Can I be a Full Time Officer alongside my studies?

No, this is a full-time, paid position. To be able to undertake the role, you can either defer your studies for a year or stand in your final year of study. The role starts at the end of the academic year

I live at home - can I stand in the elections?

Yes! Anyone who is a Swansea University student can stand in the elections. It doesn't matter where you live!

I'm a first year - can I stand in the elections?

Yes, it doesn't matter what year you are studying in, anyone can stand in the elections!

On the nominations form, there is an option to upload a photo. Do I have to?

Please submit a ticket with your photo on our - helpdesk

A Full-time Officer is also a Student Trustee. What does this mean?

SUSU is a charity, which means we must have trustees to ensure that our actions are legal and financially viable. The majority of the Union's Trustee Board is made up of students, but we also have external professionals to provide advice. The trustees sit in important meetings, oversee the business elements and make sure everything we do is in the best interest of our students.

On the nomination form, there's an option to upload a manifesto. What does this mean and how do I write one?

A manifesto is a document that outlines why people should vote for you. You should write about why you would be good at the role and what campaigns or projects you would work on. Download our guide here

Can I stand to be a Full-time Officer if I am an International student?

International students can be Full-time Officers, but there are immigration implications that you should be aware of.

If you receive financial sponsorship, discuss your plans with your sponsor before standing for election in case there are restrictions.

If you stand as a Full-time Officer, this is permitted under the immigration rules, but you will need to extend your student visa at some point. It is important that you discuss this with an advisor from the International Office before you start the role!

This guidance is for student or Tier 4 visa holders. If you are here on a different type of visa, you should discuss your options with an advisor from the International @ Campus Life.

(This information is for general guidance and does not constitute immigration advice. If you require more details about your rights or what action to take, please contact Campus Life via international.campuslife@swansea.ac.uk)

I've nominated myself! When can I start campaigning?

There are two types of campaigning: Soft and Active.

Soft Campaigning is the preparation period. This is when you might get a campaign team together, make a Facebook page, set up Twitter accounts, make videos etc. Basically, you can tell people you are standing for your position, but you can’t tell people to vote for you or give them reasons that would encourage them to vote for you. No materials with your manifesto on, no videos online, no posters up. You can start soft campaigning when nominations close at 3pm, 22nd February.

Active Campaigning is going out and getting people to vote for you. Materials are allowed to go online, posters and banners are allowed to go on display, lecture shout outs are allowed! You can start actively campaigning from 6pm, 8th March.

Can sports clubs or societies endorse candidates?

No, clubs or societies can't officially support a candidate. Any sports club or society supporting an individual candidate can end up with that candidate being penalised. However, it is strongly advised that clubs and societies promote and support the elections generally!

Where can I campaign?

You can only campaign within the University campuses - this includes the entire of the main campus and other University buildings. You may also campaign within student nightclubs (at the discretion of their managers). You can't campaign in the library or Students' Union buildings or around computer labs.

Will the SU provide the candidates with any funding for campaigning?

The Students' Union will refund £75 allocated for Full-time Officer campaigning materials and £30 for Part-time Officer campaigning materials. You must provide receipts to show what you have spent by the end of the voting period to be able to claim back.

Will the SU provide the candidates with any funding for campaigning?

The Students' Union will refund £75 allocated for Full-time Officer campaigning materials and £30 for Part-time Officer campaigning materials. You must provide receipts to show what you have spent by the end of the voting period to be able to claim back.

How does voting work?

At the Students' Union, we use alternative or transferable voting. Watch this video from Wolverhampton Students' Union explaining Transferable Voting!

What is RON and NFP?

RON Stands for Re-Open Nominations and all elections in the SU have this option for voters. If you do not like any of the candidates in the election you can choose to vote RON. If RON wins an election, the role would not be filled or a by-election would be held at another time. Selecting No Further Preferences (N.F.P) is an expression of indifference towards all remaining options.

Active Campaigning

This is the time in which candidates can actively get people to vote for them. During this period, candidates are allowed to put promotional materials online, add students to Facebook pages, display physical promotional materials etc.

AGM

Annual General Meeting - This is a large forum where a wide variety of students come to debate and determine the direction of the Students’ Union.

Any student can attend, and any student can submit a motion for discussion. This is also where the Students' Union presents its accounts, informs students of its performance and listens to student feedback.

Campaign

Campaigning is the activity where candidates try and secure votes. Expect flyers, videos, t-shirts, banners and more!

Candidates

These are the students that are standing in the election.

FTO

Full-time Officer - the heads of the Students' Union who are elected by students to represent their views.

Hustings

This is an event where candidates can debate issues affecting students. Questions for the candidates can be submitted by students.

LGBT+

LGBT+ is an overarching term that represents people are not heterosexual or whose gender identity is not based on traditional gender binary. The letters in LGBT specifically stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual. Whereas the plus extends to other sexualities and gender identities.

LGBT+

LGBT+ is an overarching term that represents people are not heterosexual or whose gender identity is not based on traditional gender binary. The letters in LGBT specifically stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual. Whereas the plus extends to other sexualities and gender identities.

Liberation Groups

Liberation Groups are BME, LGBT+, Students with Disabilities, Women and Welsh Language. Liberation campaigns seek to represent and empower individuals who experience discrimination and disadvantages in terms of status and opportunity because they belong to, or are perceived as belonging to, a particular social group.

Manifesto

A manifesto is the set of goals that a candidate hopes to achieve if successfully elected into post. They help voters make an informed decision on who to vote for.

Nomination Period

This is when students can nominate themselves to stand in the elections!

NUS

National Union of Students - the national voice of students. The NUS helps students to campaign, get cheap student discounts and provides advice on living student life to the full.

PTO

Part-time Officer - they're elected by students to represent different areas students are effected by. These positions are undertaken alongside students' studies and are part-time and voluntary.

Quorum

This is the minimum number of votes needed for a policy to pass.

Referendum

This is when all the students at the University are asked to give their opinion about or decide an important political or social question. For each referendum motion, arguments for and against are put forward by campaigners for both sides.

Soft Campaigning

This is the preparation period before voting opens. During time students may be getting a campaign team together, creating Facebook page without people being added, setting up Twitter accounts, making videos etc.

SUSU

Swansea University Students' Union

Trustee

A trustee is legally responsible for a charity, such as the Students’ Union, and makes decisions on the direction of the organisation. The Students’ Union has a board of 9 trustees – 6 elected student officers and 3 externally appointed trustees.