The Big 6 – your chance to be heard and win!

If you’ve ever thought “Someone should ask what student life is really like…”, now’s your moment. This November, HWUnion is launching The Big 6 – six short surveys designed to turn your student experience into real change and give you a shot at some brilliant prizes.

What is The Big 6?

Running for just two weeks between 17 November and 30 November, The Big 6 consists of six separate surveys, each taking around five minutes to complete.

The aim? To collect anonymous feedback from students across all three UK campuses of Heriot‑Watt University and across every level of study.

HWUnion will then use this feedback at both a local (departmental) level and at the big-picture level to shape student services, support and facilities.

Why we’re doing it

We know student life isn’t just about lectures and deadlines. It’s about the full experience – from campus social life and accommodation to money worries, accessibility and what it’s like just being a student in 2025.

The Big 6 surveys cover six key topics:

• Belonging & Connection
• How You Learn
• Your Digital Day-to-Day
• AI
• Wellbeing
• Work, Life After Uni & the Future

By gathering this feedback, HWUnion is saying: “We put students first, always.” But feedback only counts if enough voices are heard. The more students respond, the better the picture HWUnion can build — and the more targeted the improvements

What happens with your responses

All responses are collected anonymously - you don’t have to give your student number if you’d prefer to stay unidentified
Once the surveys close, HWUnion will analyse the data and use it to:

• Identify what’s going well and what needs fixing (on a department/venue level)
• Plan bigger-scale improvements across the Union and services for the whole student body
• Make sure student voices actually drive change — because this isn’t just a tick-box exercise.
  And as part of transparency and accountability, expect to hear back from HWUnion about how the data shaped action.

How students win, win, win

• Win the survey: By doing the surveys you’re making your voice heard and helping shape your student experience.
• Win prizes: There are nearly £600 worth of prizes up for grabs. Every day during the survey period one student who completes a survey will win a £20 Amazon voucher
  • Complete one survey and you get one entry into that day’s draw
  • Complete all six surveys in one day = six entries that day
  • Complete one survey each day for six days = one entry each day
  • If you complete all six surveys, you’ll be entered into the draw for £300 cash when everything wraps up

• Win the future: Your feedback helps shape the services, events and spaces you’ll use over the rest of your time at university - which means you win the improvements too.

Quick how-to

1. Click “Start the Surveys” on the Big 6 page
2. Pick a survey (or go for all six!)
3. Complete it (takes ~5 minutes). Want more chances? Do more surveys.
4. If you choose, enter your student number so you can be in prize draws (optional)
5. Sit back (and maybe keep an eye on your email if you win!).
6. See changes happen - and share if you spot improvements come through.

Final word

This is your chance to shape the student experience at HWUnion, share how life at Heriot-Watt really is, and get rewarded for doing so. Whether you’re living on campus, commuting in, studying full-time or part-time - your voice matters.

We’re bright, bold and student-led - just like our brand. So let us know what’s working, what’s missing and where you want things to go next.

Take part in The Big 6. Help us help you. And maybe win something just for telling your story.

Click here to launch the surveys!