Mr Ben Archibald has been elected as the new president of the Union of Students of Ireland (USI).
Following a closely-fought contest, the 23-year-old politics graduate from Queen's University, Belfast, received a total of 119 votes from delegates at the USI annual congress, taking place this week in Ennis, Co Clare.
The runner-up in the contest was former Trinity College, Dublin, student president, Mr Rory Hearne.
Speaking after the results of the election were announced, Mr Archibald said he was delighted to have been chosen as the president of the union which represents over 250,000 students at more than 40 colleges here.
Mr Archibald will formally take up his new post at the start of July, with the union's current president, Mr Will Priestley, remaining in charge until that time.
"It is a long time since we last had a Northern president of the USI. It means we have a realistic chance of unifying the student union movement," Mr Achibald said. "I also believe that we will see the Government attempt to reintroduce fees during my presidency."
Mr Archibald's election comes at a particularly difficult time for the USI. Recently, it was revealed that it would be forced to make several of its officers redundant due to a shortfall in finances. However, a number of these have decided to stay on in an unpaid capacity.