A photograph of a student asking a question at the Annual Members Meeting 2022

Student Elections

In our elections, students can stand to be, and vote for, elected student leaders, some voluntary, and some paid. These representatives are your voice and act on your behalf in the Union, University and wider community fighting for you on an institutional, local and national level.

What are Arts SU Elections?

Arts SU is an independent, democratic organisation (charity) led by students who are elected by our 22,000 members (UAL students). In our elections, students can stand to be, and vote for, elected student leaders, some voluntary, and some paid. These representatives are your voice and act on your behalf in the Union, University and wider community fighting for you on an institutional, local and national level. It is so important for students to take part and vote in these elections so that individuals are elected who represent YOUR views.

Remember - you must be logged in to nominate yourself in the election.

The nomination period will close in:

 

What roles are available?

School Rep positions

School Representatives exist to voice the views and interests of students from all courses that sit within their school/department on everything that affects the students’ academic experience. Working with fellow School and Course reps, University staff, and their College Sabbatical Officer to make positive change for students.

You can ONLY stand for a school rep if you study within that school/department!

School Rep positions in CCW, CSM, and LCF are available in this election

The role description is available in the Elections Guide

Sabbatical Officers

The Sabbatical Officer role exists to strengthen the voice of students at UAL. There are 6 different Sabbatical Officer roles: Union Affarirs Officer, Student Communities Officer, CSM Officer, LCC Officer, LCF Officer, and CCW & CCI Officer.

The Sabbatical Officer roles are full-time paid roles.

The role description is available in the Elections Guide

Arts SU By-Elections 2026

The 2026/27 Arts SU By-Elections is an election where students can stand and vote for vacant school representative roles for the academic year, as well as the UAL Postgraduate Student Governor position.

  • 7 posts are up for election.
  • Nominations are now closed.
  • The polls open at 10:00 on Monday 9 November 2026 (in 2 days and 2 hours)
Please log in to see more details.

Are we breaking up?

Arts SU is holding a referendum on a number of proposed changes to how you experience democracy with your union. You need to decide on if we should split our CCW Officer, Democratic Spaces, and School Reps along college lines, resulting in us asking the question... are we breaking up?

Changes to Elected Officers

Voting YES for Changes to Officers will cast your approval for splitting the CCW role into three individual positions for Chelsea, Camberwell, and Wimbledon, and rename the current College Officers to College Organisers. 

This will take the current Union Affairs Officer (responsible for UAL-wide governance, communications, and external contacts) and the Student Communities Officer (responsible for clubs and societies) and split their responsibilities across the entire team.

The purpose of this change is to provide equal representation to all Colleges while also strengthening the link between elected representatives and students. Supporting our groups and communities will no longer be one officers' responsibility and governance workloads can be better shared across the team.

Changes to Democratic Spaces

Voting YES to Changes to Democratic Spaces will replace the current UAL-wide Forums with termly, campus-based meetings, allowing more direct and flexible student spaces by retiring the Idea's Platform and giving meeting structure ownership to students and their elected representatives.

The purpose of this change is to respond to student feedback around a system detached from student needs, and to increase engagement by giving ownership of the unions democratic spaces to students. Outside of democratic processes, these meetings also aim to provide a structure for community at colleges and provide opportunities for student connection in an increasingly disconnected world.

Changes to School Reps

Voting YES to Changes to School Reps will replace the current structure of two school reps per UAL school, to college reps that have portfolios of Academic, Community, and Employability. CSM, LCC, and LCF will have two per portfolio, totaling six, and Chelsea, Camberwell, Wimbledon, and Pre-Degree will have one per portfolio, totaling three.

The purpose of this change is to provide representation on colleges instead of schools, where students tell us they identify with most, while also better defining how they support their college and which reps students should engage with for issues.

Election resources

Arts SU Elections Guide

This will provide you with everything you need to know about the Arts SU Elections, including summaries of the roles available, how and why you should put yourself forward, and key dates you should be aware of!

 

Read Guide

Bye-Law 5: Elections & Referenda

Recommend a Student

If you know someone who might be great at a role, you can give them a bit of encouragement to put themself forward by completing our Recommend a Student form

After you suggest them, we will send them an email letting them know that someone thinks they should stand (don't worry, you do have the option to remain anonymous). This could give someone the encouragement they need!

Recommend a Student

Autumn By-Election Timeline

  • Nominations Open*:

    10:00 AM - Monday 21st September 2026

  • Nominations and Publicity Close:

    12:00 PM - Friday 30th October 2026

  • Candidates Briefing:

    TBC

  • Campaigning Opens and Candidate list published:

    10:00 AM - Friday 6th November 2026

  • Voting Opens

    10:00 AM - Monday 9th November 2026

  • Voting Closes

    12:00 PM - Friday 13th November 2026

  • Results

    Friday 13th November 2026

 

* When Nominations are open, students can put themselves forward for an available role. During this time, they also produce publicity which includes the ideas and principles of their campaigns to show how they will represent students.