What are Student Officers and what do they do?

What are Student Officers and how do they represent you? 

KSU is led by three Student Officers: one President and two Vice Presidents. These are full-time, salaried roles, beginning July 2026 and ending June 2027, working 35 hours a week from the KSU office, Monday to Friday. They are paid £26,999. Student Officers are elected by Kingston University students to represent their interests and make a real impact on university life. 

Each officer works towards campaigning on three manifesto objectives. These objectives can include supporting your academic interests, as well as the Kingston community through lobbying local and, if necessary, national policymakers. 

The Four Hats of a Student Officer 

We like to think that officers wear four different hats: Employee, Trustee, Activist and Representative. All four roles are equally important and together they make up what it really means to lead KSU. 

Employee 

Student Officers are full time members of staff at KSU. This means they are responsible for the day to day running of the organisation and supporting students directly. 

As employees, officers: 

• Work in the office Monday–Friday 

• Receive 1 to 1 support and attend weekly Officer & senior management meetings 

• Contribute to project planning meetings 

• Participate in university committee meetings, contributing to important decisions on how the university is run 

• Support Freshers’ and Refreshers’ activities 

• Run campaigns such as Kingston, Have Your Say! 

• Support reception and front facing services 

• Attend conferences and training days 

• Act as marketing champions for KSU 

No two days are the same. One day you might be in meetings with university staff, the next you could be supporting students at an outreach event. 

Trustee 

Student Officers are also Trustees of Kingston Students’ Union, which is a registered charity. This means they are legally responsible for how KSU is run. 

As trustees, officers help to: 

• Set the strategic direction of KSU 

• Make decisions about budgets and policies 

• Ensure KSU is financially sustainable 

• Act in the best interests of all students 

• Follow charity law and good governance 

This role is about responsibility, leadership and making sure KSU remains a strong, student-led organisation. 

Activist 

At heart, Student Officers are campaigners. Their role is to create change and challenge systems that do not work for students. 

As activists, officers can: 

• Lead campaigns based on their manifesto objectives 

• Lobby the University on issues raised by students 

• Campaign on local and national student issues 

• Work with other Students’ Unions and student networks 

• Organise petitions, consultations and awareness campaigns 

 

This is where students’ voices are turned into real action. 

Representative 

Most importantly, Student Officers are the voice of Kingston students. 

As representatives, officers: 

• Represent students in meetings with senior university staff 

• Sit on university committees and decision-making panels 

• Gather student feedback through surveys and forums 

• Work closely with Faculty and Course Reps 

• Bring student concerns directly to those in power 

They don’t make decisions for students – they make decisions with students and on their behalf. 

What are Academic Interests? 

We understand academic interests to be anything related to your student learning experience, which include but are not limited to: 

• Curriculum 

• Resources, environment and technologies 

• Learning and Teaching delivery 

• Progression and Achievement 

• Assessment and Feedback 

• Community and Belonging 

• Student Partnership 

• Support and Guidance 

• Organisation and Management 

Check out the student learning model on the Campaigns Hub. Make sure you’re logged in so that you can view it. 

This is the core of what Student Officers represent when they speak on your behalf to the University. 

 

Officer FAQs 

We asked you what you wanted to know about Kingston Elections – here are some of the most common questions: 

What are the KSU Elections? 

The KSU Elections are how students choose who will represent their interests at Kingston University. Nominations are open from 2nd February to 1st March. You can nominate yourself here. 

Who can nominate? 

Any Kingston University student interested in running can nominate themselves. 

If you think someone is great fit for any of these roles, please let us know via the Recommend a Student Leader Form 

Is it paid? 

Only the President and Vice President roles are paid. 

Who can vote? 

Anyone who is a Kingston University student. 

What are the roles? 

All in all, being a Student Officer is an excellent opportunity open to all Kingston University students. You take on a full-time role for a year, developing valuable skills that will give you an edge in the competitive job market. You also have the chance to campaign not only for the interests of Kingston students, but for the wider Kingston community and even on issues at a national level. 

How do we know if Officers are holding up to their promises? 

Officers are held accountable every month for keeping up with their objectives by Student Council. If they do not follow through on their pledge of commitment to you, they can be removed by the same people that put them in power: the students.