Student life needs student leaders.
Will it be you?
Be part of the story.
Each year in March students put themselves forward for to lead their club, society, network or the whole of the Student's Union. Every student at UCL then votes to elect their new leaders. This is what we call the Leadership Race.
The people elected start work in the summer and spend the next academic year making more happen at UCL with the Union empowering them to make positive changes.
Each year thousands put themselves forward in the Leadership Race. And each year you come out in your thousands to vote.
You can put yourself forward to lead a club, society or the Students’ Union, then put together a campaigning, encouraging students to vote for you.
Most of the leadership roles (club and society committees, or student officers) are voluntary, undertaken alongside your studies, but six are full-time paid positions where those elected take a sabbatical year and lead the entire Students’ Union.
2023 was the biggest election ever at UCL, but we want 2024 to be even bigger...
The Leadership Race is the most important time of the year. In order to have a vibrant student life, the Union needs passionate student leaders to represent you and your voice. If you want to make positive changes to improve the lives of students at UCL the best way to do that is to take part in the leadership race. Whether that's applying for a student leader position or voting.
Did you know that student leaders have been pathing the way at UCL for the last 130 years? Student leadership is baked into our DNA. From activities to activism, student life wouldn't exist without students, like you, leading the way.
From founding the first Gay Society in the UK in the 1970s to setting up the first UCL Wheelchair Basketball showcase in 2023, UCL student leaders have been at the forefront of creating change and improving student life for themselves and generations of students who come after them.
Holding a leadership position can open the door to a future career you might not have even thought about before. Perhaps a leadership position isn't for you. If that is the case, make sure you vote in the Leadership Race. You never know when you will need a student representative or student leader to improve your life at UCL. In 2024, there will be a General Election in the UK, so casting your vote and having your say has never been more important.
The Leadership Race is open to all UCL students. So what are you waiting for? Apply now
The Leadership Race is your chance to choose who leads your club, society, and Students’ Union. Read more about the different leadership roles you can apply for:
- Sabbatical Officers
As a Sabbatical Officer, your role is to improve life at UCL for all students. You'll sit on important meetings, represent students and make sure your voice is heard at the highest university level. You'll have the opportunity to drive big changes at UCL with the support of the Union sitting behind you. This is a full time and paid role which you can do at the end of your studies, or take a year out during them.
There are six Sabbatical Officer role positions:
- Student Officers
International Students' Officer
Mature, Part-Time & Carers Students' Officer
Social Class & Mobility Officer
- Student Trustees
As a charity Trustee, you will be a member of the Trustee Board that ensures Students Union UCL has the necessary financial and structural stability to carry out its aims effectively. On a practical level, this means you need to be able to make major decisions on legal and financial issues and ensure that Students Union UCL is delivering on the political policy set by the elected representatives of Students Union UCL.
- Network Representatives
You can be part of seven Students' Union affiliated Networks that lead to create spaces of community! But they can't do it alone! So they have the following representatives on the committee to help them out.
Network Secretary
Network Social Secretary
Network Communications Representative
Network Campaigns Representative
Network POC Students' Representative
Network LGB+ Students' Representative
Network Trans* Students' Representative
Network Women Students' Representative
Network Disabled Students' Representative
Network Welfare Officer
- President of your society or sports club
As President you'll be responsible for full oversight of your club or society. You'll ensure that your club or society operates within its constitution and regulations. You'll also be the primary point of contact between your members at the Students' Union and you'll represent your members at all relevant meetings. You'll have ultimate responsibility for all activities, events and financial matters.
- Treasurer of your society or sports club
As treasurer you'll be responsible for all financial matters of your club or society, authorising and recording all income and outgoings.
Anyone can put themselves forward in the Leadership Race. And we mean anyone - you just have to be a UCL student in any year of study, at any level.
Applying for a leadership role?
If you're putting together your application and have some questions we're here to help.
We'll be able to help you through the nomination process and answer any questions you have.
We'll arrange a time to catch up, either with a staff member or a current officer. You'll be able to take your time to figure out what's right for you.
*If you are interested in becoming a President or Treasurer for a Sports Club/Society then please get in touch directly with our Activities teams on su.activities-reception@ucl.ac.uk or come and see us on the 2nd floor of the Bloomsbury Theatre building.
Sabbatical Officers work full-time for a year representing all students at UCL.
There are six officers and each officer has a specific area of responsibility:
- President (formally Union Affairs Officer)
- Education Officer
- Postgraduate Officer
- Equity and Inclusion Officer
- Activities and Engagement Officer
- Welfare and Community Officer
Each Officer has a specific area of responsibility, like Education, Union Operations, or to represent Postgraduate students. They’re part of the Union’s Trustee Board, part of UCL’s Council, part of the committees and working groups that shape UCL, and part of all the decisions which are made that affect students.
It’s a lot of responsibility, but Sabbatical Officers are supported by the staff team at the Union and get lots of training and development throughout the year.
It’s a unique opportunity leading a charity, and one comparable to any grad scheme. If you want to know what it’s really like day-to-day, our current Sabbatical Officer team are here to talk.
What you’ll get as a Sabbatical Officer
- Paid approximately £30k per year, with 27 days holiday.
- Extensive training and development, and the opportunity to undertake additional training when you need it.
- Influence at the very highest level of UCL and the Students’ Union.
- A unique opportunity to build a network of leaders in higher education and beyond.
- The support of a team of dedicated full-time staff.
- The chance to make real and lasting change at UCL.
Hear from some of your incredible student leaders about their experience of leadership at UCL.
"Being a leader is a team effort, especially with climate action, something that can only come when we work together as a community."
"Holding the position of Trans Officer has been really fulfilling to me because I've been giving the opportunity to represent and champion my community."
| MILESTONE | DATE (2024) | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Nominations Open | 29 January | 09:00 |
| Nominations Deadline (including Manifestos) | 4 March | 12:00 |
| Candidates Announced | 6 March | 17:00 |
| Voting Opens | 11 March | 09:00 |
| Voting Closes | 15 March | 12:00 |
| Count & Results Announcement | 15 March | 18:30 |
Your questions answered
- How do elections take place?
Elections take place online with voting opening on Monday 11 March. All UCL students will vote via a secure part of our website. If you nominate yourself, you be able to share a manifesto on your candidate page for voters to read, and take part in virtual question time events.
- Will I get support during the election?
Yes. We have a team of staff ready to help you. They can talk to you about the different roles, help you reach potential voters, and just be there when you need someone.
- Can I nominate myself for more than one position?
Only if they don’t sit on the same Policy Zone or both sit on Union Executive
- Can I run if I'm Postgraduate?
Absolutely, we have lots of postgraduates nominate themselves for election.
- What happens if I win?
You’ll find out in March, and you’ll start your new role in July. We’ll give you lots of training and support and help you with any paperwork you might have to do, like applying to interrupt your studies.
- Who can vote for me?
Everyone who is eligible to nominate for a position is able to vote for that position. Some positions, like Education Officer, are open to all students and therefore all students will be able to vote. On the other hand, only those who self-define as a woman, can nominate themselves for the role of Women’s Officer, therefore only those who self-define as a woman can vote for the position. Eligibility criteria is listed on the role descriptions.
- What are the rules?
In order for our elections to be fair, transparent and legally compliant, there are a number of rules and regulations that must be followed. We have condensed them to be as clear and easy to understand as possible. We'll publish the rules shortly.
- Can you share the role with another person?
The Part-Time Student Officer roles are eligible for a job share.
- What are the time commitments? And will I be eligible for the role?
To see the eligibility requirements and time commitment for each role please review role descriptions below.
- Will there be training and opportunities for development?
Yes, plenty. As all of our officers receive training which will cover a number of areas and skills including assertiveness, public speaking, working in a team and more. You will gain more experience just from being in the role. There will also be the opportunity to go to events and conferences relevant to your officer role as well as opportunities to work on projects that you are passionate about.
- Where will these roles be based?
The Sabbatical Officer roles will be UK based, working primarily from our offices at 25 Gordon Street in London, with some remote working.
- If I'm thinking of nominating myself for a position, who can I discuss this with to get advice and guidance?
We're here to help - the first point of call will be our Elections team, you can reach them on su.elections@ucl.ac.uk drop us an email and we'll get you speaking to the right people.
- Can I nominate myself for a Full-time/Sabbatical Officer position if I am an international student? Won’t I need a new visa?
Yes, you can nominate yourself. You will not need a new visa to your existing visa but you may need to get an extension. We will help you through this process and may be able to cover the associated cost. We have had a number of international sabbatical officers in the past, including students from Hong Kong, the United States of America and Jamaica.
Still have a question? Our Elections team is here to help, you can reach them on su.elections@ucl.ac.uk