As a Students' Union, we are a democratic organisation, run for and by students. Elections allow students to choose who represents them and leads the Union, and to decide the priorities for student life.

Nominations open at 5pm on Monday 1 December, and close at 10am on Thursday 5 February. During this time you can decide if you'd like to stand for one of the roles, nominate yourself on our SU website, and then start preparing your campaign. If you don't want to run for a post, you can still get involved by voting – and this is a really important part of the elections! Voting opens at 10am on Monday 9 February and closes at 10am on Thursday 12 February - more details will follow nearer the time about how the vote works

You don’t need to be an activist or “political” to be a Student Officer. The roles are about representing everyday student experiences and helping improve things that matter to you and your peers — like teaching, facilities, wellbeing, clubs and societies, or cost-of-living issues.

You’ll be able to make a very visible and meaningful impact. Your ideas can quickly turn into real changes, and your voice genuinely matters – to the Students’ Union, the University and most importantly – to students.

It’s also a great way to build confidence, develop skills, meet new people and gain experience that looks strong on your CV and will help your future career – whatever that is.

No! Many Student Officers have never stood in an election before. The role is about representing students, not having a perfect CV. Training and support are provided once you’re elected.

You don’t need to be an expert or have held leadership roles before. Helpful qualities include:

• Being approachable and willing to listen
• Caring about student issues
• Being organised and reliable
• Being open to learning

Training and support are provided, so you’re not expected to know everything from the start. You’ll just need to be enthusiastic, committed and have a real interest in improving the student experience.

No. Many successful Student Officers didn’t think they were “the type” to stand. What matters most is being genuine, approachable, and willing to represent others.

Standing in an election is still a valuable experience. You’ll gain confidence, learn how representation works, and show initiative. Many students who stand once go on to get involved in other union roles or stand again in the future.

Sabbatical (full-time) officers:

• Are paid, full-time roles (usually for one academic year)
• You take a break (“sabbatical”) from your studies or at the end of your final year of study
• You work full-time representing students, attending meetings, and leading projects
• This is similar to a graduate job and provides professional experience

Part-time officers:

• You stay on your course and do the role alongside your studies
• Hours are flexible and designed to fit around academic commitments, and are a voluntary position
• You focus on representing students in a specific area (e.g. welfare, education, activities)

Both roles are equally important and suited to different circumstances.

Yes, if you are standing as a part-time officer. These positions are designed with students in mind, and the expected time commitment is realistic. You won’t be expected to prioritise union work over your academic responsibilities.

If you’re considering a sabbatical role, you’ll pause your studies for a year, then return afterwards. Many students find this helps them refocus and return more confident and motivated. Or you will take up a post after you have finished the final year of your studies.

Our Student Voice team are always happy to talk through what the time commitment actually looks like – just email su.democracy@uos.ac.uk

Submitting a nomination means you are formally putting yourself forward as a candidate in the election. Once nominations close and your eligibility is confirmed, your name will appear on the ballot and students will be able to vote for you.

1. Log in to the SU website (orange button on the top right of the homepage)
2. Go to the elections page on the SU website (Elections 2026) during the nomination period
3. Select the role you want to stand for
4. Complete the nomination form (including a manifesto and photo)

You don’t need a proposer or seconder, but some roles have set requirements. For example, a School Officer has to be a student in that school or to stand for the LGBTQ+ Officer you will need to self-define as belonging to this group of students. Details are in the role description on the nominations page, but if you have any questions you can contact the Student Voice team: su.democracy@uos.ac.uk

A manifesto is a short statement explaining who you are, what you care about, and what you want to achieve if elected. It usually includes:

• The key issues you want to work on
• Your ideas or priorities for the role
• Why students should vote for you

Your manifesto helps voters understand your vision and decide whether you’re the right person for the role. You’re not expected to promise or know how to deliver big campaigns – just show that you care about improving student life.