At Oxford SU, elections are a launchpad for developing leadership skills - something reflected in the long legacy of former SU Presidents who have gone on to become Members of Parliament and leaders across many sectors.
Because of this, students take time to understand who is standing and what they bring to the role. One of the most important ways they do this is by reading Candidate Statements.
View example Candidate Statement
How to write your candidate statement
When submitting your nomination, you will need to upload your 500-word maximum Candidate Statement. This is your opportunity to give voters an insight into how your values, experience and skills will be useful if you are elected. You may also find the two exemplar Sabbatical Officer candidate statements helpful.
These are not examples from previous candidates, and have been written for the Elections Hub.
Show you understand the role
- Demonstrate a clear grasp of what the role is responsible for and who it represents.
- Use the language of the role description to show alignment with its remit.
- Avoid generic statements that could apply to any position.
Lead with your most relevant experience
- Start with the experience that best prepares you for this specific role. Consider any experience/s you have as a Common Room Officer, Part-Time Officer, member of a Society or Group executive team, Course Rep or DivRep.
- Explain what you did and why it mattered.
- Prioritise depth and relevance over listing as many roles as possible.
Link experience to skills and impact
- Explicitly connect your past roles to the responsibilities of the position.
- Show how your experience would benefit students in this role.
- Focus on transferable skills such as representation, communication, organisation, collaboration, and follow-through.
Demonstrate understanding of SU democracy and structures
- Reference experience with representation, policy-making, or governance where relevant.
- Show awareness of how decisions are made and implemented.
- Emphasise accountability and delivery, not just participation.
Explain how you would approach the role
- Describe your working style and priorities.
- Emphasise collaboration with students, reps, societies, Common Rooms, officers, or staff as appropriate.
- Avoid vague promises; focus on practical approaches.
Centre student voice
- Show that your priorities are informed by listening to students.
- Reference gathering feedback, representing diverse perspectives, or advocating on behalf of others.
- Make clear that you see yourself as a representative, not a spokesperson for personal views.
Balance vision with realism
- Share what you care about improving, while recognising constraints such as time, capacity, or structures.
- Avoid overpromising.
- Focus on achievable, meaningful change.
Use clear, accessible language
- Write in a way that is easy to understand and engaging.
- Avoid jargon, acronyms without explanation, or overly formal tone.
- Be confident without sounding self-important.
Show values through action
- Let your values (e.g. inclusion, fairness, transparency) emerge through examples rather than slogans.Focus on collective impact rather than individual achievement.
End with a strong, representative conclusion
- Reaffirm why you are standing and who you want to represent.
- Emphasise accountability, collaboration, and commitment.
- Leave the reader with a clear sense of your approach and priorities