What are the Leadership Elections?

What are the Leadership Elections?

The SU Leadership Elections are an annual democratic process run in Lent Term by Cambridge SU (that’s us!). All students at the University of Cambridge are eligible to elect their student leaders and run for a student leader roles of Sabbatical Officers.
 

What are Sabbatical Officers?

Sabbatical Officers (Sabbs) are elected, full-time, paid representatives.  Students take on the role after graduating or take a one to two year break from their studies (intermission) to represent other students at the university. They lead the Students’ Union, campaign on student issues and act as trustees, managing the SU’s legal and financial affairs. 
 

What Sabbatical Officer roles are there?

There are five full-time roles available, year-long and paid. The roles are:

• President (UG) - lead representative for undergraduate students (must have been an Undergraduate student at the university)

• President (PG) - lead representative for postgraduate students (must be a postgraduate student at the university)

• Vice President (Education & Widening Participation) - focuses on  access work, education policy, and academic representation

• Vice President (Student Community & Societies) - focuses on supporting and lobbying for student groups and societies, and the wider student community

• Vice President (Liberation & Welfare) - focuses on liberation, equality, diversity, and student welfare

Part-time roles

• There is also the part-time elected position of University Councillor which can be done alongside your studies
   

How the Election works:

1. Nominations open: 26th Jan - 10th Feb

Students can put themselves forward for a role or recommend another student to run for a Sabbactical Officer role through ‘Recommend a Friend’! For those wanting to run to be a sabb, this involves submitting a full candidacy with a manifesto. 

Any eligible student can nominate themselves and run as a candidate for a leadership position. 

1. Campaigning opens: 20th Feb

Nominations are closed and all candidates finalised, promotion of their ideas to potential voters begins. 

1. Voting open: 23rd - 26th Feb

Students vote online using a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where they rank candidates in order of preference. All current SU members (basically all Cambridge students) can vote. 

1. Results announced: 26th Feb

Votes are counted and the winners are announced at our Results Party in the SU Lounge! The winners don;t take up their positions until until July 2026. 

Why does it matter?

These elections decide who will:

• Represent student interests to the University and external bodies

• Lead campaigns on key student issues (welfare, education, equality, community)

• Oversee the SU’s work and strategy for the year ahead

In short: Cambridge SU Leadership Elections are your chance to choose the student leaders who will speak up for your needs, priorities, and experience at Cambridge.

If you’re interested in representing the student body, leading the SU and including University Politics and student life, then put yourself forward.