Every year, LSE students elect new leaders to take the London School of Economics Students’ Union to new heights. They represent the interests of students at national and local level and work to make things better for LSE Students.
Democracy Hub

It's time to #LeadLSE

Every year, LSE students elect new leaders to take the London School of Economics Students’ Union to new heights. They represent the interests of students at national and local level and work to make things better for LSE Students.
About
Key Dates
Roles
Get Involved
FAQs

Timeline

  • Friday 6th February

    Applications open

     

  • 9am, Monday 3rd March

    Applications close

  • Monday 10th March

    Campaigning starts

  • 9am, Tuesday 18th March

    Voting opens

  • 4pm, Wednesday 19th March

    Voting closes

  • 6pm, Thursday 20th March

    Results Night

Are you ready to #LeadLSE?

It's a job application like no other for a job like no other. Build the LSE that you would like to see, whilst developing skills in leadership, decision-making, and representation.  

Need some help?
Make sure to check out these useful documents full of information, or take a look at our candidate support hub for everything you need on how to stand for an election. 

 

No elections are currently running

  • CampaigningatLSE

Every year, LSE students elect new leaders to take control of the London School of Economics Students’ Union.  They represent the voice of students at a national and local level and fight to make things better for LSE Students.

What does this look like?

  1. Meet with senior University leaders, representing the voice of students
  2. Work with LSE students to campaign on issues that matter to them, from divestment to sexual safety
  3. Network with other student leaders across the country to develop national campaigns for the student population
  4. Represent students on national TV and radio, create interactive content, host award shows and organise events like the Carol
  5. Make all the decisions about the future of this organisation, including where our multi-million pound budget gets spent, and how we can work better for the students we represent.

Almost all roles are remunerated, with Sabbatical Officer roles receiving over £31,000 per year!

LSE will sponsor student visas for international students elected to Sabbatical Officer positions. Find out more on this page from UKCISA that explains Sabbatical Officers and the Student Route.

Find out more

Sabbatical Officers

Sabbatical Officers are elected by LSE students to act as their representative and lead the Students' Union.

A Sabbatical Officer is a full-time, salaried position - just like any other job - and is open to all students, at any stage of their study. We particularly encourage postgraduate, international, and students from marginalised backgrounds to apply.

You would be paid £31,040 a year, plus 25 days holiday and other perks.

Note: Sabbatical Officers will need to be available during the month of July for the induction period.

General Secretary

The General Secretary leads the Student Union and acts as the primary liaison between LSE and the Students’ Union.

The position offers you the unique opportunity to join as the head of a multi-million pound organisation, providing fantastic learning and development opportunities for you and your career.

As Chair of the Executive Committee, the Gen Sec supports elected Officers to represent all LSE students and lead on major campaigns, strategic developments, projects and events.

What does the role involve?

  1. Acting as Union spokesperson when liaising with the School, the media, and external organisations
  2. Chairing the Trustee Board and the Executive Committee
  3. Sitting on LSE’s decision-making bodies, including LSE Council, Ethics Committee, and Governance Committee, and representing student perspectives and interests
  4. Liaising with Student Union Officers across the country to coordinator national efforts to improve student experiences

Education Officer

The Education Officer changes things up for the better, working to represent all students’ academic interests, and helping them to get the most out of their degree!

As Education Officer, you would be one of the Students’ Union's full-time, paid Sabbatical Officers. The Sabbatical Officers represent all students and lead on major campaigns, strategic developments, projects and events.

The Education Officer is responsible for leading change in teaching and learning within LSE. You will raise awareness of academic issues, liaising with students, academic representatives, academics and the directorate to ensure that students have a voice and representation within the SU and the University. You will also take the lead on national education policy and issues.

You will sit on School decision-making bodies, including the Academic Board, and will co-chair the Consultative Forums. This is a meeting-heavy role.

All Sabbatical Officers are also members of the Trustee Board, which has the ultimate legal and financial responsibility for the Students’ Union, and the Executive Committee which is responsible for defending the rights of student members and campaigning on issues affecting them.

What would I be responsible for?

  1. Directing the Union’s work on educational and academic issues
  2. Supporting academic reps to make positive changes to the educational experience of students
  3. Primary Officer involved with monitoring the activities of the Academic Board and other related Academic Committees

However, as with all elected roles, you will have a lot of freedom over the projects you choose to work on.

For more information on this role click here, or email su.representation@lse.ac.uk

Welfare and Liberation Officer

The Welfare and Liberation Officer works to make sure the University and wider world are inclusive and accessible to all. Take the lead on making LSE a safe, fair, and positive place to learn and to live!

As Welfare and Liberation Officer you will be one of LSESU’s full-time, paid Sabbatical Officers. The Sabbatical Officers represent all students at LSE and lead on major campaigns, strategic developments, projects and events.

The Welfare and Liberation Officer leads on initiatives that advance and support student welfare, particularly for those marginalised within their education experience and across wider society.

You will undergo negotiations with the School to improve issues such as off-campus housing support and the cost of living crisis; student wellbeing; equality and diversity issues; and access to higher education. You will work closely with the Part-Time Officers elected to represent marginalised groups, supporting them with their campaigns and projects.

You will sit on working groups concerning communities and student wellbeing, including the EDI Advisory Board, the Harassment and Safeguarding Forum and the Residences User Group.

All Sabbatical Officers are also members of the Trustee Board, which has the ultimate legal and financial responsibility for the Students’ Union, and the Executive Committee which is responsible for defending the rights of student members and campaigning on issues affecting them.

What would I be responsible for?

  1. Direct the Union’s work on the welfare of members
  2. Direct the Union’s work on issues relating to members’ local, regional, national and international communities
  3. Direct the Union’s work on citizenship and wider societal issues
  4. Direct the Union’s work on developing good campus relations

However, as with all elected roles, you will have a lot of freedom over the projects you choose to work on.

For more information on this role click here, or email su.representation@lse.ac.uk

Activities and Communities Officer

Here to make sure life at LSE is the best it can be! The Activities and Communities Officer helps create and sustain LSE’s vibrant community. Whether that’s getting more funding for sport, or providing opportunities for people across the globe to get to know each other - the Activities and Communities Officer is here to make LSE a home.

As Activities and Communities Officer, you will be one of LSESU’s four full-time, paid Sabbatical Officers. The Sabbatical Officers represent all students at LSE and lead on major campaigns, strategic developments, projects and events.

The Activities and Communities Officer works to create and sustain the LSE community. This will involve supporting the development of LSESU sports clubs, societies and the student Media Group. You will help organise events, such as the Freshers’ Fair, and will work closely with the Raising And Giving (RAG) President and the Athletics Union (AU) President on their campaigns and projects.

You will also lead on sustainability initiatives in the SU, working closely with the Ethics and Sustainability Adviser and green-focussed societies.

All Sabbatical Officers are also members of the Trustee Board, which has the ultimate legal and financial responsibility for the Students’ Union, and the Executive Committee which is responsible for defending the rights of student members and campaigning on issues affecting them.

What am I responsible for?

  1. Directing the Union’s Student activities work
  2. Instigator of new and developing extra curricular activities
  3. Lead projects that enhance the personal development of members
  4. Lead on initiatives that help build community within the School

However, as with all elected roles, you will have a lot of freedom over the projects you choose to work on.

For more information on this role click here, or email su.representation@lse.ac.uk

Part-Time Officers

Part-Time Officers (PTOs) are roles that you complete alongside your studies at LSE. Part-Time Officers are elected to represent a particular marginalised or under-represented group at LSE. They will reach out to members of their community to feed back on how to make the student experience at LSE a better one, and will be available for students to contact with questions or ideas. PTOs receive an honorarium of £750 in thanks for the brilliant work they undertake on behalf of students.

You must be an LSE student during the 24/25 academic year in order to take on the role of PTO

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Officer

Make sure the voices of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students are heard! As BAME Officer, you would represent the interests of BAME students and work to combat racism and prejudices at LSE.

The BAME Officer is a Part-Time Officer position and sits on the Executive Committee within the SU. The BAME PTO will be paid an honorarium of £750 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

As BAME Officer, you are responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students on campus, supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change.

As BAME Officer you will:

  1. Challenge LSE to become an anti-oppressive, decolonial and intersectional institution
  2. Work closely with LSESU staff to influence authentic change by working on SU priorities, such as Decolonise the Curriculum, Anti-Apartheid, and Black History Month
  3. Advocate for students at Executive Committee meetings
  4. Discuss problems and their solutions with students at termly Town Halls
  5. Collaborate with the Sabbatical Officers and other Part-Time Officer to influence actionable change

You must self-identify as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic in order to run for this position.

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

Class Liberation Officer

The Class Liberation Officer represents the interests of students from low socio-economic backgrounds, tackling issues such as class-based microaggressions, imposter syndrome, and tangible financial support for disadvantaged students.

The Class Liberation Officer is a Part-Time Officer position and sits on the Executive Committee within the SU. The Class Liberation PTO will be paid an honorarium of £750 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

As Class Liberation Officer, you are responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of students from low socio-economic on campus, supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change.

As Class Liberation Officer you work may involve:

  1. Developing a strategy to address issues disproportionately affecting students from low socio-economic backgrounds, such as the cost of living crisis
  2. Developing and implementing strategies to lobby for commuting students
  3. Assessing and, if required, advocating for more money in the hardship fund
  4. Helping provide communities for students from state school backgrounds.
  5. Representing the needs of lower socio-economic classes at Executive meetings and update on progress at termly Town Halls

You must self define as being from a low socio-economic background in order to run for this role.

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

International Students Officer

LSE is a global institution, with a global student body - and the International Students’ Officer makes sure we don’t forget it! They work to represent international students and their interests to the School and SU.

The International Students’ Officer is a Part-Time Officer position and sits on the Executive Committee within the SU. The International Students’ PTO will be paid an honorarium of £750 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

As International Students’ Officer, you are responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of international students on campus, supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change.

As International Students' Officer you will:

  1. Lead the Union on improving international students’ experiences and increase their engagement
  2. Lobby key LSE stakeholders for better support on visas and scholarships opportunities
  3. Work with the Language Centre to propose language teaching courses
  4. Collaborate with relevant clubs, societies and campaigns
  5. Advocate for international students at Executive Committee meetings
  6. Provide community/ events tailored for international students
  7. Discuss problems and their solutions with students at termly Town Halls
  8. Collaborate with the Sabbatical Officers and other Part-Time Officer to influence actionable change

You must be an international student to run for this position.

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

LGBTQ+ Officer

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + (LGBTQ+) Officer, is responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of LGBTQ+ students on campus, supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change. They lead on Pride Week amongst other projects.

The LGBTQ+ Officer is a Part-Time Officer position and sits on the Executive Committee within the SU. The International Students’ PTO will be paid an honorarium of £750 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

As LGBTQ+ Officer, you are responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of LGBTQ+ students on campus, supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change.

As LGBTQ+ Officer you will:

  1. Collaborate with LGBTQ+ Society and Spectrum
  2. Lobby for improved LGBTQ+ support, especially in the wake of LSE’s disaffiliation from Stonewall
  3. Develop a strategy to improve the lives of members of the LGBTQ+ community on campus
  4. Representing the needs of LGBTQ+ students at Executive meetings and update on progress at termly Town Halls
  5. Communicate and collaborate with the Sabbatical Officers where necessary

You must self-define as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or another minority gender identity or sexual orientation, such as gender queer or asexual in order to run for this role.

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

Neurodiversity and Disability Officer

The Neurodiversity and Disability (ND&D) Officer provides a genuine understanding of the complexities of Neurodiversity and Disability. They listen to and voice the concerns and experiences of neurodivergent and disabled students on campus, seeking to build a community at LSE where ND&D students can thrive.

The Neurodiversity and Disability Officer is a Part-Time Officer position and sits on the Executive Committee within the SU. The Neurodiversity and Disability PTO will be paid an honorarium of £750 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

As Neurodiversity and Disability Officer, you are responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of neurodivergent and disabled students on campus, supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change.

As Neurodiversity and Disability Officer you could:

  1. Collaborate with the Disability Wellbeing Service to improve support for ND&D students
  2. Organise events during Neurodiversity week
  3. Ensure that the needs of ND&D students are catered for in wider SU events e.g. Welcome Week
  4. Represent the needs of ND&D students at Executive meetings and update on progress at termly Town Halls

You must self-identify as neurodivergent or disabled in order to run for this position.

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

Women's Officer

The Women's Officer is a Part-Time Officer position and sits on the Executive Committee within the SU. The Women's PTO will be paid an honorarium of £750 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

Represent and support other women at LSE! As Women's Officer, you are responsible for listening to and voicing the concerns and experiences of all women on campus, recognising the intersectionality of their experiences, and supporting the Sabbatical Officers in lobbying for change.

Did you know, on average, women can swim the English Channel faster than men? And yet, both on and off campus women experience everyday sexism. Are you discouraged by the micro AND macro-aggressions that appear in LSE?

By running to be the LSESU’s Women’s Officer you can lead the way in pioneering LSE as an equitable space for women!

The Women's Officer:

  1. Advocates for women’s empowerment and equality at Executive Committee meetings and termly Town Halls
  2. Works closely with LSESU staff to influence authentic change by tackling sexual assault on campus, increasing awareness of consent, promoting body positivity and empowering women on campus with specific career events
  3. Collaborates with the Sabbatical Officers and other part time officers to influence actionable change
  4. Communicates their work to students both in person and online

You must self-define as a woman in order to run for this role.

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

Other roles

Sabbatical or Part-Time Officer positions not really your bag? No stress, there's lots of other really important roles within the Students' Union - and most of them are paid as well!

Ethics and Sustainability Advisor

Lead the frontier to make LSE an ethical and sustainable community, helping ensure campus life supports sustainable development for all. From advising the SU on environmental issues to investigating LSE's ethical and social credibility, there's lots to get stuck into!

The Ethics and Sustainability Adviser is a consultative position which provides advice and recommendations to the Executive Committee on matters relating to ethics and sustainability. The Ethics and Sustainability Adviser will be paid an honorarium of £650 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year.

As Ethics and Sustainability Adviser Officer you will:

  1. Advise on how to make the campus a more environmentally friendly and ethical place
  2. Proactively investigate methods of developing LSE and the SU in sustainable ways
  3. Advocate for environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues at Executive Committee meetings and termly Town Halls
  4. Work closely with LSESU staff to influence authentic change by working on campaigns related to environmental, social and governance matters
  5. Lead on Green Week
  6. Collaborate with the Sabbatical Officers and other part time officers to influence actionable change

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

Democracy Committee

Steer the student-led change that drives the LSESU - decide what’s fair campaigning during elections, review student policy proposals, and chair discussion at Town Halls - there’s lots of variety in the Democracy Committee!

The Democracy Committee is at the heart of everything we do at LSESU to make student voices heard. As part of the Democracy Committee, you would be a key figure in ensuring that the SU’s democratic structures always remain open and accessible to LSE students, facilitating change in a fair but radical fashion!

The Democracy Committee Members:

  1. Ensure that LSESU functions in a democratic way
  2. Facilitate and lead Student Town Halls and Student Panels
  3. Analyse and assess the democratic foundations of any Policy Proposals put forward by other students
  4. Oversee election complaints and rulings
  5. Decide the dates, rules, and regulation for all elections and referenda
  6. Assist with promoting elections, Student Panels and Town Hall

Each Democracy Committee member will be paid an honorarium of £700 for their work in the 2024/25 academic year. You cannot hold another elected position whilst acting as a member of Democracy Committee./p>

See the full role description here or contact su.representation@lse.ac.uk for more information.

Student Trustee

Become a Director of a multi-million-pound charity, and help make big decisions about the future of the LSE Students’ Union!

The Trustee Board is ultimately responsible for making the big decisions about the running of the students’ union. The Board is comprised of 12 people including Sabbatical Officers, lay trustees and fellow students – all of whom bring different types of experience and expertise to the role. The LSESU Trustee Board generally does not get involved in political issues or policy setting, but is responsible for ensuring that the democracy which produces that policy is working for students, and that the Students’ Union is following all its legal, financial and strategic duties.

The role of Student Trustees is varied dependent on what Union activity they are overseeing, but through all their work they:

  1. Elevate the student voice
  2. Steer the Students' Union's strategic direction
  3. Ensure the Students’ Union remains secure and stable to continue providing for students

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for this role are different to the other roles in this election. As stated in our governing documents, all applicants for this role must be approved by our Appointments Committee. Therefore, you must submit an application for this role as well as nominating yourself in the election portal. See the full role description and information on the application process at:

https://www.lsesu.com/voice/elections/trustee/

Ready to #LeadLSE?

Apply now

 

 

 

FAQs

What’s involved in running a campaign?

The campaigning period is your opportunity to get yourselves known by students you don’t normally cross paths with. The best way to do so is by making yourself as memorable as possible and let students know what is unique about you and your ideas - it’s a great time to talk to students about why they cast a vote for you.

And don't worry, you'll have lots of support from us at the SU! We have lots of info and guidance in our Candidate Information Pack, as well as our Online Support Hub and candidate training session. Most importantly, we're always on hand for a chat if you have any questions - just drop us a message at su.representation@lse.ac.uk

 

I’m new to LSE, can I still run?

Yes! Elections are a great way to get to know people you wouldn’t normally meet! LSESU will always encourage anyone to stand for the roles available, especially those new to our community.

What positions can I run for?

You can see the available roles on our SU website here: https://www.lsesu.com/voice/elections/

Can I run for multiple positions?

Yes, but we would encourage you to consider how this may impact your campaign’s effectiveness. It is easier to campaign for one position so that you can focus your message to your peers.

You also cannot hold some positions at the same time - so for instance you could run for both Women’s Officer and LGBT+ Officer, but if you won your election for both of these roles, you couldn’t hold both of these positions at the same time as they are both members of the Executive Committee. This is the case if you are running for: two Part-Time Officer positions, two Sabbatical Officer positions, a Part-Time Officer role and a Sabbatical Officer role, or the student trustee role and a Sabbatical Officer role. You also cannot hold any other elected position if you are a member of Democracy Committee. Send us an email if you have any questions about this and we can talk it through: su.representation@lse.ac.uk

Can I stand for election as a postgraduate student?

Yes! All LSE students can run in elections, and we strongly encourage postgraduate students to run for SU positions.

How can students vote?

Between 9am Wednesday 22nd March and 4pm Friday 24th March you can vote online here at any time, or at one of our polling stations between 10am-4pm.

Candidates and campaigners must maintain a reasonable distance (around 2 metres) from anyone who is casting their vote. You cannot, under any circumstances, stand over a student or talk to them while they are voting – even if they ask you for help. If they are struggling to vote, take them to an SU polling station or ask them to email us. You cannot provide your device for them to vote on, they must vote on their own device or go to the Students’ Union polling stations to vote.

How do I report candidates who are breaking election campaigning rules?

You can send an email to the Returning Officer at su.returningofficer@lse.ac.uk with details of the violation and evidence before the close of voting. You can view the election and campaigning rules here .

You will submit your campaign expenditures and receipts to the SU. See an example below:

Item Cost attached
Home printed/designed t-shirts £2 per shirt

If you already own materials that you’d like to use for your campaign and are unsure about the cost of them, you can request a judgement by emailing the Returning Officer at su.returningofficer@lse.ac.uk. You can view the election and campaigning rules here .