of the inclusion of a visiting/associate member.
Please carefully check your eligibility below before applying.
Visiting Membership
Members of other HE institutions, or students’ unions
You must be a current student at a higher education institution, or full member of another HE students' union. You will have to supply dated photo ID from your institution at point of application. We recommend that you check with the clubs and societies that you are interested in joining, prior to application, to see what opportunities they can offer you as a visiting member. Club/societies may be consulted about visiting membership applications but they do not have authority to approve any applicant.
Please note, we only accept applicants where their institution or students' union does not offer the same club or society that they want to join at UCL. If your institution or students' union offers the club or society that you want to join at UCL, your application will be rejected.
Visiting students studying at UCL
If you are a student of another HE institution studying at UCL you are eligible to apply for visiting membership. On proof of eligibility you will be approved but may face some restricted services (see below).
Visiting Students studying at a Study Abroad programme, partnered to the union
If you are a student within a study aboard programme such as Lawrence, Arcadia etc. please check with your college office before applying. They may offer to cover the membership fee for you through their partnership with Students' Union UCL.
Associate Membership
Graduate/Alumni
All graduates of UCL are eligible for associate membership. Please include proof of graduation with your application.
UCL Staff/Union Staff/Fellows of UCL
All UCL staff, union staff and fellows of UCL are eligible for associate membership. Please include proof of status with application.
Honorary Life Time Members
Honorary lifetime members of the union who wish to be involved with clubs or societies need to renew their associate membership account each year (no charge). You should attached a digital copy of your HLM certificate to you application as evidence of eligibility. If you do not have a copy please request one from [email protected] , stating which year you were awarded it.
Conditions
In addition to the normal union rules and regulations we expect all our members to abide by, there are additional conditions that apply to visiting and associate members:
- Visiting/Associate Members are not allowed to represent UCL in competitive sport (this is including, but not limited to, BUCS & LUSL competitions)
- Visiting/Associate Members are not allowed to hold office/a committee position within Students' Union UCL or its affiliated clubs or societies
- Visiting/Associate Members are not allowed to vote in any Students' Union UCL or club/society elections.
- Visiting/Associate Members cannot take lead roles in our theatre and music productions.
By becoming a visiting/associate member you also agree to follow the UCL Code of Conduct for students. Visiting/associate members not meeting this code of conduct will have their membership revoked, and any issues arising will be notified directly to the parent institution or other responsible parties as necessary.
Please note, some clubs and societies are at capacity, and are not currently accepting visiting or associate members. Please check our list of clubs and soceities accepting visiting and associate members before applying.
For more information, please refer to our terms and conditions.
Exceptions
Please note, these exceptions do not apply to affiliate students.
Capacity
Some clubs and societies are at capacity, and are not currently accepting visiting or associate members. Please check our list of clubs and societies accepting visiting and associate members before applying.
In addition to this, some groups have additional restrictions in place.
Sports Clubs
Due to updated insurance requirements, if you are looking to join one of the following sports clubs, you will need to purchase personal accident insurance before you are able to purchase membership of the club.
Once your visiting/associate membership application has been approved, you will need to submit your personal accident insurance to us through our online waiver form. Once this has been reviewed and approved by a member of Union staff, you will be able to purchase membership as normal. If you have questions about this process, please email [email protected].
Arts Societies
Due to a review of the visiting/associate membership programme, some arts societies have been identified as high-risk, and cannot accept visiting/associate members at this time.
If you would like to join one of the arts societies that has been categorised as high-risk, you can submit our online waiver form. You will need to submit a supporting statement from the president or treasurer of the relevant society to explain why you should be able to join their activities, and what benefits you would bring to their group. This request will then be reviewed by a member of Union staff, and may be approved or rejected.
If you have questions about this process, please email [email protected].
For more information, please refer to our terms and conditions.
Membership Fees
Rates for Visiting or Associate Membership of the Union are as follows:
£40.00 per year (Start date from 1st September. Expires 31 August each year)
£25.00 for three months (Start date from date of payment. Expires after three months or 31 August each year – whichever is sooner)
The fee is for union membership only. It does not cover membership fee to individual club or societies.
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