The Students Union at Bournemouth University represents the student voice here at BU. Every BU student is automatically a member. As a student led organisation, you set the direction an make the big decisions about what we do, whether this be by running or voting in an election or participating in one of our other democratic forums such as the SUBU Summit, or evening talking to your Student Rep.

Every year you elect current students who are then responsible for representing over 16,000 students views to the university. The Full-Time Officers lead this network of student volunteers and work full-time to ensure that your student life is the best it can possibly be- from campaigning on issues that you are facing on your course, locally and nationally. Whether you’re passionate about welfare and student rights, creating positive change, holding the University to account or just voting for the students who you want to represent you, this election is an opportunity to get your voice heard and make an impact on what matters to you at University. In these elections you’ll also be voting for your NUS National Conference Delegates, these are the individuals who will be representing you on a national scale, voting for the future NUS President and Vice Presidents, as well as voting on NUS Policy.

There are four officer positions, click here to find out more about them!

• President
• Vice-President Education
• Vice-President Student Opportunities
• Vice-President Welfare and Community
• NUS Delegates

You cannot nominate yourself for more than one full-time officer role

Any current BU student, so it doesn’t matter whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate or part time of full time student.

Yes, full-time officers are remunerated. Their annual salary is £20,815. They also receive 24 days holiday, bank holidays and an additional 3.5 days over Christmas.

SUBU is there to represent all students, and HSS students are no different!

Breaks in all courses can be managed, although regulatory body practice requirements may need to be revisited on certain courses. You also have up to two years to register with the NMC and HCPC after finishing your course.

If you are interested contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk to discuss further.

International Students are able to be a Full Time Officer and you are able to get a visa extension while you are in office. You can find out more information here.

You can find out more on the UKCISA website
If you are an international student who is interested in running please contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk as soon as possible.

It’s really simple you can register you interest now to keep in the loop with what is going on and then when applications open on the 25th of January all you need to do is put yourself forward!

Yes, there are training opportunities during the elections period which will provide you with insights into SUBU and what it is like to be a full-time officer.

There are a range of other training opportunities throughout the election period, so head to the candidate hub to find out more.

If you are elected you will be provided with full training and induction programme organised by SUBU including a handover and external training. There will also be opportunities for further training throughout your year in post.

Your manifesto is how candidates sell yourself to students; it sets out their aims and priorities. Candidates manifesto becomes their promises to students about what they want to achieve if they are elected.

As a candidate you’ll be asked to submit a 300 word manifesto and a 50 word condensed manifesto. You don’t need to submit your manifesto when you submit your application but it must be submitted by the manifesto deadline on the 7th March 12 Midnight

In the context of elections, campaigning is what candidates do to get votes - it's not just handing out leaflets though! Successful candidates take time to listen and speak to students, find out about the current issues relevant to the role they're standing for and persuade voters with ideas and enthusiasm, not just trendy slogans or avalanches of tweets.

Check out the Candidate Hub to find out more information about campaigning.

You will spend one year in office beginning on the 28th of June, you will then be entitled to run in the election for the following year. You are unable to be a full-time officer for more than 2 years.

SUBU uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV system which provides voters with much more choice and influence. STV means that candidates do not need to win a majority, but instead must reach a quota/proportion of the vote. The quota is determined by the number of votes cast and the number of positions to be filled.

When voting students select their candidates in order of preference and are able to vote for as many or as few as they like. When the voting has closed, Candidates are excluded if it is impossible for them to reach the quota, their votes are then transferred in order of preference, this ensures that fewer votes are wasted.

In addition to the candidates in the election students are also able to select ‘no suitable candidate’

The Returning Officers and Deputy returning Officers have the responsibility to uphold the Elections Regulations. The Returning Officer will be a representative from the NUS, and the Deputy Returning Officer is Charlotte Morris-Davis.

The Deputy Returning Officer will be the person you deal with on a day to day basis and they will be in contact with the Returning Officers as required.

If you need to get in touch contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk

A complaint can be made about the action of a candidate, supporter or election official. Complaints must be submitted via the online form.

More information about the complaints process can be viewed in the Rules and Complaints section here

If you are unsure about your eligibility for any reason please contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk