Can I run if I’m in my first or second year?
Yes! If you are interested in a full-time Officer role you should speak to your School first to see whether taking a year out of your studies is right for you. If you are interested in a Student Community Leader or NUS Delegate role, these roles are carried out alongside your studies.
Can I run if I’m in my final year?
Yes – in fact most candidates are in their final year of studies. If you are a final year student and you are not returning to your studies at Leeds Beckett University, you can stand for a full-time Officer role. Unfortunately, the Student Community Leader roles require you to be a student in the next academic year.
Can I run if I’m a postgraduate student?
Yes! The Students’ Union represents all students at Leeds Beckett University and students at any level can stand for election as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for the role they are standing for and can fulfil the responsibilities and time commitments of the role.
Can I run if I’m an international student?
To be appointed as a full-time Officer or a Student Community Leader you must be eligible to work in the UK. All international students considering standing for election should contact the Student Immigration Advice & Compliance team on siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk to seek advice from a qualified adviser before submitting a nomination.
You can find out more about the immigration requirements you may need to meet in order to stand as a full-time officer here.
What is a Full-time Officer?
Full-time Officers are students who are elected to lead and steer the direction of the Students’ Union in order to promote, defend and extend the rights of students. These are full-time paid roles that hold office from July 2022.
What is a Student Community Leader?
Student Community Leaders are elected to lead their respective communities and work with the SU to secure the interests and collective rights of students who belong to those communities. These are paid roles that will work up to 7 hours per week during term-time from September 2022.
Who are the current student leaders and why are they leaving?
You can see who your current Full-time Officers and Student Community Leaders are here
These roles have a set term of office, so the role automatically ends after a period of time with a new election taking place each year. Students can be a full-time Officer for a maximum of two years but must be elected for each year. You can be a Student Community Leader as many times as you like as long as you are studying at Leeds Beckett and have been elected each year.
I don’t know which position to go for!
If you’ve read the information above and are still unsure, you can contact a member of the Student Voice & Insight team to discuss which position would suit you. Contact them at studentvoice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Can I stand for more than one position?
Unfortunately not! It’s only one position per person.
Isn’t it just a popularity contest? How do you count the votes?
Not at all. As long as you have great ideas for improving the lives and experiences of students at Leeds Beckett then you’ll make a great candidate.
We use a voting system called single transferable vote. It means voters get a bit more of a say, by ranking candidates from most to least favourable. So, if your top choice doesn’t win, there’s a good chance someone you like will and no votes are wasted.
You can read more about single transferable vote here.
How do I write a manifesto?
Your manifesto or election statement should be divided into three parts:
- Part 1 - outline who you are, your experiences and what makes you the right person for the role.
- Part 2 – what is the main thing you would like to achieve for students if you were elected to this role? Think big, but achievable, this can be the project you work on over the course of a year.
- Part 3 – anything else you think students need to know in order to help them decide to vote for you. This might include any smaller ideas you have.
If you’ve set up any social media pages for your election campaign, don’t forget to include the links to these too!
After the Candidate Briefing you will be able to add your manifesto to your election profile on the SU website and this must be submitted by Friday 18 February.
What if I don’t have any ideas?
As a student you will be familiar with your own experience of your time at Leeds Beckett University – what changes would have made your experience even better?
You may also have course or house mates who have shared their experiences with you or can help you to develop ideas for how life at Leeds Beckett could be improved.
You may also find it helpful to take a look at the Students' Union's strategic plan, which sets out our aims for the future and what we want to achieve for students. Perhaps you have ideas about how some of that could be achieved.
Do I get a budget?
Yes, you do! You will be informed of how much you can spend on your election campaign at the Candidate Briefing. This amount is the maximum you may spend and will be reimbursed by LBSU.
What happens if I win?
If you win, you will spend time during the next academic year working on projects and campaigns that improve the lives of Leeds Beckett students. Full-time Officers work 37 hours per week from July 2022, whilst Student Community Leaders work 7 hours per week during term-time from September 2022.