OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION
REPRESENTS STUDENT MEMBERS, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY MAIN CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND GOVERNING BODIES/OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD SUPPLIES GOODS SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO STUDENTS/STUDENT ORGANISATIONS PROMOTES SOCIAL, CULTURAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FURTHERS THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS IN ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND YOUTH ISSUES WITH A DIRECT EFFECT ON STUDENTS/EDUCATION.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a total surplus of £57,052 for the year ended 31 July 2025, with unrestricted general funds increasing to £194,075. The trustees confirm that these unrestricted funds are above the stated target reserves level of £191,227, indicating the charity remains in a net surplus position with adequate resources to continue in operational existence.
What the accounts disclose
“Two employee's remuneration (excluding employer pension and national insurance contributions) exceeded £60,000 in the year. The remuneration of key management personnel (including employer pension and national insurance contributions) was £266,968 (2024: £306,472). This relates to the chief executive, change director and the remunerated trustees.” — page 36
“Two employee's remuneration (excluding employer pension and national insurance contributions) exceeded £60,000 in the year.” — page 36
“No trustees received any remuneration in the year in their capacity as trustees, but, as permitted by Article 6.6.6(a) of Oxford SU's Articles of Association, the following trustees received remuneration for other services as sabbatical officers during the period.” — page 36
“The University of Oxford acts as a corporate trustee to the charity and is the principal funder through an annual block grant, with additional contributions from university colleges which make up the collegiate university.” — page 20
“The activities of OSSL Limited, Oxford SU's trading subsidiary, are consolidated within these financial statements.” — page 17
“The University of Oxford acts as a corporate trustee to the charity and is the principal funder through an annual block grant, with additional contributions from university colleges which make up the collegiate university.” — page 20
“The activities of OSSL Limited, Oxford SU's trading subsidiary, are consolidated within these financial statements.” — page 17
“The activities of OSSL Limited, Oxford SU's trading subsidiary, are consolidated within these financial statements.” — page 17
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (FY2024) → 2 (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Zagham Farhan — SU President for Undergraduates
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Trustees
- Aisha Dadani
- Benjamin James Ward
- Catherine Oyinkansola Kola-Balogun
- Charlie Nigel Frank Palmer
- Charlotte Rosa Riddell Sandberg
- Dingwen Quan
- Eleanor Elizabeth Miller
- Honcques Laus
- Isabel Hetherington
- Professor Conall Mac Niocaill
- Roxana Maria Rusu
- Zagham Farhan
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £1.1m | £1.1m |
| 31/07/2024 | £1.1m | £1.1m |
| 31/07/2023 | £1.1m | £938k |
| 31/07/2022 | £1.1m | £1.1m |
| 31/07/2021 | £1.0m | £986k |
Common questions
Is OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a total surplus of £57,052 for the year ended 31 July 2025, with unrestricted general funds increasing to £194,075. The trustees confirm that these unrestricted funds are above the stated target reserves level of £191,227, indicating the charity remains in a net surplus position with adequate resources to continue in operational existence. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the more than £60,000 band, and 2 employees earned over £60,000.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE MARTIN SMITH FOUNDATION | 1 | £57k |
| THE EDWARD & CATHERINE WRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £40k |
| Friends of the Nations' Libraries | 1 | £4k |
| SHEFFIELD TOWN TRUST | 1 | £3k |
| THE OUSELEY CHURCH MUSIC TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST COOKHAM DEAN | 1 | £30 |
Charities like this
- SHEFFIELD HALLAM STUDENTS' UNION
- UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON STUDENTS' UNION
- UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN STUDENTS UNION
- Headington School Oxford Limited
- THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST IN OXFORD OF THE FOUNDATION OF KING HENRY VIII
- SHEFFIELD OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY SERVICE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION | £1.1m | more than £60,000 | 2 | above | — | no doubt |
| SHEFFIELD HALLAM STUDENTS' UNION | £2.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON STUDENTS' UNION | £2.7m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN STUDENTS UNION | £5.7m | £130,001 - £140,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Headington School Oxford Limited | £28.8m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST IN OXFORD OF THE FOUNDATION OF KING HENRY VIII | £50.0m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |