Sabbatical Elections 2025
Sabbatical Officers (Presidents and Vice Presidents) are elected by students to lead the Students' Union. The sabbatical officer elections are the opportunity for any member of the students' union to nominate themselves and then campaign to win the votes of students.
The sabbatical officer elections are a key part of union democracy and the votes of students directing what the Students' Union works on in the next academic year.
The 4 democratically elected roles are:
Key dates
The nominations period is open from 12pm Monday 13 January 2025 to 12pm Thursday 13 February 2025.
This is a time for anyone interested in being a candidate in the election to consider what their priority would be for their time in the role and how they plan to win the votes of students.
We will announce the candidates and campaigning begins 12pm on Friday 21 February 2025.
Voting is open from Monday 24 February 2025 to Thursday 27 February 2025.
Getting students voting is a key part of the sabbatical election. By voting in the election, you have your say on the key priorities of the union for next academic year.
Why should I vote in the elections?
The SU Sabbatical Elections are held annually, giving you, the students, an opportunity to elect your new Presidents. The Sabbaticals lead SU activity and represent students’ views and opinions for the coming academic year. Voting is important because you get your voice heard!
Any Other Questions?
We understand that you might have more questions regarding how the elections are going to work this year - thats why we've made a handy guide full of FAQs. You can read these below!
If you have any questions that are not answered in our FAQs, please feel free to get in contact with us at info@thesu.org.uk, or pop into The SU for a chat! We're always happy to hear from you.
Are the roles of Sabbatical Officers paid jobs?
Yes! They are 12 month full time paid positions. Check the job description for the salary.
I am an International Student, can I still apply?
What experience do you need to be a Sabbatical Officer?
None! You don’t need any previous experience, you just need skills that will help you achieve your priority for the year and represent the student voice! If you are successful in getting elected, you will be trained, mentored and supported throughout your time as President so you can excel in your role.
What year of studying must I be in to be a candidate?
You can be in any study year! Basically you need to be a current student at Falmouth University or University of Exeter, Cornwall Campuses. You can either take a sabbatical, a year out of your studies, to be a Sabbatical Officer. Or you can do it after your studies have finished, as long as you’re a current student when you get elected.
Why do I want to be an SU Sabbatical Officer?
There are so many reasons why this is an amazing opportunity! But here’s just a few:
- It’s a paid job! For a year you will be paid to work full time on improving the student experience.
- The experience and training you will gain during your role will greatly increase your employability options.
- You will have the opportunity to sit in meetings with top university staff who will listen to you as one of the key representatives of the student voice.
- You will be working and collaborating with a variety of SU staff with a wealth of experience
- As President you will also be a Sabbatical Trustee. As member of the SU’s board of trustees you will gain invaluable experience of setting direction and strategy of a charity whilst ensuring the SU’s work is effective, responsible and legal. This is amazing for you CV!
- You can make a big difference! You will help improve the student experience so that even if you’re in your final study year and therefore not benefitting from the change directly, there’s thousands of students who will!
R.O.N stands for Re-Open Nominations, and is a valid option for all roles in our Sabbatical Election. The purpose of R.O.N is to give all students an alternative option if they do not feel that there is a candidate who represents them effectively, has a manifesto they support or if they feel that none of the candidates are a viable option to get elected.
Recommend a Friend
If you have a friend who is passionate about making university life better and has some great ideas on how to do so - you can recommend them and we'll reach out to them!
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