About Us

The Cheese Grater Magazine is the multi-award-winning student publication of Students’ Union UCL. We combine rigorous investigative journalism with dry wit and satire to produce a publication that is both loved and loathed.

"The Cheese Grater is a diamond in a sea of shit"
Gordon Thompson
Former Editor of Time Out London

According to legend, The Cheese Grater was conceived in the depths of Ifor Evans in February 2004 when former UCL student René Lavanchy became increasingly discomforted with the production values of fellow Union publication Pi Media. Lavanchy felt that Pi was sucking up to the administration at a time when regulations prevented serious criticism of the Union itself.

Today, we print three times a year and publish online on a rolling basis. We’re on Rare FM every Friday, and every other Monday we send out a digital newsletter summarising all the latest campus news, satire, and student discourse. We are proud to be UCL’s biggest publication by print circulation and readership.

The Society

The Cheese Grater Magazine Society is a broad church of creative and inquisitive individuals. Together, we publish The Cheese Grater, our sister zine Women’s Wrongs, and operate a Fringe-worthy sketch comedy group, the UCL Graters.

The easiest way to get involved is to turn up to our meetings. All you need is a membership, which you can buy here for just £7 – some pubs charge more for a pint! We’re a friendly bunch. Each branch of Society meets once a week.

The Society is affiliated with Students’ Union UCL, our publisher and de facto corporate overlords. We routinely piss them off anyway.

Awards

The Cheese Grater is proud to have won the most awards of any UCL publication. Our journalists are some of the best in London and we continue to be recognised locally, regionally, and nationally. Here’s some of what we’ve won in the past.

AwardYearCategoryNomineeResult
Guardian Student Media Awards2006Best Small Budget PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2007Best MagazineThe Cheese GraterNominated
Students' Union UCL Arts Awards2006Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2007Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2008Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2009Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2010Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterNominated
2011Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2012Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterNominated
2014Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2014Diversity and InclusionThe Cheese Grater Magazine SocietyWon
2016Most Improved SocietyThe Cheese Grater Magazine SocietyWon
2018Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2023Best PublicationWomen's WrongsWon
2023Best Media PieceNeil Majithia and Elettra Plati for Chun Buckets Everywhere: How initiation ceremonies ruin the freshers experienceWon
2024Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2024Best Media PieceMads Brown for TERF out Transphobia: The IOE and “Academic Freedom”Won
Student Publication Association
(London Regional Awards)		2022Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2025Best PublicationThe Cheese GraterWon
2025Best DigitalThe Cheese GraterWon
2025Best Design (Print)The Cheese GraterHighly commended
2025Best JournalistMalvika MurkumbiWon
2025Best ArticleAndrea Bidnic for A ‘culture of overwork and abuse’: Years after the first complaints, the mistreatment of PGTAs continuesHighly commended
Student Publication Association
(National Awards)		2023Best Media PieceNeil Majithia and Elettra Plati for Chun Buckets Everywhere: How initiation ceremonies ruin the freshers experienceWon
2023Best Creative PieceMathilde Turner for Naked Yoga: A Belligerent Ode to the PussyNominated
2023Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding CommitmentNandini AgarwalNominated
2024Best NewcomerWomen's WrongsHighly commended
2024Best Creative PieceBen Scanlan for Keir Starmer… A Day in the LifeHighly commended