Tuesday 29-04-2025 - 09:44

We're holding a special election to find someone to be our Cardiff and Swansea President for 2025-2026.

Earlier this year, you elected Phoebe as your Cardiff and Swansea President. However, they have chosen not to take up the role. 

We respect their decision and wish them all the best for the future - however, this means we are holding a special election - called a bye-election - to ensure we have someone in the role and have a full team of Presidents for 2025/26.

Nominations are open now and close on Tuesday, 6 May. Voting opens at 10:00 on Monday, 19 May, and closes at 15:00 on Tuesday, 20 May. We'll announce the winner on Wednesday, 21 May.

The Cardiff and Swansea President works full-time and gets paid a salary of £21,840 to make student life at UWTSD as good as it can be!

Any current or graduating students from a UWTSD Cardiff or Swansea campus can nominate themselves as the next Cardiff and Swansea president as long as they meet the requirements below.

If you're interested in this role, you'll need to submit a nomination via our form by Tuesday, 6 May, to be in with the chance of getting elected into the role by other students.

Submit A Nomination

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Eligibility Requirements

To be able to nominate as the next Cardiff and Swansea President, you need to meet the following points;

1. You must have the right to work in the UK.
2. You must be living in the UK full-time. 
3. You must be a current or graduating student on a UWTSD campus in Cardiff or Swansea.
4. If your course doesn't finish in June 2025, you must be able to take an interruption of study.
5. You must be available from Friday, 13 June, for Officer Induction on a full-time basis.
6. You must live near your chosen home campus; at the moment it is proposed that your typical work week would be three days in Swansea and two days in Cardiff.
7. You must understand that this is a full-time, paid role - you can't have any other jobs (no part-time work or study in any capacity) 
8. You must understand that you'll become one of our trustees if elected - and you must meet the legal requirements.

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FAQS

Why can’t we appoint the runner-up? 

We do not have the power to appoint the runner-up due to our Memorandum & Articles of Association. This document sets out what we can and can’t do - and within the document, it's clear that in the event of a vacancy a bye-election is called. 

Why do students from other get to vote for the Cardiff and Swansea President?

Students' Unions follow the Education Act 1994, in which is makes provision for ‘Major Union Office Holders’ and that these are to be elected by all students. Sabbatical Officers are ‘Major Union Office Holders’. If a single campus president was elected by their campus; they could not be a ‘Major Union Office Holder’ meaning; no salary, no trustee position, and no officially recognized position. This means that all students can vote for all Major Union Office Holders. 

I don’t study on Swansea or Cardiff Campus; why should I care? 

Don’t let the title fool you, the officers represent students on all issues. For example, food hubs on every campus could be the priority of one of the Sabbatical Officers. This year’s Swansea Campus President has campaigned for Cost of Living support for all campuses. It doesn’t matter which campus they’re on the big focus is on enhancing the student experience.

I am an international student, can I apply?

International students are welcome (and encouraged) to run in the election, however, you will need to extend your visa in order to take up the role. Please contact International Registry if you have questions about this, as we do not provide visa advice. You must meet all the eligibility criteria - you cannot run in the election if you don’t meet all of these compulsory requirements.

If you have any other questions, drop us an email at elections@uwtsd.ac.uk.