Become a member of GSF

As a worldwide organisation, our mission is to advocate for the interests of students around the globe, to foster international collaboration and understanding, and to act as a unified voice in addressing the challenges and opportunities students face today.

We are delighted that you are considering joining our community of passionate and dedicated student organisations. Please read the Membership Criteria and Membership Process carefully before filling out the form below. 

 

Membership Criteria

Student organisations and movements that wish to become a full or consociate members of the GSF must be open and accessible to students from all education institutions in the respective education sector of the country/region, regardless of their political conviction, religion, ethnic or cultural origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, social standing or any disability they may have.

  • The organisation is controlled and run by students. This does not exclude students on academic leave, or recent graduates from taking part in the organisation, but the major power distribution should lay with actual students.
  • The organisation holds democratic (s)elections and runs on a democratic basis; democratic decisions on day-to-day issues must be ensured.
  • The organisation is representative and built on a solid ground with legitimacy coming from students.
  • The organisation should represent a large number of students and at the same time have at least an ambition to influence national education policies.
  • The organisation is autonomous and independent in decision-making.
  • The organisation’s set of values and objectives are in accordance with GSF’s set of values and objectives.

Organisations and movements that wish to become associate members need to be student led and democratic. The eligibility for associate membership will be assessed by the Steering Committee on a case to case basis.

Membership within the Global Student Forum is free of charge, no membership fees are applied.

Membership Process

Organisations and movements that wish to join the Global Student Forum are required to fill the application form below.

Applications will be reviewed and responded to by the Steering Committee within a maximum of three months after an application has been submitted. Feedback on applications will solely be provided through official Global Student Forum email addresses to ensure formality and prevent misinformation or fraud.

In case the application is successful the applying organization will gain the status of candidate member. After approval of the candidate membership, the Steering Committee thoroughly assesses the eligibility of the respective candidate for full, consociate or associate membership. The assessment of eligibility can take up to maximum half a year. The candidacy period must be counted from the day of official approval of candidate membership by an ordinary or extraordinary Steering Committee meeting. 

Candidate member organiations will be informed about the Steering Committee decision in the given timeframe and gain full, consociate or associate membership status with the formal notification of acceptance. They will enjoy the full rights of their membership status upon receival of the confirmation from the Steering Committee.

Application Guide

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the membership application process.

 

  • Review the Membership Criteria: Before proceeding with the application, ensure that your organization meets the GSF’s membership criteria. The key requirements include being open and accessible to students, having a democratic structure, being representative of students, and aligning with GSF’s values and objectives.
  • Determine Membership Type: There are three types of membership available: Full Membership, Consociate Membership, and Associate Membership. Full and Consociate Membership require compliance with all criteria, while Associate Membership may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Choose the type of membership that best suits your organization’s profile and aspirations.
  • Complete the Application Form: To apply for membership, fill out the official GSF application form thoroughly and accurately. Make sure to provide all required information and supporting documents as requested. We ask you to provide a copy of your organisation’s statutes in English and a statement of the financial position for the last financial year. You can find the form below.
  • Submit Your Application: Once your application is complete, click submit the form. Expect to receive a response from the Steering Committee within three months after submission. All communication will be done via official GSF email.

Membership application