Working as a sabbatical officer
International students can stand for election as a sabbatical officer in the Leeds University Union.
If you have a student visa and are considering becoming a sabbatical officer, please read the following guidance before standing for election.
If you have a non-student visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, check with a Student Visa Advisor to ensure the terms and conditions of your visa allow you to become a Sabbatical Officer.
Elections and terms for sabbatical officers
Sabbatical officer elections are normally held in February. If you are elected, you will be expected to start the role in June, and serve for 12 months.
You can stand for re-election for a second year. The maximum length of time you can serve as a sabbatical officer is two years.
As well as working full-time as a sabbatical officer with a student visa, you can undertake additional part-time work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week.
If you have financial sponsorship
If you have an official financial sponsor for your studies, such as your government, employer or an international scholarship agency, you will need to let them know you plan to stand for election as a sabbatical officer. Check that working as a sabbatical officer will not breach the terms and conditions of your sponsorship, during or after your studies.
Academic progression
Speak to the Student Support Office, or your academic supervisors, to ensure working as a sabbatical officer will not affect your academic progression, which is one of the terms of your student visa.
You can become a sabbatical officer before you have finished your course, but you must agree this with your school in advance. Contact your school before standing for election.
If working as a sabbatical officer will affect your academic progression, email studentvisaadvice@leeds.ac.uk for visa assistance.
Student visa expiry dates
The University of Leeds can sponsor you under the student route during your time working as a sabbatical officer.
You will need to apply for your student visa with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for each year you serve as a sabbatical officer – two separate applications if you serve for two years.
Visit the extending your visa in the UK page for further information on how to extend your visa in the UK and how to request your new CAS for your year as a sabbatical officer.
If you have completed your course and your visa will expire before the sabbatical officer elections, you will not be able to apply to extend your visa to stay in the UK for the elections. This will mean you will need to leave the UK during the election period, which is likely to affect your campaign.
Undergraduate
If you are an undergraduate student elected as a sabbatical officer during your studies, the University will report this to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as a change of your circumstances, as your undergraduate course end date will change.
You will need to extent your visa to complete your undergraduate course after your year as a sabbatical officer.
If you wish to served your sabbatical year after completing your undergraduate course, you will need to extend your student visa for that year.
Working as a sabbatical officer is exempt from the student visa time limits, therefore your time served will not be counted towards the overall period that you are allowed to stay in the UK as a student.
Taught postgraduate
If you are a taught postgraduate student, your year as a sabbatical officer will overlap with the dissertation/project period of your course in June.
You need to discuss standing for election with your school and also make Leeds University Aware of your circumstances relating to financial sponsorship and any academic progression agreement in place. The Union will work with the University Student Immigration Compliance team to put measures in place to prevent any immigration implications for you and the University.
Postgraduate researchers
If you are a postgraduate researcher, speak with your financial sponsor (if applicable) and academic school, and contact Student Visa Advice before standing for election. If your student visa expires at a time that does not align with the election timetable, you may not be able to extend your student visa in time to serve as a sabbatical officer.