King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU) is more than just a union; it’s a collective where students can make new friends, gain new experiences, find opportunities, and create lasting, impactful change. If you’re keen to shape the Union and King’s, keep reading to find out more about our structure and understand how KCLSU represents you.
Membership and Voting
Every student at King’s College London (KCL) is automatically a member of KCLSU. Students are at the heart of the democratic process and decision-making. Your vote is crucial as it shapes the Union according to your preferences. Representatives at both the Union and University levels are elected by students.
These elected representatives play a pivotal role in making high-level decisions, advocating for students, leading their communities, and voicing student concerns in important forums.
KCLSU's Leadership Structure
Board of Trustees
As a charity, KCLSU is governed by a board of trustees, of which 10 are students. These 10 trustees are elected by the student body and include six officer team members and four student trustees. This ensures that student voices are central to the decision-making process at the highest level.
Sabbatical Officers
Sabbatical officers, often referred to as student officers or Vice Presidents/Presidents of KCLSU, take a year out of their studies or serve after graduation. They wear multiple hats: trustee, representative, KCLSU staff member, and campaigner. Representing the entire student body, they support change through their campaigns and manifesto priorities. They oversee the general direction of KCLSU and participate in the highest decision-making committees at King’s to ensure that student voices are heard.
This year, the officer team is a lineup of 5 student officers:
1. Julia Kosowska VP Education (Health)
2. Madeeha Saher VP Education (Arts & Sciences)
3. Sheeba Naaz VP Postgraduate
4.Haneen Farid VP Welfare & Community
5. Virajit Singh VP Activities & Development
To find out more specific details regarding their roles across KCLSU, please seek the Student Officers page.
Student Trustees
Student trustees are elected alongside student officers but hold voluntary positions that can be balanced with their studies. They serve on KCLSU’s board and sub-committees as company directors, ensuring that the Union’s strategic direction and impact align with the values and priorities of the student body.
Other Representatives
In addition to the board of trustees, there are other representatives elected by students who influence various aspects of the Union and the university.
Academic reps are elected at the departmental or faculty level. They gather feedback and use students’ opinions to help shape departmental or faculty initiatives. They work closely with academic staff, KCLSU, and students, bringing agendas, issues, feedback, or ideas to the Student Staff Liaison Committee.
Liberation Network Leads
KCLSU has eight networks: Black Students, Disabled Students, Interfaith, International, First Generation, LGBT+ Students, People of Colour, and Women. These networks are representative platforms for marginalised communities to come together, collaborate, or campaign. Each network elects a chair who participates in forums at both the University and Union levels.
Elected by their respective members, committee members lead their societies or clubs. With training from KCLSU, they organise a wide range of events and competitions. While not directly involved in representation, they play a crucial role in the democratic process and lead change within their communities by campaigning and being the first point of contact for many students at King’s.
Funding and Ratification Committee
All student group committee members can vote or stand to be part of the Funding and Ratification Committee (FAR). This committee ratifies new student groups and allocates funding to student groups that apply at different points in the year.
How to Get Involved
Explore the activity groups and sports clubs available at KCLSU. Take it a step further and get involved with Student Media, Academic Associations, or Liberation Networks.
Visit the KCLSU Make Change page to discover various ways to make a difference. Change doesn’t always require campaigning or running in an election – fundraising, volunteering, participating in widening participation outreach, or getting involved with the National Union of Students (NUS) are all valuable ways to contribute.