The exterior of the Old Arts Building with ivy on the walls.

This is our advocacy

This is our research.

Public Research for Students

How does the UASU fight for what students need?

The UASU's Department of Research & Advocacy produces public-facing reports on surveys, environmental scans, and other original research driven by students' evolving needs and student voices. The UASU Executive team uses our research to champion top student priorities and bring new insights to the University and all levels of government.

How can I get involved in student research at UAlberta?

The two most important ways to make your voice heard through UASU research:

  • Join thousands of students every year on the UASU Perks app.
  • Stay tuned for our Annual Survey every November — you'll get the link in our newsletters, on posters, or in your Canvas account.

Angel Raina, UASU VP External, speaks with MLA Janis Irwin, Official Opposition Critic for Housing, at Week of Welcome 2026

Students Benefit

How does the UASU use research to benefit students?

Student leaders use insights and data points in all kinds of meetings and conversations across the University of Alberta, but also when talking to the government and the media. A few examples of how UASU research makes a difference for students:

  • In 2025/26, working with VP Academic Katie Tamsett and guided by community input, Research & Advocacy used the UASU Perks platform to research menstrual impacts on the academic success of almost 1,400 students. VPA Tamsett and her community partners used this research in consultations, events, and successful meetings with senior university leadership about washroom facilities and space planning.
  • Since 2023/24, Research & Advocacy surveys have enabled four Executive teams to fight for much-needed changes to automatic textbook billing proposals, saving students millions of dollars.
  • Every three years, Research & Advocacy runs the Health Canada HFSSM survey, which gives us some of Canada's best data on post-secondary student food insecurity. Proving that students' food insecurity is rising has helped student leaders secure Campus Food Bank support and better student financial aid.
  • Research & Advocacy tracks student satisfaction with the UASU in its roles as event organizer, building owner, service provider, business owner, student advocate, place to find ways to get involved, and provider of social infrastructure (the spaces, programs, and networks that connect people). These metrics help the UASU allocate its resources to meet students' needs.

Research Publications

A selection of our research reports.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Accessibility, safety, UASU services, partnerships.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Value of education, employment, AI, critical thinking.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Misinformation, democracy, partnerships, critical thinking.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Partnerships, quality of education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Indigenous student needs, food security, access to education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Municipal advocacy, employment.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Campus safety, health, quality, safe residence.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Safety, accessibility, ONEcard, bike cages.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education, safety.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Menstrual equity, access to education, health, partnerships.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Involvement opportunities, quality of education, menstrual equity, employment, safe residence, health, UASU businesses and services, SUB, satisfaction, food security.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Partnerships, health, facilities, recreation.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Food security, cost of living.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Employment, quality of education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Safe residence,

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Sexual and gender-based violence.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Safe residence, transit safety, cost of living, employment.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Events, involvement opportunities.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Employment, cost of living, access to education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Mental health, SUB, involvement opportunities, employment, cost of living, leadership, volunteering, transit, safe residence, food security, health care, accessibility, access to education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education, campus safety.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Volunteering.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education, cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education, cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Transit safety.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Involvement opportunities.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of living, safe residence, food security, financial welfare.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Campus safety.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of living, safe housing.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Campus safety, UASU services.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Democracy, involvement opportunities.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Involvement opportunities, food.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Student services, mental health.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Sexual and gender-based violence, student services.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Food security, UASU businesses.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education, student services.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Mental health.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Leadership, involvement opportunities.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, financial welfare, housing, food security.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Quality of education, employment, AI.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Sexual and gender-based violence, health, safety.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Sustainability.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Involvement opportunities, leadership, access to education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Democracy, cost of education, textbooks, SUB, safety, involvement opportunities, employment, food security, accessibility, access to education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Employment, quality of education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Mental health.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Student services, food security.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Safe residence, housing, cost of living.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Student services.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Leadership, involvement opportunities, access to education.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Financial welfare, cost of living, food security.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Accessibility.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Cost of education, textbooks.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Involvement opportunities.

STUDENT PRIORITIES: Financial welfare.