SOAS SU — Elections 2026

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Sabbatical Officers and NUS Delegates for 2026/27

Students will elect the Co-Presidents during the sabbatical officer elections. These are full-time paid leadership roles responsible for representing and campaigning on behalf of SOAS students.

Use the cards below to jump to the full role descriptions. Further details on salary, term dates, and election process will be shared during the 2026 Sabbatical Officer Elections.

Full-Time Sabbatical

Co-President Democracy & Education

Leads on democracy, academic representation, student voice, and the strategic direction of the Students’ Union.

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Full-Time Sabbatical

Co-President Activities & Campaigns

Supports societies, student activities, major union events, and campaigns that build campus life.

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Full-Time Sabbatical

Co-President Welfare & Liberation

Leads on welfare, liberation, campaigns, and the student support issues that shape daily life at SOAS.

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Delegate Role

NUS Conference Delegate

Represents SOAS students at NUS National Conference and helps shape national student debate and policy.

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Role Descriptions

Expand each role below to view the outline, responsibilities, benefits, and person specification.

The Co-President Democracy and Education is responsible for ensuring that students’ voices are heard in the University and the SU, by being a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, championing students’ educational experience, working with Student Reps and leading on democracy within the SU. As Chair of the Board of Trustees they are also ultimately responsible for the leadership and direction of the SU.

Dates: TBC · Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Representative and Campaigner
1. Work alongside students, finding out their views and experiences and advocating on their behalf.
2. Act in students’ interests by supporting student-led campaigns and projects to improve their experience.
3. Represent SOAS students on School Committees and attend regular meetings with the Director of the School in order to make change in students’ lives.
4. Represent the Union externally, working with other students’ unions, the NUS and other organisations.
5. Work closely with other Union Officers and Union Staff members.
6. Engage in collective decision making and accountability with the Executive Committee by being accountable to them, consulting them before taking actions where practical, reporting activities as well as facilitating other members’ work.
7. Support democracy and promote active citizenship within the SU by attending and participating in democratic meetings such as General Meetings and Union Forums.
8. Create positive change in the SU by carrying out Union Policy set by members and your manifesto points.
Trustee
1. All Sabbatical Officers are Trustees of the SU. This means that they are responsible for the finances, reputation and legal compliance of the Union.
2. Be responsible for ensuring the SU pursues its charitable objectives.
3. Oversee the governance, finance and strategy of the SU.
4. Ensure that the SU complies with its governing documents, charity law and other relevant legislation or regulations.
Benefits
1. Training and induction programme, including Trustee training and a handover between the outgoing and incoming officer team.
2. 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays and agreed closure days.
Personal Profile
1. Committed to students and SOAS SU
2. Ability to network, influence and communicate effectively
3. Willingness to represent students’ opinions, even where they diverge from your own
4. Ability to critically evaluate
5. Attention to detail in the context of strategic decision making
6. Ability to make rational and objective decisions
7. Act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking your responsibilities
Responsibilities
1. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be a member of the School’s Academic Board and Learning and Teaching Quality Committee as well as a member of other School committees as approved by the Board of Trustees.
2. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall identify areas for attention relating to the education of students and provide information to Co-President Welfare and Liberation to aid in running campaigns where relevant.
3. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall sit on the School’s Board of Trustees.
4. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be responsible for organising and publicising the three SU Forums working with Union staff. They shall also be responsible for maintaining the Policy File and publishing records of meetings, supported by the Communications and Governance Co-Ordinator.
5. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be the lead delegate and liaison with NUS, and shall be the first point of contact within the Union.
6. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall liaise with the appropriate members of School staff in the Library, Faculties and elsewhere to ensure that Union policy and campaigns are progressed.
7. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be responsible for the running of the student representation system, in liaison with the Union’s Research and Representation Assistant, and for supporting the student representatives within the School.
8. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall provide information on the appropriate channels through which to raise issues with the School via the student representative and School committee structures.
9. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be Chair of the Union’s Board of Trustees.
10. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be Chair of the Influencing SOAS Forum.
11. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be Vice-Chair of the Governance Sub-Committee.
12. The Co-President Democracy and Education shall be Chair of the Reps General Assembly.
The Co-President Activities and Campaigns is responsible for ensuring that Clubs and Societies are supported and developed as well as leading on major SU events and a wider events programme.

Dates: TBC · Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Representative and Campaigner
1. Work alongside students, finding out their views and experiences and advocating on their behalf.
2. Act in students’ interests by supporting student-led campaigns and projects to improve their experience.
3. Represent SOAS students on School Committees and attend regular meetings with the Director of the School in order to make change in students’ lives.
4. Represent the Union externally, working with other students’ unions, the NUS and other organisations.
5. Work closely with other Union Officers and Union Staff members.
6. Engage in collective decision making and accountability with the Executive Committee by being accountable to them, consulting them before taking actions where practical, reporting activities as well as facilitating other members’ work.
7. Support democracy and promote active citizenship within the SU by attending and participating in democratic meetings such as General Meetings and Union Forums.
8. Create positive change in the SU by carrying out Union Policy set by members and your manifesto points.
Trustee
1. All Sabbatical Officers are Trustees of the SU. This means that they are responsible for the finances, reputation and legal compliance of the Union.
2. Be responsible for ensuring the SU pursues its charitable objectives.
3. Oversee the governance, finance and strategy of the SU.
4. Ensure that the SU complies with its governing documents, charity law and other relevant legislation or regulations.
Benefits
1. Training and induction programme, including Trustee training and a handover between the outgoing and incoming officer team.
2. 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays and agreed closure days.
Personal Profile
1. Committed to students and SOAS SU
2. Ability to network, influence and communicate effectively
3. Willingness to represent students’ opinions, even where they diverge from your own
4. Ability to critically evaluate
5. Attention to detail in the context of strategic decision making
6. Ability to make rational and objective decisions
7. Act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking your responsibilities
Responsibilities
1. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for encouraging the formation, and success of societies and sports teams within the Union.
2. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for organising the Societies Fayre in the first and second term and other events relating to societies.
3. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall also be the main point of contact with the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and seek Sport Development opportunities from regional and national bodies.
4. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for preparing an up-to-date list of active societies and publicising this. They shall also be responsible for the Sports and Societies area of the website and promoting its use, with support from the Communications and Governance Co-Ordinator.
5. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall oversee the Union’s publicity policy and ensure Union events are appropriately publicised on the Union website and via printed publications.
6. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for ensuring that societies’ budgets are set in line with SU procedures. They shall ensure that clubs and societies are spending their funds according to the stated aims of the Union and in the interests of each society’s members.
7. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for ensuring that societies are aware of regulations pertaining to the running of societies and that they abide by them. They shall also be responsible for ensuring that all sports and societies have adequate training and information about health and safety issues and abide by policies set.
8. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns, with the Co-President Welfare and Liberation, shall be responsible for promoting and monitoring equality and diversity within sports, societies and extracurricular student activities.
9. Working with the Commercial Services Manager, the Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for organising a programme of Union entertainments. Reports on each event’s finances should be reported to the Union. They must ensure that all Union events are appropriately publicised.
10. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be responsible for funds raised for charity and must ensure that any fundraising on campus by societies and by the Students’ Union is followed through with an appropriate receipt and report. This is to be included in a report to the Board of Trustees.
11. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be the Chair of the SU Operations Forum.
12. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be the Vice-Chair of the Commercial Services Sub-Committee.
13. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be the Chair of the Societies Presidents Forum.
14. The Co-President Activities and Campaigns shall be the Chair of the Sports Forum.
The Co-President Welfare and Liberation is responsible for ensuring that the welfare of students is prioritised within the union and university, developing campaigns and initiatives that seek to improve student experience.

Dates: TBC · Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Representative and Campaigner
1. Work alongside students, finding out their views and experiences and advocating on their behalf.
2. Act in students’ interests by supporting student-led campaigns and projects to improve their experience.
3. Represent SOAS students on School Committees and attend regular meetings with the Director of the School in order to make change in students’ lives.
4. Represent the Union externally, working with other students’ unions, the NUS and other organisations.
5. Work closely with other Union Officers and Union Staff members.
6. Engage in collective decision making and accountability with the Executive Committee by being accountable to them, consulting them before taking actions where practical, reporting activities as well as facilitating other members’ work.
7. Support democracy and promote active citizenship within the SU by attending and participating in democratic meetings such as General Meetings and Union Forums.
8. Create positive change in the SU by carrying out Union Policy set by members and your manifesto points.
Trustee
1. All Sabbatical Officers are Trustees of the SU. This means that they are responsible for the finances, reputation and legal compliance of the Union.
2. Be responsible for ensuring the SU pursues its charitable objectives.
3. Oversee the governance, finance and strategy of the SU.
4. Ensure that the SU complies with its governing documents, charity law and other relevant legislation or regulations.
Benefits
1. Training and induction programme, including Trustee training and a handover between the outgoing and incoming officer team.
2. 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays and agreed closure days.
Personal Profile
1. Committed to students and SOAS SU
2. Ability to network, influence and communicate effectively
3. Willingness to represent students’ opinions, even where they diverge from your own
4. Ability to critically evaluate
5. Attention to detail in the context of strategic decision making
6. Ability to make rational and objective decisions
7. Act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking your responsibilities
Responsibilities
1. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall represent the Union on the School’s Student Experience Committee, Resources and Planning Committee and on other committees as agreed by the Board of Trustees.
2. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall be responsible for maintaining a confidential and safe environment within their office in which sensitive issues can be discussed. They shall ensure that all issues raised remain confidential unless otherwise authorised by the individual or required by law.
3. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall refer students to appropriate internal or external bodies to help resolve a member’s issues. They shall not take on casework.
4. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall identify areas for attention relating to general welfare of students and run campaigns where relevant.
5. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall liaise with the School’s Student Advice and Wellbeing team on welfare issues and encourage the use of the services within the School.
6. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall liaise with the appropriate members of School staff in the Library, Faculties and elsewhere to ensure that Union policy and campaigns are progressed.
7. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall liaise with the other Co-Presidents to campaign and raise awareness amongst students on education, equality and welfare issues and on education and welfare services available to members.
8. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall liaise and meet with Sanctuary Students and other accommodation providers.
9. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall work with the Welfare and Advice Caseworker to review casework relating to the student experience at SOAS in order to develop initiatives which might improve that experience.
10. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall be the Chair of the SU Campaigns Forum.
11. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall be the Chair of the Ethical and Environmental Forum.
12. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall be the Chair of the Welfare Reps Forum.
13. The Co-President Welfare and Liberation shall be the Vice-Chair of the Finance and Risk Sub-Committee.

NUS Conference Delegate 2026/27

Vote. Stand. Shape Your SU.

Co-President Democracy & Education

Co-President Activities & Campaigns

Co-President Welfare & Liberation

NUS Conference Delegate

Co-President Democracy & Education +

Co-President Activities & Campaigns +

Co-President Welfare & Liberation +

NUS Conference Delegate x 1 place +

Vote.
Stand.
Shape Your SU.