Celebrating the students who make Bristol University brilliant!
The Bristol SU: 50 Most Influential list recognises students and groups who’ve made an extraordinary impact on our student community this year.
At Bristol SU, we're shining a light on the people who’ve shown talent, passion, and dedication, whether that’s through big achievements, quiet acts of kindness, or anything in between.
Nominations will be accessed against four key criteria, but we'll also be open to unique, standout nominations.
How to Nominate 🎖️
Simply tell us why this individual or group is deserving of being recognised as one of the most Influential at the University of Bristol in 2025/26.
Think about how they have helped your community, gone above and beyond in their role or have they played an important part in shaping your Bristol university experience.
Nominations close Friday 17 April - Good Luck ⭐
The four criteria points to consider alongside the nomination are; Impact, Innovation, Community and Inclusion and Leadership.
- Impact: What difference have they made to your student community? This could be through wide or deep engagement, visible success, or a standout achievement.
- Innovation: Have they brought original, creative, or ambitious ideas to life? We’re looking for real determination, fresh thinking, and students who show brilliant problem‑solving skills.
- Community and Inclusion: How have they helped build a welcoming, supportive environment at Bristol Uni? This includes work around Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, wellbeing, sustainability, or anything that brings people together.
- Leadership: Do they show initiative, collaboration, or the ability to motivate and inspire other students? Strong student leadership can look like coordinating a team, taking on responsibility, or simply bringing people along with their ideas towards a shared goal.
FAQs
1. Can I nominate myself, or is it better to have a nominator?
We don’t mind whether someone nominates you, or if you write it yourself.
What does help? A tightly-written nomination that provides key details on the activity (e.g. numbers of people involved, long term impact).
2. Do I have a better chance of making the list if I get multiple people to repeatedly nominate me?
No, we’re on the search for quality, not quantity! So, there’s no need to ask people to repeatedly nominate you as we won’t consider the volume or number of nominations in our final decisions.
3. How do I get on the list?
Our judges will evaluate your nomination based on the 4 key criteria, which you can use as a guide when submitting your nomination. However, we will also consider exceptional submissions that may cover only one of these criteria but stand out in its own right.
4. How and when will I know if I’ve made the list?
Nomination submissions will close on Friday 17 April. We’ll then announce the final winners on Thursday 14 May.
5. What will I get if I win?
There is so much on offer if you end up being one of our Most Influential Students of 2026. Take a look at what you’re in with a chance of winning here:
- A Bristol SU:50 digital badge (issued by Accredible) which can be uploaded to your LinkedIn profile and as a recommendation which you can share as a LinkedIn post.
- Professional Headshot
- Hosted on SU Most Influential webpage 25/26
- Widespread promotion of your achievements across SU and University platforms
- Celebration Drinks Reception on May 21
- Official printed certificate
- Personalised winner's assets for social media
6. Who will be judging my submission?
Your submission will be judged by a panel consisting of a mix of Bristol SU staff. They will use the provided criteria to shortlist nominations. It's important to include as much detail as possible in your submission, as there’s no guarantee that the panel members will be familiar with your work. They will only be allowed to use the information you provide in your submission to guide their decisions.
