NUS-USI

📣 The voice of students and apprentices in colleges and universities across Northern Ireland.

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

As always @BelfastPride 2025 was incredible!🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Pride is not only about celebrating of our LGBTQ+ community: with trans rights under attack in NI, our movement was there in the spirit of protest 📢 we will always stand up and fight for true trans liberation.

📸 @neilhphoto

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Join us this Saturday for our annual Rainbow Breakfast for @BelfastPride!

Haven't registered for Pride? 🏳️‍🌈 Don't worry! Come along and we'll give you a FREE wristband to march with the Student Bloc 🙌

📸📸 Throwback to Rainbow Breakfast 2024 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

https://t.co/BSf58rKmWQ

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

The countdown is on for NUS-USI Pride Breakfast! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🥐

Registration open to all students and apprentices in NI 🎫 Sign up now for this FREE event + get your wristband for @BelfastPride!

https://t.co/BSf58rKmWQ

#Pride2025 #BelfastPride #PrideIsProtest

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

The Irish Government is reversing its previous commitment to reduce student fees, with students in the South facing a €1,000 INCREASE in costs next year.⁠
⁠
Just as we fought to stop £1,000 tuition fee hike in NI, we stand in solidarity with @amle.ie in this fight.

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Excitement is building for the annual NUS-USI Pride Breakfast later this month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Register now and secure your place as part of the Student Bloc at @BelfastPride on Sat 26th July.

A FREE breakfast, plus you get a wristband for @BelfastPride 🎫 https://t.co/BSf58rKmWQ

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Creche prices at @QUBelfast are set to more than double, rising from £28 to £66 per day from this September. 🚨📈

QSU President Kieran Minto has warned that the university's decision to increase childcare costs could lead to higher student dropout rates.

https://t.co/dDt08SfXpE

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

It's not fair that 16 & 18 year olds are paid less than those over the age of 21. There’s no under-21s discount on rent, and there’s no student discount on our bills.

It's why we're campaigning to scrap age-based wage bands: https://t.co/2bYpkkFJ8H

#FairDealForOurFuture

[Economy NI @Economy_NI]

Economy Minister Dr @CArchibald_SF has met representatives from @NUS_USI

The Minister said: “I was pleased to meet NUS-USI representatives today to hear about the issues important to students at our further and higher education institutions.

“I am committed to doing all I can to minimise the burden for students and any barriers they face so that as many people as possible can benefit from the high quality education available from the institutions here.

“I look forward to continuing to engage with student representatives and those within the wider third level education sector.”

[Cool FM News @newsoncool]

🚨🗣BREAKING: "I'm NOT prepared to raise students' fees."

🎥🎤Speaking to Chief Reporter @jamesgould23 at Stormont, Economy Minister Dr @CArchibald_SF says she will not raise university tuition fees “beyond the usual level of inflation.”

❗️It follows calls from the heads of Northern Ireland’s five universities and university colleges for fees to increase by more than £1,000 a year.

✍️The Minister has now written to her Executive colleagues, urging that “higher education institutions be prioritised” for funding to help “address challenges this year.”

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Tuition fees will NOT increase for NI students!

Economy Minister @CArchibald_SF made this announcement following a meeting with @benfriel today and a pressure campaign from the student movement.

An incredible win for students! 🏆

@Economy_NI @sinnfeinireland

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Following our meeting with the Economy Minister this afternoon, we very much welcome this news that student fees will not increase.

A massive win for our movement - a moment of relief for students across NI. 🙌🙌

[Cool FM News @newsoncool]

���🗣BREAKING: "I'm NOT prepared to raise students' fees."

🎥🎤Speaking to Chief Reporter @jamesgould23 at Stormont, Economy Minister Dr @CArchibald_SF says she will not raise university tuition fees “beyond the usual level of inflation.”

❗️It follows calls from the heads of Northern Ireland’s five universities and university colleges for fees to increase by more than £1,000 a year.

✍️The Minister has now written to her Executive colleagues, urging that “higher education institutions be prioritised” for funding to help “address challenges this year.”

[Gerry Carroll @GerryCarrollPBP]

Not only does education provide immeasurable benefits to students and the whole of our community but it’s disgraceful for so many who have benefited from University education without any fees and with grants to say students should pay more.

@NUS_USI

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

We've been engaging across parties, making the student opposition to £1,000 Tuition Fee hikes loud and clear.

This afternoon we had a constructive meeting with some of @allianceparty Assembly Team, @EoinTennyson & @PaulaJaneB

Support our petition ✍️ https://t.co/XSwLEcUZj2

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Thanks for meeting us and your support, Gerry!

Let's send a clear message to the Economy Minister, you can't place the burden of our broken education system on students.

Sign our petition ✍️ https://t.co/XSwLEcUZj2

[Gerry Carroll @GerryCarrollPBP]

Not only does education provide immeasurable benefits to students and the whole of our community but it’s disgraceful for so many who have benefited from University education without any fees and with grants to say students should pay more.

@NUS_USI

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

"Raising fees would be like going out for dinner with your family, picking the person that has the least amount of money and telling them you foot the bill!" ❌

ICYMI 🎙️ President Ben Friel spoke on the Nolan Show @bbcradioulster, making the case against raising tuition fees 🎙️

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Student leaders have written to party leaders urging them to reject any attempt to increase tuition fees.

With almost 400 people have already signed our petition, have you signed it yet?

Sign the Don't Increase Our Fees petition. ✍️✍️

https://t.co/zDcYHd9QjM

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

The Economy Minister has previously spoken out against raising fees, as it would place a greater financial burden and debt on students — we couldn't agree more. We hope the Minister stands by her position.

Sign the petition — Don't Increase Our Fees!

https://t.co/XSwLEcUZj2

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Great to hear from young people and potential future students on their views of increasing fees. Join lots of supporters signing our petition > https://t.co/XSwLEcUZj2

[BBC Newsline @bbcnewsline]

Leaders of our five universities and university colleges have called for student tuition fees to rise by more than £1,000 a year. They have written to the leaders of the main political parties asking for the increase. Our Education Correspondent Robbie Meredith has the story.

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Listen back to @BBCNolan this morning on the proposal to increase student fees from the universities. We say 'No more tuition fee hikes. Students deserve better!'

[The Nolan Show, BBC @BBCNolan]

Local universities say they urgently need £1,000 a year more in tuition fees. Is it fair for students to foot the bill?

@benfriel | @PaulGosling1 | Lucy McGuinness | @DHamill2004 | @CarlJWhyte

https://t.co/IrTJOvAxTV

[NUS-USI @NUS_USI]

Our president Ben Friel has condemned calls from university leaders to increase tuition fees. Students cannot be used as a cash cows to prop up a broken system.

Don't Increase Our Fees. Students Deserve Better: https://t.co/XSwLEcUZj2

[Cool FM News @newsoncool]

🚨🎓NEW: Significant uplift in uni tuition fees would be a "disgrace" with some students already "using food banks."

🎤Chief Reporter @jamesgould23 speaking to @NUS_USI President Ben Friel.

✍️It comes after university chiefs in Northern Ireland have jointly called on political leaders to back a significant uplift in tuition fees, warning that failure to tackle a funding crisis in the sector will force them to cut places for local students.

📃The vice chancellors of Queen's and Ulster University, Professor Sir Ian Greer and Professor Paul Bartholomew, and the director of The Open University Ireland, John D'Arcy, express fears the brain drain of young talent leaving Northern Ireland.

⛔️Mr Friel believes this is not the way to better the situation, saying that students are struggling enough as it is.