Why join UCU? Almost 120,000 of your colleagues have chosen to belong to UCU - the largest union and most effective voice for people like you working in post-school education.

UCU is the largest post-school union in the world: a force working for education that your employer and the government cannot ignore. It understands the work you do, and the problems you face. And, of course, the more members UCU has, the more effective the support and protection we offer will be. 

Join UCU online today

Whether you are an academic, lecturer, trainer, instructor, researcher, administrator, manager, computer staff, librarian or postgraduate from a university, college, prison, adult education or training organisation, UCU is the union for you.

• You can join UCU online today by clicking here to go to our secure server.
•  or you can print off the hard copy application form (.pdf) [99kb]

Applications to join UCU are accepted subject to our Rules and such eligibility criteria as we have in place from time to time. We will contact you direct if we have any queries.

Joint union memberships

Medical Research Council staff and members wishing to take advantage of our joint membership arrangements with Amicus (CPHVA or MHNVA), British Dietetic Association (BDA), British Orthoptic Society (BOS), Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), Royal College of Midwives (RCM), Royal College Of Nursing (RCN), Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP), or the Society of Radiographers (SOR) should complete and return the appropriate hard copy application form available below.

Post completed applications to:
UCU Membership Administration
Freepost WC242527
Britannia Street
London
WC1X 9BR

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph & Theatre Union (BECTU): Any members of BECTU engaged in the field of educational technology and employed on university academic or academic related scales may become a member of both associations on a dual membership basis. Eligible applicants should complete the standard UCU application and direct debit forms (online or using the form below), and pay the national and local subscription rates appropriate to the income derived from the university employment. They should then inform BECTU that they are joint members in order to benefit from the BECTU concessionary rate on their subscription (BECTU, 373-377 Clapham Road, London SW9 9BT; tel: 020 7346 0900).

• UCU membership application form (.pdf) [99kb]
• UCU MRC membership application form (.pdf) [97kb]
• UCU joint application form: Amicus CPHVA/MHNVA, BDA, BOS, CSP, RCM, RCN, SCP, SOR (.pdf) [100kb]
• UCU/BAOT joint application form (.pdf) [49kb]