Oxford University Student Union

Analysis

Oxford University Student Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in March 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and amateur sport, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07314850). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, Oxford University Student Union reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.1m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £1.0m to £1.1m (+9.9%), an average of +2.4% a year. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Oxford University Student Union sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The London Philharmonic Trust (£1.1m), The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust (£1.1m) and Anthroposophical Association Limited (£1.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 84% and trading 15%. Charitable activities took 82% of spending and raising funds 12%. Reserves of £194k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 11 people.