FAQ's by Candidates

How do I become a Students’ Union Full-Time Officer?

To become a SU Full Time officer, you must nominate yourself through the online nomination form. Nominations open on 1st December February 2025 (10:00) and close 20th February 2026. Following this there will be campaigning period and an online election where students will vote for their preferred candidate. Following submitting your nomination you will be required to attend a Candidate Academy session with the Deputy Returning Officer team. Failure to do so can lead to your removal from the election.

Who can run in Cardiff Met SU elections?

Elections are open to all Cardiff Met students who are currently enrolled at Cardiff Met university in the current academic year. If successful you would need to take a sabbatical (period of leave) year from your studies to undertake the role. You can also undertake these roles in the year after you have graduated. If you have any concerns about taking a sabbatical, please contact your course leader or the SU.

Can I still play sport whilst being a Full-Time Officer?

Yes, you can – to an extent. A lot of senior university meetings which are vital to the role take place on a Wednesday. You will have to prioritise these meetings over any games. So, you will need to consider the impact this would have on your ability to play. If you intend to play sports alongside the role, please reach out to Representation@Cardiffmet.ac.uk and we’ll work through what we can do.

How do I nominate myself for elections?

The election nomination form will be available on this page from the 1st December 2025, 10:00 until 20th February 17:00. Once you have completed your nominations, you then need to submit a manifesto through the same page. You will also need to attend a Candidate Academy session; we will be in touch with the detail of those once you have nominated yourself. For any support nominating yourself please get in touch with the voice team via Representation@Cardiffmet.ac.uk. You will receive a confirmation email to clarify the status of your nomination.

Do I stand a chance of winning if there is an existing Sabbatical Officer running?

Winning one election does not mean that you will win another; every candidate is in with a chance of winning as it is up to the students who vote to decide who is successful.

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto is a public declaration of policy and aims, especially a manifesto that has been issued before an election by a political party or candidate. In the context of Cardiff Met SU elections your manifesto is the document where you get to show your fellow students (the voters) why you’re the best person for the role and what you aim to do on their behalf, if successful. Manifesto guidance will be available to all candidates.

How does campaigning work?

In the context of the SU Elections, campaigning is what candidates do to get votes. However, it’s not just handing out leaflets! Successful candidates take time to listen and speak to students, find out what the current issues are that are affecting the student experience and what students would like to see from their new officers.

How will this benefit my future career?

As outlined in ‘What roles are available?’, the role of a Cardiff Met SU Sabbatical Officer is a hugely diverse one, and this means that it gives the successful candidate the opportunity to develop a unique set of skills to use in the future.

These skills include:

• Time management
• Organisation
• Leadership
• Project management
• Research
• Public speaking
• Reading and creating high level papers for committee
• Chairing meetings

I'm studying on a Visa, am i able to run?

Yes, but you will need to explore the implications for extending or changing your visa. You should contact the Global Advice team through intstudentadvice@cardiffmet.ac.uk. Please bear in mind you will be responsible for paying any additional costs yourself.

Can I do this position alongside my degree?

As it is a 35 hour job, with a standard 9-5 day, we cannot be flexible in supporting full-time study alongside this position. You can either pause your studies through a sabbatical, which you can discuss with your course leader OR if you are a final year you can undertake this role as a graduate position.

Who is R.O.N (Re-Open Nominations)

All SU elections give the option for voters to express their wish that nominations for a role be re-opened. Voting R.O.N is usually taken when voters do not feel any of the candidates offer viable or credible policies.

Should R.O.N win an election, the post would not be filled, and a bi-election would be organised at a further time deemed suitable.

FAQ's by Voters

Who can vote?

All students who have completed the enrolment process with Cardiff Metropolitan University within this academic year, and have had their details provided to the SU will be deemed as eligible to vote in the SU Election. The MSL database will be deemed as the default membership database for the purposes of the SU elections.

Why should I vote?

The SU is an independent, student led, democraticly run organisation. The newly elected SU Full-Time Officers will be the people representing you for the next year, you should have a say in who is representing you at the highest level of the University. Even if you are graduating this year and leaving Cardiff Met, think who would I have liked to represent me this year? Make sure you make your voice heard by voting in the SU Election.

Who should I vote for?

Your vote is unique to you! No one can tell you who to vote for but we can ask you to use your vote wisely. Make sure you take some time to read up on candidates manifesto points, speak to the candidates and make an educated decision when you’re ready.

You can vote using preference, so if you like multiple people - just rank them in the order of "If this person i like doesnt win, who do i want to win next".

Who is R.O.N (Re-Open Nominations)?