The President Students’ Union will focus on improving the experience from a non-academic perspective across the University and represent student views internally, locally and nationally. The role will work closely with all full-time and part-time representatives to lead on shaping initiatives and policy in relation to international students, postgraduate students and under-represented groups.

You would also work collaboratively with students and staff in both the Students’ Union and University, the role will contribute to improved engagement with students and secure positive student-led change.

The President Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business focuses on improving the experience of students within the Faculty and represents their views across the Faculty and wider University. Working closely with fellow Presidents, the role will work to improve both the academic and student experience for students at the University of Plymouth. You would also collaboratively with students and staff in both the Students’ Union and University, the role will contribute to improved engagement with students and secure positive student-led change.

The President Faculty of Health focuses on improving the experience of students within the Faculty and represents their views across the Faculty and wider University. Working closely with fellow Presidents, the role will work to improve both the academic and student experience for students at the University of Plymouth. You would also work collaboratively with students and staff in both the Students’ Union and University, the role will contribute to improved engagement with students and secure positive student-led change.

he President Faculty of Science and Engineering focuses on improving the experience of students within the Faculty and represents their views across the Faculty and wider University. You would also work closely with fellow Presidents, the role will work to improve both the academic and student experience for students at the University of Plymouth. Working collaboratively with students and staff in both the Students’ Union and University, the role will contribute to improved engagement with students and secure positive student-led change.

Any current registered University of Plymouth student apply for a full-time President role. If you are on a UoP course and have not suspended or interrupted your studies at the time of the election you can go for it! Current Full-time Representatives can re-apply if they have only done one year, they are restricted to two years then must leave.

Any current registered University of Plymouth student can put themselves forward for the President Students’ Union role.

If you are choosing a President of Faculty role, you must select the Faculty for which your current university course is in.

If you are unsure which Faculty you’re in and would like to be the President of a Faculty, contact the Student Voice Team (studentvoice@su.plymouth.ac.uk), or visit the Memberships page on the SU website - upsu.com/memberships to find out these details.

As these are full-time, salaried roles you can only run for one position because if you were to undertake multiple roles you would not be able to fulfil all commitments.

If you are undecided whether to choose the President Students’ Union role or the President Faculty role, we suggest that you speak to staff that work with the current Full-time Representatives at studentvoice@su.plymouth.ac.uk, or the Full-time Representatives themselves to find out more.

You can also speak to the current VP Education, VP Activities, or VP Wellbeing and Diversity about the President Faculty roles as they are all Faculty Representatives.

University courses are organised into Faculties, each of which comprises a number of schools.

If you choose a President of Faculty role, you will be working closely with the Faculty Dean as well as the Heads of School and School Reps within your Faculty to improve the experience of students within your Faculty.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business consists of three Schools:

• School of Art, Design and Architecture
• Plymouth Business School
• School of Society and Culture

The Faculty of Health consists of six Schools:

• School of Biomedical Sciences
• School of Health Professions
• School of Nursing and Midwifery
• School of Psychology
• Peninsula Dental School
• Peninsula Medical School

The Faculty of Science and Engineering consists of three Schools:

• School of Biological and Marine Sciences
• School of Engineering, Computing and Maths
• School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No, being a President is a full-time role which cannot be undertaken alongside your studies meaning that you will have to interrupt your studies if you have not finished your course. However, we do also have some part-time, paid opportunities for representation.

Our School Rep role is part-time (12 hours maximum per month) and gives you the opportunity to represent the students in your School to the university. Find out more here.

Our team of part-time Student Representatives play a vital role in making sure that the voices of students at the University of Plymouth are heard. The procedure of becoming a School Rep involves applying for the role and the best candidate will be selected by a panel after an interview.

Keep an eye out on our website and on social media channels for more information about applying to become a School Rep once the Elections period has finished.

Please note, that to be eligible for the School Rep role, you will need to be a student on a registered University of Plymouth Course from September 2025-June 2026.

Most University meetings are within the typical core office hours of 9am – 5pm but full-time Presidents are expected to be flexible around meetings or events which may continue into the evening. For example, Open Meetings and the Annual Student Meeting are held on weekday evenings. However, these dates are set in advance so you would have notice of them.

£23,616 per annum

Full-Time Presidents who are elected in February 2025 will start their role on the 23rd June 2025 and their contract runs until 29th June 2026. This gives you the time and space to finish your course or year of study before starting your new role

When you start your role, you will spend the first three weeks receiving training as well as undertaking a handover period with the current Full-time Representatives and UPSU staff team who can help you to settle in and get to understand the role and your responsibilities in greater detail.

You must be available from 23rd June 2025 to be able to undertake this role. Holiday will not be permitted during the initial training period (23rd June 2025- 11th July 2025), please check individual dates from July-August.

Please speak to the Student Voice team (studentvoice@su.plymouth.ac.uk) if your course continues after the 13th June.

All you need to do to show your interest is click the ‘Apply Now’ button above/ on the Elections homepage, and let us know your name and the position you want to stand for. After this, you will receive information from the Student Voice Team about what information you need to submit to complete the process the deadline for this will come later but before the deciding period. Previously, past Full-Time Representatives have been asked to submit a list of their ideas to improve the student experience.

Once the applications period has closed, all students who have submitted an application will be invited to attend training to help you prepare for Elections Week with advice on speaking to students, encouraging them to vote for you and details on the rules for campaigning during the Elections period.

All you need is enthusiasm and a motivation to represent students. Full training and support will be given. We want to encourage any student from any background to get involved!

We want to ensure that there are no barriers for any student in participating in the Elections. If you are concerned about any element of the Elections process, please get in touch with the Student Voice Team (studentvoice@su.plymouth.ac.uk) who will be able to talk through any additional requirements or reasonable adjustments to ensure that you’re able to participate fully.

Each President role is a full-time, paid role and it is not possible to do alongside your studies. Many students do undertake a full-time representative role in the year they are graduating but many have taken a year out between stages of their course. If you plan on doing this, we recommend speaking to your tutor or Programme Leader to ensure that there are no significant changes to your course planned in the future that might affect your ability to return.

Many international students on a Student Visa have been Full-Time Representatives, including our current President and VP Wellbeing & Diversity.

Each person's circumstances are different and you will need to check your Visa eligibility with the International Student Advice Team - studentservices@plymouth.ac.uk.

Those students who will be writing up their dissertation or thesis over the Summer months, will still be able to undertake the role but there will be an expectation of working 20 hours per week until your submission date.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to undertake the role alongside your studies, e.g. Jan to Jan cohort. This is a full-time role from June 2025.

Please note, that the role is based in the Students’ Union building on the main University of Plymouth campus.

This depends. If you are a postgraduate student completing or writing up in the Summer, you can! We would want you to have completed your studies by September at the very latest. Get in touch with the Student Voice Team (studentvoice@su.plymouth.ac.uk) if your course/ dissertation write up continues past mid-June 2025.

If you are a postgraduate student who is studying January to January, you will not be able to take the role as this is a full-time role from 26th June 2025.

The Full-Time Presidents are based in the Students’ Union building on the main Plymouth campus. They will be required to attend meetings on campus and generally make themselves available to students, both in person and digitally.

It is up to you if you tell people, but the list of students who have applied for the roles, and the number of interested students will remain confidential until the application period has closed.

Presidents must reapply for each term in office (which lasts one year). If you win an election, you have only been elected for one year. The maximum number of terms for a President is two, however, these years do not need to be run consecutively.