Founding student leads, selected universities
We are starting WCAN chapters at selected universities and looking for the students who will found them. You would not be joining a chapter that already exists. You would be building the first one on your campus, with WCAN behind you.
Applications are open to current students at any UK university.
You can apply from any university. If yours is not in the first group, we will keep you in the queue for the next round rather than turn you away.
A WCAN chapter is a student-led community at one university, built around careers, connections and professional development, centred on Black women and plugged into the wider WCAN network of around 15,000.
In practice: students meeting for career conversations, passing on opportunities before they close, organising activities on campus, and building relationships across courses and year groups. Chapters work alongside the ACS and existing societies rather than competing with them, and the chapter lead decides what that looks like on their campus.
Twelve years of WCAN, on your campus, run by you.
No. We are looking for students who are organised, interested in careers and community, and willing to start something. A previous committee title is not a requirement and we would rather you had the appetite than the CV line.
Yes. Most founding leads start alone and recruit a team afterwards. If you already have friends who want in, tell us on the form and we will talk to you together.
Good. A chapter works alongside them rather than replacing them, and existing societies are usually the fastest route to your first members. Part of the role is building those relationships.
Apply anyway. We are starting with a small group of universities so we can support each chapter properly, and we hold everyone else for the next round rather than losing them.
We agree that with you at the introductory conversation, around your degree. We would rather set something you can sustain for a year than a number that sounds impressive in September and collapses by November.
Pick the one you want. They are different jobs, and doing one of them well is worth more than doing both thinly. If you are genuinely torn, say so on the form and we will work it out in the conversation.
Ten minutes at most. We read every application and come back to you to arrange a conversation.
Thank you. We read every application and will be in touch from info@wcan.uk to arrange an introductory conversation about your campus.
Founding chapters at selected universities. Apply to lead one.
Apply to start a chapter