Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University
The Graduate Students' Union of Memorial University is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1971 that represents approximately 3,800+ graduate students across 170+ programs, delivering health and dental coverage, academic advocacy, grants, events, and a network of 40+ clubs and societies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSt. John's, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University does
The Graduate Students' Union of the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (GSU) is a non-profit, membership-based student union founded in 1971 that represents approximately 3,800+ graduate students across 170+ academic programs at Memorial University's St. John's campus. It is governed by 5 elected Executive Directors and a Board of Directors, supported by a small professional staff of around 15 (General Manager, Health and Dental Coordinator, plus vacant positions). The organization is funded primarily through semester-based graduate student membership fees, with secondary revenue from a managed health and dental plan administered through GreenShield under the Canadian Federation of Students' National Student Health Network, advised by Prosum.
The GSU delivers a portfolio of member services including health and dental insurance through GreenShield, academic advocacy and representation, travel and professional development grants and awards, free legal consultation via Rogers Rogers Moyse, mental health resource navigation, and the ISIC student discount card. It sustains a community ecosystem of 40+ ratified clubs and societies, runs orientation events (GradFest), and has historically operated the on-campus Aldrich Conference and Bitters Pub and Restaurant. The underlying technology stack is minimal — a Squarespace website, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and email-based member communications — with no proprietary platform, mobile app, or API integrations disclosed.
The business model is a subscription-based, member-funded non-profit with no disclosed revenue figures, supplemented by managed-services revenue from the health and dental plan administration. The organization currently faces budgetary constraints that have caused it to pause both the Aldrich Conference and Bitters Pub operations, and to negotiate a repayment plan with GreenShield through Prosum to maintain coverage continuity. Geographic scope is domestic, anchored in Newfoundland and Labrador with national reach through its Canadian Federation of Students affiliation.
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University
- Legal name
- Graduate Students' Union of the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Website
- https://gsumun.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Graduate Students' Union of Memorial University is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1971 that represents approximately 3,800+ graduate students across 170+ programs, delivering health and dental coverage, academic advocacy, grants, events, and a network of 40+ clubs and societies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Union Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)
- akta.pro industry
- College Access, Scholarships & Student Success NonprofitsBusiness & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development NonprofitsStudent Health Insurance Plans (University-Sponsored)
Keywords
Where Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. John's
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Student Membership Fees: Graduate students pay membership fees each semester which fund GSU operations, events, workshops, and member services including travel funding, professional memberships, professional development grants, and society support.
- Health and Dental Plan Administration: GSU administers health and dental coverage through GreenShield for graduate students, with premiums collected as part of membership fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Student Membership - Semester-based |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Graduate Students' Union administers a portfolio of member services for Memorial University's approximately 3,800+ graduate students, including health and dental insurance coverage (GreenShield), travel and professional development funding, academic advocacy and appeals support, free legal consultation, mental health resources, and community programming through 40+ ratified clubs and societies. Membership is funded through semester-based fees and provides access to the ISIC student discount card via the Canadian Federation of Students.
Product overview
Graduate Students' Union of Memorial University operates as a membership-based student organization providing a portfolio of services including health and dental insurance coverage, academic advocacy, funding and grants for professional development, and social programming through clubs, societies, and events. The organization offers student discounts through the ISIC program, mental health support resources, free legal consultation services, and runs the annual Aldrich Conference for graduate research. GSU also operates Bitters Pub and Restaurant on campus. All services are funded through student membership fees and aim to enhance the graduate student experience at Memorial University.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Health and Dental Plan Health and dental insurance coverage provided through GreenShield and administered by Prosum as part of the Canadian Federation of Students' National Student Health Network; available to all GSU members as a benefit of membership.
- GSU Funding (Awards and Grants) Funding programs including travel funding, professional memberships, professional development grants, and various awards provided to graduate student members.
- Academic Advocacy Services Support for academic matters including appeals, representation, and advocacy on behalf of graduate students regarding academic decisions and university policy.
- Student Clubs and Societies Over 40 ratified clubs and societies providing social, cultural, and professional networking opportunities for graduate students across various disciplines for the 2025-26 academic year.
- Aldrich Conference Annual academic conference held in collaboration with Memorial's School of Graduate Studies, bringing together approximately 300 graduate students from various disciplines to present research and engage with industry; currently paused due to budgetary restrictions.
- Mental Health Support Mental health resources and support services including on-campus counseling (Student Wellness and Counselling Centre), crisis lines, self-help tools (My SSP app), and GreenShield mental health digital clinic access.
- Free Legal Consultation Free 30-minute legal consultation service provided through a partnership with Rogers Rogers Moyse law firm, available to all graduate students via a request form forwarded by GSU.
- International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Free international student discount card providing access to over 150,000 discounts for travel, shopping, and experiences in Canada and 130+ countries, provided as a benefit of CFS membership.
- GradFest Orientation Program Orientation program occurring at the beginning of Fall and Winter semesters to welcome incoming graduate students with workshops, social events, and volunteer opportunities.
- Bitters Pub and Restaurant On-campus pub and restaurant operated by GSU on the first floor of Feild Hall; currently paused due to budgetary constraints.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,800+ graduate students represented across 170+ programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.
- Rogers Rogers MoysecoreLocal law firm provides one free half-hour legal consultation to all graduate students. GSU acts as intermediary, forwarding request forms to the firm which then contacts students to schedule consultations.
- GreenShieldcoreHealth benefits provider for GSU's Health and Dental plan. GreenShield accepted a repayment plan proposed by Prosum on behalf of GSU in April 2026, confirming continued coverage and claims payment.
- Prosum (Health Benefits Inc)coreBenefits advisor/broker for the Canadian Federation of Students' National Student Health Network (NSHN). Prosum proposed and negotiated repayment plan with GreenShield on behalf of GSU.
- School of Graduate Studies (Memorial University)coreCollaboration on the annual Aldrich Conference, an academic conference attracting approximately 300 graduate students. This partnership promotes innovative academic discourse and bridges academia and industry.
- Canadian Federation of Students (CFS)coreGSU is a member of CFS, working with 80+ student unions nationwide. Provides collective advocacy voice, ISIC card services, and National Student Health Network access. Over half a million students represented.
- Canadian Federation of Students-ServicescoreEnables student unions to collectively pool resources for student-owned services including ISIC (International Student Identity Card) and National Student Health Network.
- Student Wellness and Counselling Centre (Memorial University)supportOn-campus mental health resource provided through Memorial University, referenced as a resource for graduate students on the GSU Mental Health page.
- My SSP AppsupportMental health support app available to students as a self-help resource, linked on GSU's mental health support page.
Scale indicators5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Post-Graduate Students' Society, McGill University: PGSS represents McGill's graduate students with parallel services including health insurance (separate plan), funding, advocacy, and events. Strong functional and structural overlap, especially on international student issues.
- Graduate Students' Society, Simon Fraser University: SFU's graduate student society runs a near-identical operating model: semester dues, elected executive, health/dental plan, funding programs, and club ratifications. Direct comparable on structure and scale.
- Graduate Students' Association, University of Alberta: Alberta's graduate student union provides health/dental coverage, funding programs, advocacy on tuition, and a similar CFS-affiliated governance model. Closely comparable in scale and service breadth to GSU.
- University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association: UMGSA advocates for and provides services to graduate students at U of M, including health/dental coverage and travel grants. Same dues-funded, member-driven model as GSU.
- Graduate Students' Association, University of Toronto: Represents graduate students at Canada's largest research university, offering the same combination of advocacy, health/dental plan administration, grants, and clubs. Highly comparable mandate, revenue model (semester membership fees), and service mix to GSU.
- Graduate Students' Society, University of British Columbia: UBC's recognized graduate student union with a near-identical operating model: dues-funded, elected executive, health/dental benefits, travel/professional development grants, and a federated club structure. Direct structural twin to GSU.
- Graduate Students' Association, University of Waterloo: University of Waterloo's graduate union runs a comparable dues-funded model offering health/dental coverage, advocacy, and grants. Similar mid-sized Canadian graduate union footprint.
Others
- Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA): Adjacent union at the same university representing faculty rather than graduate students. Comparable in operating model (elected leadership, dues-funded, collective bargaining/advocacy focus) and useful for institutional peer benchmarking, but not a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Canadian Federation of Students: National umbrella body of which GSU is a member. CFS is not a direct union operator but provides the federated services (ISIC, NSHN, advocacy infrastructure) that GSU and its peers leverage — a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem.
Regional players
- Dalhousie Graduate Students' Association: Atlantic-Canadian peer graduate student union serving Dalhousie's graduate population in Halifax. Same operational model and similar Atlantic-Canadian context, making it the closest regional comparator to GSU.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University social profiles
Digital presenceGraduate Students' Union - Memorial University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University
What does Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University do?
The Graduate Students' Union administers a portfolio of member services for Memorial University's approximately 3,800+ graduate students, including health and dental insurance coverage (GreenShield), travel and professional development funding, academic advocacy and appeals support, free legal consultation, mental health resources, and community programming through 40+ ratified clubs and societies. Membership is funded through semester-based fees and provides access to the ISIC student discount card via the Canadian Federation of Students.
Is Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University a public or private company?
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University founded?
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University based?
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University is headquartered in St. John's, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Student Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are health and Dental Plan Administration.
Who are Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Post-Graduate Students' Society, McGill University, Graduate Students' Society, Simon Fraser University, Graduate Students' Association, University of Alberta, University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association, Graduate Students' Association, University of Toronto, Graduate Students' Society, University of British Columbia and Graduate Students' Association, University of Waterloo. Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA) is listed as an others. Canadian Federation of Students is listed as a broad incumbent. Dalhousie Graduate Students' Association is listed as a regional player.
Does Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University.
What industry is Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University in?
Graduate Students' Union - Memorial University's product category is Student Union Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAE, College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits, with a secondary code of FSAIAFAI, Student Health Insurance Plans (University-Sponsored). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.