History of the Guild

The University of Birmingham Guild of Students (Bugs) is the recognised students' union for over 27,000 students. Bugs represents and involves all students, under or postgraduate, home or international, on all campuses. Bugs brings students together on issues they care about to create positive change and achieve equality for and within its membership, through taking collective action.

The Guild of Students at the University of Birmingham is the officially recognised body which represents everyone of our students. In theory and practice, the Guild has almost complete autonomy in the running and management of its own affairs and premises. This includes the ability to employ staff, enter into contracts, hold investments and indeed form Limited Companies, as well as the running and management of our own facilities and the generation of income through sources other than the Block Grant.

The Institution had its first foundations in the Old Mason College in the City of Birmingham around 1876. The University itself formally received its Royal Charter in 1900. As a consequence both the Guild and the University officially celebrated their centenaries in the year 2000. The Guild possesses archives which go back to the First World War, clearly establishing a very long tradition of what we would refer to as "modern Students' Unionism".

The University has remained relatively untouched from the incorporation of Colleges in the 1980's and the more recent changes of Polytechnics into Universities (however over the last few years our student numbers have more than doubled to the present level).

The University is mostly a very large Campus to the south of the City in Edgbaston, with satellite sites including Selly Oak Campus in Selly Oak and the Dental School located in the City Centre close to the University of Aston.

The building which the Guild of Students occupies, currently referred to as the Guild, is situated at the edge of the Campus near the East Gate. The building itself dates back to the 1920's and has been added to and amended, most significantly in the 1960's with the addition of the new west wing and more recently the upgrade and change in the Berlins area of the building. It is 10,000 square metres and as such, is one of the largest Student Union buildings in the UK. It is also a characteristic and pleasant environment to work in and is a building that all those who are involved with the Guild are justifiably proud of.