With over 150 affiliated societies, there is a huge variety of activities that you can join! But what do you do if you if the society you want to join doesn't exist?
Well, don't worry, because you can set up a new society with support from the Societies Committee!
New Affiliations Process
On 2nd October 2025, the then Activities Forum voted to introduce a new affiliations process. Effective from 6 October 2025, the new process aims to provide more clarity and a faster turnaround time for our affiliating societies.
Affiliations will run once per semester, and will involve one month of in-person workshops. The next affiliations month is March 2026. Please submit all new society proposals by the end of the day on Sunday 22 February 2026 to be considered for this semester.
Why Affiliate?
Affiliating your society to the Students' Association has a number of benefits:
- Qualify for financial assistance in the form of grants, to assist you in putting on events which fulfil the aims of your society.
- Complimentary access to facilities such as room bookings and a stall at Freshers' Fayre.
- Priority access to resources like equipment hire.
- Society pigeon hole and email address.
- Support from Students' Association permanent staff and insurance.
Affiliated societies are managed and promoted by the Societies Committee, which will provide support if and when you need it, as well as provide training for your committee members.
Send us your society proposal!
To begin the affiliation process, you will need to submit a proposal to the Societies Committee. The proposal must include the aim of your society, a brief description of at least two events you would like to organise, and a membership price for your society.
If you are thinking of affiliating, please note the following things:
- Check the societies list to confirm your idea doesn't already exist. We cannot affiliate a society which intends to do the same thing as an existing affiliated society.
- Societies must be able to present a membership list consisting of the names and email addresses of 10 interested people.
- Ordinary membership of your society must be open to all students.
- You must charge a minimum membership fee of £3, though we can discuss options if this will be a significant issue for your society.
Want feedback before submitting? Email socs@ at any time, or find us in the Student Engagement and Exec Team offices on the middle floor of the Union!
The committee will then review your proposal and get back to you. Your society proposal may either be rejected, given feedback, or directly accepted. If you are given feedback, information for how to resubmit and the timeline for doing so will be communicated.
Submit your proposal using the proposal submission form before the end of the day on Sunday 22 February 2026 to be considered for Semester 2 affiliation.
Why are some new society requests rejected?
- There is already an existing society that has comparable aims and hosts similar events.
- The proposed society is sports-based.
- You will likely be redirected to the Athletic Union.
- The proposed society promotes competing brands or companies.
- This includes specific alcohol brands that are not currently available in the Students' Association.
- The proposed society is exclusive, or challenges the values of the Students' Association.
What happens next?
As part of our new affiliations process, you will then be invited to in-person workshops on the 11th, 18th, and 25th March. Please ensure a designated member of your committee is available for each of the workshops.
During the affiliations workshops, your society will be asked to create or provide a Constitution, Bank Details, and an Aims and Activities Declaration. You may also be requested to fill out a Supplemental Risk Assessment for some of your events. You can find advice on risk assesssments and events safety on our Events Safety page.
If you have any questions regarding affiliation, contact our team at socs@.
All documentation for your society will be due by the end of the day on 31st March 2026, and you will be invited to sign the affiliation agreement for 2026/27 in April. Your society is officially affilated from the moment you sign the agreement.
As part of the process, you will need to setup a Society bank account with two signatories required to authorise expenditure. In years past, we have strongly recommended Bank of Scotland. Unfortunately, Bank of Scotland left St Andrews in January 2026, but Societies Committee is actively pursuing alternative options.
After Affiliating
Once you have met the requirements of affiliation, the Societies Committee will give you access to all affiliate resources, including free room bookings and funding.
Explore the Manage Your Society area for the next steps. This includes holding general meetings, publicising your new society, and setting up your page on this website.
If at any point you wish to discontinue the affiliation process for your society, please notify us as soon as possible via socs@.
Get in touch with the Societies Officer if you have any questions.
You will need to reaffiliate every spring.
Improper behaviour may be reported to the Head of Student Engagement for action under the Association’s disciplinary procedures or the Student Conduct Officer for disciplinary action under the University disciplinary procedures.