Student Councillor

As a Student Councillor, you’ll:

• Shape decisions and help set the Students’ Union’s priorities
• Ensure that Student Officers are prioritising the most important issues
• Make student life better by influencing key decisions in the Union and informing input into University policies
• Enhance your leadership skills and gain experience through collective decision making

You’ll have support every step of the way, with a dedicated staff team to guide you through the election process and help you excel in the role.

Student Council – Overview of Council

• This is a voluntary, part-time, unpaid position. You must be willing to commit time to the role in addition to your other commitments.
• To run for election as Student Councillor, you must be a registered student of the University for the duration of the election period.
• The term runs from 19 October 2026 until 31 August 2026.
• The level of time commitment required can vary throughout the academic year. Student Councillors are required to attend four meetings of Council per academic year and may also join other internal committees in the Students’ Union and University. It is expected that Student Councillors take some time to read some documents before meetings.
• Introductory training will take place in October 2026, with further training taking place throughout the academic year.

• Gain hands-on leadership experience, advocating for students, influencing senior decision-makers, and shaping the student experience in Queen’s.
• Develops skills for life in communication, teamwork, and negotiation– you’ll also be eligible for a QUB Future Ready Award (Combined Experience).
• Meet loads of new people, including Faculty & School Reps, and Clubs and Societies leaders from across the Students’ Union.
• Be part of a greater student voice if you choose, by working with national student unions to drive change on a larger scale.
• It’s rewarding. Students will look to you for help with their issues and you’ll advocate on their behalf.
• Make decisions that make a real impact on students' lives. Take a look at what previous Student Councillors have worked to achieved:
• Approval of a new Students’ Union Building
• Agreement of a new long-term plan to improve the Union and increase funding for SU activities
• New roles such as Student Association Chairpersons and new Student Officer Roles
• A stronger role for student reps across Queen’s
• Approval of new Clubs and Societies
• Increased student involvement in decision-making in the Union
• Programmes that empower Women, LGBT+, Trans, Ethnically Diverse, Disabled and International students
• Improved environmental sustainability and ethical investment in Queen’s

Student Councillor roles are recruited by self-nomination and election:

• 3 × Postgraduate Student Councillors
• 7 x Student Societies Representatives (elected by the Executive Committee members of Societies)
• 3 x Sporting Clubs Representatives (elected by the Executive Committee members of Sporting Clubs)

Full-Time Student Officers, Faculty Reps and Student Association Chaipersons are automatically members of the SU Council. In addition, School Reps also elect reps to Council. Seven Undergraduate Student Councillors were elected to the Council in March 2026.

Nominations are open on the QSU website for some of these roles until Tue 13 Oct 2026, 5pm.