University student organisations are challenged to ensure a positive and continually improving student experience. Choosing the right Membership Management solution for your Student’s Union can make all the difference. With that said, selecting the best one can be daunting, especially when you have so many other things going on.
University student organisations are challenged to ensure a positive and continually improving student experience. Choosing the right Membership Management solution for your Student’s Union can make all the difference. With that said, selecting the best one can be daunting, especially when you have so many other things going on.
(Our guide 5 Key Things to Think About When Choosing a Membership Management System can help you get started)
Among the tools available, proven providers such as Membership Solutions Ltd (MSL) and newer entrants such as SEN PRO might be amongst your choices. Each platform offers a range of solutions designed to streamline student engagement.
This guide aims to compare MSL and SEN PRO based on key areas including essential functionality, event and group management, integrations, pricing, support, and user feedback, so you can better understand the differences between the platforms and assess which one is right for you.
You'll find:
MSL
Established in 2005, MSL was born out of a student union, with the humble goal of solving challenges from within rather than pursuing shareholder returns from outside. This unique foundation drives our mission to support student unions to enhance and enrich the experience of any and every student. The MSL System® offers an extensive suite of tools to help student unions and universities achieve this shared vision.
The MSL platform is modular, allowing users to choose which modules they need to help them best achieve their goals. These modules cover everything from club and society management, Door Entry, Student Feedback, Elections and more.
The system includes data and an integrated reporting system for detailed analysis. MSL are also able to offer seamless integration with university systems providing the opportunity for Single-Sign-On (SSO). Not only does this allow for a smoother experience for the student, but it allows for a richer understanding of the student.
It is widely adopted worldwide, supporting and informed by over 130 student organisations and their 2 million+ members, across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and Canada.
SEN PRO
SEN PRO, launched in 2024, is a brand collaboration between the Student Experience Network (SEN) and Rubric (a Membership solution in its own right). SEN provides a platform to engage with student unions / associations while the technical platform is provided by Rubric. For that reason, when exploring what the system offers, we’ll also have to look at Rubric as that is the sytem you'll be getting.
Rubric was established in 2017, originally launching as the fintech platform Qpay (a payment platform for students, societies, and unions). After facing challenges in the fintech space, they pivoted to focus on the student experience rather than a payment platform. This shift led to the development of a solution designed to connect the whole university network.
It provides basic event management, membership tracking, and student communications. Like MSL, SEN PRO (Rubric) is also a modular system.
It isn’t clear how many customers use SEN PRO. Rubric however works in over 100 unions / universities. Largely in Australia & New Zealand but also in UK, and Canada.
At A Glance
Feature
|
MSL
|
SEN PRO
|
|
Latest Technology
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Support
|
Between 2 – 10hours
|
1 Business Day
|
|
Support Options
|
Extensive Knowledge Base, Live Chat, Email and Tickets.
|
Standard Knowledge Base, Tickets – Not with SEN PRO direct through Rubric
|
|
Data, Reporting and Analytics tools
|
Integrated, robust tools
|
High
|
|
Pricing
|
Custom prices to fit required needs
|
Uknown
|
|
Core Focus on Student Membership Management Software
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Integration with third party tooling
|
Yes
|
Unknown
|
Finding the right student membership management software means choosing a product with the features that fit your existing requirements, not fitting your requirements to a specific software. The student membership solution you go for should enhance your student union by making your processes easier, more intuitive and providing you tooling for every stage of the student journey.
MSL’s features
Some of MSL’s best features include:
Dedicated customer support
Once you’re all set up, we’re here to support you with your design, data, reporting, training, custom developments, and integration needs. Whatever questions come up, our team is ready to help. With a customer satisfaction score of 98.2%, you can trust you’re in capable hands.
Our dedicated support team are available by phone, email, or live chat – with an impressive average first response time of 2 hours 15 minutes during business hours, and 10 hours 40 minutes after hours.
Prefer to explore on your own? Our detailed knowledge base and customer portal provide step-by-step guides and insights to help you navigate the MSL System.
MSL System®
The MSL System® delivers a diverse range of student-centred services tailored to your unique needs. Built on dynamic student data, our solutions offer flexibility and include:
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Interactive websites with content management system
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Full membership management for clubs and societies
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Elections, referenda & Voting
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Event management & ticketing
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E-commerce
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Student voice tools
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Communication tools (Unlimited Emails, and SMS)
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Student feedback
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Volunteering management
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Student group finance
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Grant application system
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Door entry & venue management
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Advice and advocacy management
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Mobile apps
- Data, reporting & dashboards.
Whether you need MSL for sports and societies or to handle elections, our flexible, modular system has the right tools to support your goals, whatever the size of your organisation.
SEN PRO’s features
Key benefits stated by SEN PRO are:
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Is part of the wider SE Network
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Is the Rubric System which modules include
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Club Management
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Club Affiliations
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Grants & Funding
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Elections & Voting
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Email Marketing
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Reporting & Finance
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E-Commerce platform
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Website Content Management
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Case Management
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Volunteering
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Events Pre-Approval
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Meetings Manager
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Inventory Tracker
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Room Booking
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Tutoring
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Student Engagement App
Pricing is an incredibly important consideration when choosing the right membership management solution. Getting value out of every $ you put in is crucial.
MSL offers a flexible pricing structure. Before any prices are set, we meet with you to understand your needs. By working in this way, we are able to ensure you are getting the most value out of the system with which ever modules you choose to use. This makes MSL cost-effective for institutions seeking an all-inclusive platform.
SEN PRO offer a single fee for the year. Members may be able to get a discount however memberships costs range from AUS$1,784 to $7,143 per year. While the concept of a discount is sure to be enticing, it does tie your choice of membership management solution to your choice of membership organisation and the payment of that annual cost which will see your SEN PRO cost increase should you leave at any point.
One of MSL’s most praised aspects is its support structure. MSL’s dedicated support team provides extensive onboarding, training, and ongoing assistance:
- Comprehensive Training Programs: MSL offers hands-on training to ensure users are comfortable with the system, from basic operations to advanced customisations.
- Support Resources: MSL maintains an active, comprehensive, knowledge base, Live chat, phone and ticket services, giving users access to support when needed.
SEN PRO’s support options are more limited, consisting of Rubric’s support team. Unfortunately, there isn’t any information on what onboarding looks like from SEN PRO.
Rubric do offer a knowledge base to support customers. It offers a great resource for those looking for support on doing the basics, but those looking to do more will likely need to reach out for support.
MSL
MSL’s platform consistently receives direct and detailed feedback from members who value its impact on their day-to-day operations and long-term goals. For example, Salomé Doré, Communications and Campaigns Manager at Birkbeck College Students' Union, highlights how MSL enables their team to manage a range of functions – advice cases, emails, and website needs – all within one integrated system. This centralised approach supports their strategic aims, streamlining tasks and making daily processes more efficient:
“MSL...allows us to use the same platform for everything we need from advice cases to emails and website and that will help us achieve our strategy in the long term. I also know from experience that the MSL customer service team is incredible and always happy to help in a very effective manner, which is so important to us and makes day to day tasks easier!"
- Salomé Doré, Communications and Campaigns Manager at Birkbeck College Students' Union
Clients also frequently praise MSL’s customer service, which is described as responsive and highly effective, providing essential support that enhances both user and operational ease. Just look at our customer satisfaction score of 98.2% if you don’t believe us!
SEN PRO
A noticeable gap in SEN PRO’s public feedback lies in the limited insight available on how effectively their system meets student organisation needs. While SEN PRO’s LinkedIn posts often highlight member spotlights, these tend to focus more on the broader benefits of networking and attending events like SENCON, rather than detailing specific feedback on the system’s performance and impact:
“UCX loves the opportunities to network, share and learn from all of the other SEN members. We particularly enjoy going to SENCON to meet with colleagues in person. We have learned so much from our connections through SEN and look forward to this continuing long into the future.”
- University of Canberra
In summary, while both are good systems, MSL offers a more comprehensive, customisable, and user-friendly solution for student unions, guilds and institutions seeking to actively engage students and manage everything from the simplest to the most complex activities. MSL has been developed organically in collaboration with the sector, with our clients directly informing our roadmap to ensure we meet their evolving needs. Its extensive support options, advanced event management tools, and integration capabilities make it an ideal choice for organisations with diverse requirements. SEN PRO by Rubric, while flexible and potentially suited for smaller institutions, often requires significant add-ons to match MSL’s level of functionality and the breadth of its client-driven innovations.
For institutions aiming to provide a seamless, engaging experience for students, MSL is a clear choice:
- 20 Years of Experience
- Focus on latest technology and services – hosted in Australia.
- Dedicated support and training that facilitate smooth onboarding and ongoing usability.
- Cost-effective pricing that includes extensive built-in features, minimising the need for costly third-party add-ons.
MSL ultimately stands out as a leader in student union management, offering a robust platform for student organisations to connect, support, and engage students at all levels.
Enough about us, tell us about you!
Book a meeting to find out more about MSL