Each year Bristol students elect their peers to represent their voice to the University on everything from course feedback to introducing microwaves on campus.

​​​​​​Bristol SU is a democracy. This means you decide who leads the SU and represents you to University management.

Twice a year the students of Bristol elect over 900 representatives to stand up for them on issues related to their time at Bristol.

The elections that were held in March 2024 left some roles vacant and so we are holding a by-election to ensure that students' voices continue to be heard

Elections Rules Election FAQs

Why Should I Care?

The Bristol SU Elections are YOUR opportunity to make the changes you'd like to see at the University of Bristol.

If there are bits of being a student that you think could be better -  the quality of your housing, improved wellbeing support, more decent places to eat on campus, or anything else make sure you have your say and use your vote!

The Bristol SU Elections have one of the highest turnouts in the country and often come down to less than 20 votes - so your voice really matters.

See what your reps have helped us achieve

What Roles Can I Nominate Myself For?

  • Postgraduate Research Faculty Rep (for Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Science and Social Sciences and Law

You can find out more about the role by emailing us at bristolsu-elections@bristol.ac.uk

You can nominate yourself for the Faculty you study with and as long as you will be on a University of Bristol course September 2024 – June 2025

Candidate Support

Are you nervous about running for a position? Would you like more information about how the SU works or what your role would consist of? You can book a call with a member of our Academic Representation Team.

Email BristolSU-Representation@Bristol.ac.uk for more information or to speak to a member of the team

Election FAQ

When do Elections happen?

There are two sets of elections each year. The main Bristol SU elections take place in March, electing Full-time Officers, Chairs of Networks, Faculty Reps, returning Course Reps and Student Trustees. In October we elect Course Reps for all new students (both 1st year undergraduates and new postgraduates). We also elect some other roles including Democratic Standards Committee and NUS Delegates. Please get in touch if you are interested in more information about any of these elected positions.

Who oversees the elections?

All Bristol SU elections are overseen by a Returning Officer (a staff member or external expert) who makes sure that they are fair, transparent and successful. You can email bristolsu-elections@bristol.ac.uk at any time to ask the Returning Officer a question, voice a concern or report an unfair situation.

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto tells people why you want to represent them and why they should vote for you; it sets out your ideas and plans. Essentially your manifesto needs to say WHY you think you would be a good elected representative and WHAT you would do if you were elected. The manifesto word limit is 300 words.

Can I run in an election if I am an International student?

Yes! It’s a great way to develop new skills and meet people. If you stand to be Chair, Faculty Rep or Course Rep alongside your studies then please be aware you are only permitted to work a maximum of either 10 or 20 hours per week (your visa will state which). This information is for general guidance and does not constitute immigration advice. If you require more details about your rights or what action to take, please contact the University of Bristol International Student Office.

I've stood to be a candidate, why am I unapproved?

When you nominate yourself in an election your nomination will appear as 'unapproved'. A member of Bristol SU staff will check your eligibility to stand in that election and approve your nomination. Once you're approved and the nominations have closed you will receive an email with next steps!

What if I can’t stand or vote in an election?

If you see a message that says you're ineligible to stand or vote for a particular position please contact bristolsu-elections@bristol.ac.uk. It's possible that you may not meet the requirements for that position or there may be a technical error. Please include your full name, University username and the specific position you would like to stand for in your email.

Can I stand for more than one position?

Sometimes - it depends on the positions. You can stand to be a Course Rep and any other part time position (Chair of Network, Faculty Rep, NUS delegate, etc.). You can also stand to be an NUS (National Union of Students) delegate and any other position. If you aren't sure, please email bristolsu-elections@bristol.ac.uk.

Do the elections have rules?

Yes, the rules can be found on the Elections Rules page - please read through them carefully. If you have any questions or would like a clarification, please ask the Returning Officer.

How does campaigning work?

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 support page [link] to find out more on campaigning.

How does voting work?

Bristol SU uses Single Transferable Vote (STV), a representation system in which a person’s vote can be transferred to a second or third choice (according to their stated preference) if their first choice is eliminated during the vote count. If you want to understand more, take a look at this YouTube video explaining how another SU used STV. The most important aspect of STV is that a voter ranks candidates in order of their preference so if you speak to a student who has already decided not to vote for you, convince them to make you their second choice – it could make all the difference when determining the result.

Who is R.O.N?

RON stands for Re-Opening of Nominations. All Union elections give the option for voters to express their wish that nominations for a role should be re-opened. Voting for this option is usually taken when voters do not feel as though any of the candidates offer viable or credible policies.