Over 4000 votes were cast to rejoin the national union - <em>News</em>

In the biggest democratic exercise the Imperial College Union has ever undertaken, record numbers of students voted in favour of joining the National Union of Students. The result was announced on Friday 17 November.

Over 4000 votes were made and the strong campaigning from both sides meant the result was extremely close. The referendum revealed 53.26% wanted to join the NUS and 46.74% were against it.

President of the Union, John Collins, stated: "I am delighted not only with the referendum result but also that so many students have voted. I would like to thank the leaders of both the 'yes' and 'no' teams for organising brilliant campaigns, I would like to thank our student media for co-ordinating a balanced debate and I would like to commend the Returning Officer, Jon Matthews, for keeping a lid on what has been an explosive and heated week of campaigning."

Leader of the 'Yes' campaign Alex Guite commented: "This is an awesome result for Imperial students. It is right that as we move into our centenary year that we are back where we belong: leaders not followers in the national student movement. Thanks to all those who voted yes to discounts, yes to a stronger Imperial College Union and yes to a national voice."

James Fok, leader of the No campaign, comments on the result: "Since the formation of the NUS, Imperial and its students have never had a good lasting relationship. However, our students have spoken, so our sabbatical officers must work hard to get value for money from the NUS and push for the reform they have agreed it needs."

But what does this result mean for the students at Imperial? Being affiliated to the NUS means students have access to research, representation, training and expert advice for both individual students and students' unions. The union deals with over 15,000 welfare enquiries each year and trains over 3,000 students' union officers.

There are currently 159 other higher education institutions and over 500 other FE institutions that are already members.