Frequently Asked Questions - kclsu

Frequently Asked Questions Representing students at King’s as a Student Officer is a rewarding full-time position with a salary of £23,063 (this is a 14/15 figure and may vary for the 15/16 academic year). If you want to stand for a position you’ll need to take a year out of your studies, unless you’re in your final year in which case you can carry out the job in the academic year after you graduate. The idea of taking a year out of your studies can be a daunting one, but it doesn’t need to be. You’ll be gaining loads of experience and skills which will help you with your future, and we’ve put together these FAQ’s to help clear up some of the questions you might have. Who’ll sort the admin for my year out? KCLSU will help you sort out the practical side of taking a year out from your study. The University is very accommodating for students who win Student Officer positions at the Students’ Union. The likelihood of you facing any difficulties in taking a year out is very low, but if a complication does come up, KCLSU will help you. Can I stand for a position if I’m an International International student? What about my visa? No need to worry. If you’re elected, we’ll help you with the visa extension process. If you’re a one-year postgraduate student, you must run during your year of study and not after. For more information visit the UKBA website and NUS website. •

How will this affect my visa status?

A Student Officer role is a full-time, salaried, elected executive Students’ Union position. King’s College London will be your Tier 4 sponsor while you carry out your role with KCLSU, so there’s no need to worry about your visa. You can take this job during your studies or in the academic year immediately after you graduate. If you take the job while you still have time left on your permission to stay as an adult student, the College will make the Home Office aware of your situation. This is because they’re responsible for you until your permission to stay in the UK expires. If you want to take the job at the end of your course, and your permission to stay as a student is about to expire, you’ll need to apply to extend your stay as a Tier 4 student. You’ll need to meet the Tier 4 requirements again. A Student Officer position normally lasts for one academic year, and you’ll most likely be given permission to stay to cover this time. If you’re re-elected after one year, you’ll need to apply under Tier 4 again. The requirement for a work placement to be no more than 50 per cent of your overall course in the UK doesn’t include any period you’re in post as a Student Officer. The College will continue to meet its reporting duties while you are a Student Officer, but your contact with them is likely to be different because of the nature of your work. What skills will I be developing as a Student Officer? Being a Student Officer is your chance to lead and shape the Students’ Union, and the role you’re elected into will be yours to develop as you see fit. A typical Student Officer position would give you the chance to develop your: •

Communication skills

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Analytical thinking Time management Organisation, planning and project management Leadership and team management

Remember, you’ll be graduating alongside thousands of your peers nationally, but only a small handful of them will have gained the skills and experience from a Student Officer position. Will taking a year out now affect my right to practice my chosen profession? We know this is especially a concern for Health students. You don’t need to worry. Here’s why: • • •

KCLSU has had a number of Health students win elected positions in the past and continue their study and professional practice with no problem. We’ve also checked with the College’s Academic Centre, and they’ve confirmed that practicing a profession in Health isn’t in any way hindered by taking up a Student Officer position. A number of different Students’ Unions have roles specifically for their Health students (like KCLSU now has!). We’ve checked with these Unions and their Student Officers haven’t had any issues either.

Will I be able to build a professional network? Being a Student Officer will open the door to network with many other student leaders throughout the country. Research from the National Union of Students suggests that the professional network developed as a Student Officer typically has a longevity and strength found in few other professions. My academic year is longer than other courses, will KCLSU take that into consideration? That’s no problem, KCLSU will take that into consideration and make sure you have all the time you need to study and take any exams. Your education comes first! What would happen to my scholarship if I became a Student Officer? This usually isn’t a problem as the scholarships will be placed on hold while you are in post and resume once you return to your studies. However, students at King’s are sponsored by numerous entities, so each scholarship must be taken on a case by case basis: •

All undergraduate, postgraduate and international students need to contact the entity that issued their scholarships directly and inquire about their individual cases.

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Some scholarships for Postgraduates are issued by the College’s Graduate School. Contact [email protected] for information.

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Many scholarships for Undergraduates are issued by the College’s Student Funding Office. Contact [email protected] for information.

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If neither of the above applies, students can find their contact on the letter (or email) they received initially from the bursary who issued the scholarships.

KCLSU is happy to help throughout this process, email [email protected] if you have questions. Can I still represent my sports club if I’m elected? If you’re elected, you can still play for a sports team as long as you’ve paid your membership fee for the club. I’m not really involved with KCLSU. Can I still stand for election?

Of course you can! Any student at King’s can, and should, put themselves forward. If you’ve got ideas on how to make the student experience better, stand for election. Want to ask something else? If you’ve still got questions, we’re more than happy to answer them! Email us at [email protected] or call 020 7848 4588.