Student influence through student unions

Page reviewed:  13/02/2026

SLU has seven student unions which represent the students’ interests and work to ensure high-quality courses and programmes. The unions are independent from the university.

Join a union

Union membership gives you the opportunity to influence the important work that your union is doing. It also gives you access to a broad spectrum of social activities such as events, parties and various students societies.

You will find information about how to become a member on the unions web pages.

Student unions

The student unions are run by students – for students. By law, students have the right to influence their education and the social environment at the university.

SLU has seven student unions and a joint umbrella organisation, Sluss (the SLU Student Unions’ Joint Committee), which represents the student body. They work to ensure high educational quality and to provide students with the best possible conditions for their studies. The unions also play a vital social role, organising activities such as parties, spex (traditional student theatre), and sporting events, as well as maintaining links with the business sector and industry.

To champion student interests and ensure student perspectives are included in the development of SLU’s programmes, students are represented on most of the university's committees, councils, and boards where educational matters are discussed. By paying your union fee, you support these essential activities. The union is there for you, working on your behalf.

Find out more about student influence on the Education monitoring page.

Sluss

Sluss (Joint Committee of Student Unions at SLU) is a collaborative body for the students unions at SLU. Its primary task is to represent all students at SLU on general issues concerning the university. Sluss represents the students on the SLU Board and in the Vice-Chancellor's Management Group. The member unions determine which issues Sluss should prioritise and advocate for towards the university. 

Sluss is independent from the university and has two full-time employees. Visit the Sluss website to find out more.

Student unions and the law

Students have the right to influence the education at their university. Universities must endeavour to enable students to play an active role in the continued development of courses and programmes (Higher Education Act, Chapter 1 Section 4a).

Students also have the right to be represented when decisions or preparations are made that are relevant to their education or the students' situation (Higher Education Act, Chapter 2 Section 7).

At SLU, the process is as follows: based on nominations from the student unions, Sluss jointly appoints student representatives to SLU’s governing bodies at both faculty and university-wide levels. A list of current student representatives can be found on the Sluss website.

Contact

  • Student unions at SLU
  • Sluss

    Postal adress
    Sluss - The Federation of Student Unions of SLU
    Box 7088, 750 07 Uppsala
    Visiting adress
    Birgittatorpet, Duhrevägen 5, Uppsala

    Bankgiro: 5391-0709
    Corporate ID number: 817603-0586
    Contact the Sluss treasurer about any financial matters: slusskassor@slu.se