The Leadership Elections are our major elections each academic year. We elect a Union President, three Deputy Presidents, Chair of Union Council, Student Trustees to our Board, as well as Liberation and Community Officers, Undergraduate Departmental Representatives, Postgraduate Research Representatives and the committees of Constituent Unions and clubs and societies.

Nominations open at 12pm on Monday, 9 February 2026, and close at 12pm on Friday 27, February 2026.

Every registered student at Imperial will get the chance to vote when online polls open at 10am on Monday, 9 March.

You will be able to find more detailed information about each role from early 2026. Check back here soon!

Lead Imperial College Union

The Officer Trustees (OTs) are the leaders of Imperial College Union (ICU) and are the voice of all Imperial students. Elected by the entire student body, the four successful candidates take a full academic year out of their studies or at the end of their studies to work on behalf of their peers. Officer Trustee roles are full-time, paid positions, receiving a salary of around £40k per year along with a great package of benefits and professional support from Imperial College Union's staff and Trustees.

Keep ICU effective

The Council Chair and Student Trustees play an important role in upholding ICU's governance and democracy. These roles are integral to ensuring the union is working in line with its strategy, constitution and byelaws. Both roles are members of the ICU's most senior governing body, the Board of Trustees.

Facilitate student-led change

There are nine Liberation & Community Officer (LCO) positions, plus various Undergraduate Academic & Wellbeing Departmental Reps for each College department, and Postgraduate Representative roles across faculties and departments.

These positions are change agents who ensure we maintain the highest standards and follow our values of integrity, inclusivity and innovation. These roles will represent their respective cohorts on decisions made at Imperial, whilst developing their own projects to improve the student experience.

Create fun and inclusive communities

ICU comprises of Constituent Unions and 340+ Clubs, Societies & Projects. Their committee members lead activities and communities which make Imperial a great place for us all to connect and collaborate, start campaigns, share ideas and have fun.

Each has its own committee, with a President/Chair, Treasurer and Secretary along with other key roles that keep them functional and inclusive.

1. You must be a current student enrolled on a programme at Imperial College for the full academic year.
2. You must meet the eligibility of specific roles, for example, you can only be a Department Rep for the Department you study in or part of your club or society committee if you are a member, and joined prior to nominations opening.
3. You must not have received or be under current investigation for any Union or Imperial disciplinary action that results in you contravening Union policy.
4. ICU will check with Imperial that candidates are eligible to run prior to the start of campaigning.
5. If you fail to meet the above requirements you shall be withdrawn from the election.

UK Political Elections vs Student Union Elections

National politics and student union elections in the UK are both ways for people to choose representatives, but they differ in terms of the issues they focus on, the people they represent, and the level at which they operate.

National Politics

National politics in the UK involves elections for government positions, such as Members of Parliament (MPs), who represent entire regions or constituencies across the country. These elections happen on a larger scale, and the issues being addressed typically affect the whole population. Topics like the economy, healthcare, education, and national security are commonly debated. National politics is concerned with making decisions that impact the country as a whole.

Student Union Elections

Student union elections are more localised and focus on the needs and interests of students at a particular university or college. These elections are separate from and independent of UK Political Elections. In these elections, students vote for representatives who will act on their behalf in addressing issues that specifically affect them during their time whilst at University.

These could include matters like campus facilities, student welfare, academic support, and social events. The goal of student union elections is to ensure that students have a voice in the decisions that affect their daily lives and university experience.

Key Differences:

1. Scope: National politics affects the entire country, while student union elections only affect the student body at a specific institution.
2. Representation: National politicians represent the interests of the general public, while student union leaders represent the specific needs of students.
3. Issues: National politics deals with broad issues like government policy and laws, while student union elections focus on things like student rights, campus life, and resources that directly impact students at a particular University.

Whether it’s improving student facilities, ensuring better support services, or pushing for changes that make university life better, student union leaders are elected to advocate for students and ensure their voices are heard within the institution.

How voting works

Student union elections use a single transferable voting (STV) system. Voters rank candidates by preference (1st, 2nd, etc.). If a candidate meets a required number of votes (quota), they win. If no one meets the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes transfer to others based on the next preference.

Example: In a student union election with 4 candidates (A, B, C, D), 100 votes are cast:

First Round: A: 40 votes, B: 30 votes, C: 20 votes, D: 10 votes.

D is eliminated and their votes are redistributed to voters’ second choices.

Second Round: Votes for D go to C, and then the process continues until enough candidates reach the required quota.

Key Features: Multiple winners - more than one person is elected.

Proportional: Aims to reflect voters’ true preferences through ranked voting and vote transfers.