Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answers to some of your frequently asked questions, and we hope you find them useful! If your question isn’t answered, please contact us at hello@susu.org, and we’ll be happy to help.
General Information
SUSU exists to work with the University to support students at Southampton. It is headed up by a team of five Sabbatical Officers, who are elected into full time roles by students. It gives all students access to academic representation, advice & support, events, activities and a range of clubs and societies.
Every student at the University of Southampton is automatically a member of SUSU, your students’ union. Memberships are available for alumni, University staff and Lifelong Learning students. You can find out more here: Membership.
There are often student support roles available in a wide range of jobs in the students’ union. From Reception roles to Bars and Retail, Safety Bus Drivers to Marketing, there are lots of roles you can apply for. A full list of current vacancies can be found here: Work with us.
Our reception desk is open 08:00 – 19:00 on weekdays during term time, and 10:00 – 15:00 on weekends and holidays. Out of term time the hours can vary slightly; you can find more information here: Find Us.
The Advice Centre can be found on Level 3 of Building 40.
No, the university operates as a “cashless campus”. The nearest ATMs are Sainsbury’s Burgess Road or Sainsbury’s Portswood.
Water fountains at SUSU can be found next to The Plant Pot entrance (Level 3 of Building 42), in Below Deck (Level 2, Building 42), and in The Advice Centre (Level 3, Building 40).
Parking is located at Broadlands Road. Please be aware that all users must display a permit, these can be requested at SUSU reception. Pay and Display parking is located at the top of University Road.
Rooms and Bookings
We have a range of rooms and spaces available in the SUSU building that can be booked. These are:
- Activities Room
- Multi-Purpose Studio
- Clubs & Societies Room
- The Cube
- Meeting Room 2
- Veg Out
If you need further information about a specific room (capacity, flooring, facilities) please email hello@susu.org.
Block Bookings: for any enquiries regarding club and society block bookings please get in touch with suactivities@soton.ac.uk.
One-off room bookings: one-off room bookings in the Activities Room, Clubs and Societies Room and Meeting Room 2 can be made at Reception.
Event bookings: to book spaces such as The Cube, The Bridge, The Stag’s or Veg Out for events please fill out an event proposal form on IVvy.
If you have queries about booking please contact us at subookings@soton.ac.uk.
Booking is free of charge for SUSU affiliated clubs and societies. Additional charges may occur for events requiring catering or tech.
Club and society block bookings are made via the Activities team before the start of the academic year in August. If you are booking outside of this time, please contact reception@soton.ac.uk with your request and we may be able to accommodate you.
All of our spaces at SUSU are wheelchair accessible. On Level 4 of Building 42, and Level 2 of Building 40, you will find lifts which can take you to all the floors in the building.
The Multi-Purpose Studio can only be booked by contacting the Dance Society.
The Piano Room is on Level 1 of Building 40. Take the stairs or lift to Level 1, then turn right and the Piano Room is at the end of the corridor.
The Piano Room is booked on a first-come, first-served basis where each person can use the room for a maximum of one hour at a time.
Please visit SUSU reception on the day of your booking and our team will be happy to help you.
To cancel we need at least 2 weeks notice. Please email us at subookings@soton.ac.uk.
Please post the key in the drop off box which is located at the main entrance to SUSU Building 42 under the digital advertising screen.
If you have a space booked on Redbrick and it rains on the day of your event we may be able to offer you a space inside Building 42, however this would depend upon availability.
Sports and Activities
Every society and sports club can be found on our Activities pages. Each club or society page has their own page with general information, links to social media accounts, as well as membership details.
Each page includes details of the club or society committee, so you can get in touch with any questions you may have.
The Team Southampton Sports Hall can only be booked by contacting Southampton Sport.
The squash courts in Building 42 can only be booked by contacting Southampton Sport.
You can collect squash rackets from Jubilee Sports Hall Reception (Building 18).
Transport
To book a SUSU minibus please complete this form: SUSU Vehicle Hire.
This page will also let you know the cost of hiring the buses. Your driver must have passed the SUSU minibus test to be able to drive our minibuses. If there is no availability for your required dates, you will need to book a minibus externally.
You can book externally with Arnold Clark or Southern Self Drive in Fareham to externally hire a vehicle yourself. They accept student hires under the SUSU insurance policy. You should approach this as an independent booking, and organise payment, pick-up and drop-off yourselves. Book your vehicle under the name ‘Susu Southampton University.’
Before you collect the vehicle, you will need to take out temporary vehicle insurance from SUSU, or the company will not let you collect the keys. To do this, please come to main reception in Building 42 (open 08:00 – 20:00 on weekdays) and fill in a temporary vehicle cover form and pay – the reception team can help you with this. Please then take this form and your booking receipt with you when you collect the vehicle.
Please email hello@susu.org with your name, availability and (if applicable) your club or society. You will be added to the waiting list and an examiner will get in touch when they have availability to book you in.
The Safety Bus is a FREE service to help make sure you get home from our venues on campus safely. It runs every evening during term time from outside SUSU Building 42 at Highfield Campus, and will drop you off right at your door!
The Safety Bus runs on the hour, and will also leave sooner if needed. If we are running events on campus after midnight, the Safety Bus will run on the hour until the event finishes to ensure you can get home safely.
You can find out more about the Safety Bus, including operating hours, here: SUSU Safety Bus.
No, you cannot book the Safety Bus in advance.
The Safety Bus will drop you off at home or wherever you are staying. When you get on the Safety Bus the driver will ask you and any other passengers for an address and will create a route from there.
There will be a dedicated trip each night at 21:00 for students living in Winchester. Additional trips may be possible depending on demand on the night, or alternatively the drivers will be happy to take Winchester students to the train station or bus stop.
If the Safety Bus is full the driver will ask anyone who is left to wait until they get back.
The Safety Bus is for everyone! Whether you are in The Stag’s, stayed late in the library, or you’re going home from a society event, the Safety Bus will take you home.
Please note: due to limited seats, during busy times the Safety Bus driver will give priority to those who are vulnerable or going home alone.
Student Voice
Information about our annual Leadership, Autumn and Summer Elections can be found here: Elections.
You can find out who your Course Reps and Academic Reps are by visiting this page: Academic Representation. You must be logged in to be able to view who your Reps are.
If you’re struggling to find your Rep, you can contact representation@susu.org.
Marketing and Events
All clubs and societies can upload events to SUSU’s events calendar through Groups Hub.
Clubs and societies can also book onto digital screen space and takeovers on Instagram. Please contact suactivities@soton.ac.uk or sucomms@soton.ac.uk for more information.
If you’re not part of an affiliated club or society, please contact sucomms@soton.ac.uk and our Marketing team will be able to help you.
You can find a full list of events at our What’s On events calendar. Make sure you’re following our What’s On Instagram or Facebook to hear about latest events!
Event tickets can be bought through our Box Office.