Student Representation

What is Student Representation?

Your education should be of the highest possible quality. To make sure that happens, we think that students' opinions should be listened to. Student Representation is the best way for students to have a meaningful say on how their course is run.

Your lecturers are experts in their fields, but you are an expert in the student experience. You know better than anyone what it's like to be a student on your course, and your expertise allows you to comment on what works well, and what areas there are for improvement.

To ensure that students' voices are heard, we ask students to volunteer as Representatives of their course and year, and meet with University staff to discuss the feedback they've got from discussions with their peers. The Students’ Union provides training and support so that you can perform your role well, develop as a person, and grow as part of a thriving community.

So what do Student Reps ACTUALLY do?

The work of Student Reps normally falls into four key areas:

The role of a Student Rep is quite varied, and you can choose which areas you'd like to focus on and develop in. We wouldn't expect a Student Rep to spend more than three or four hours per month on their role.

What can I get from being a Student Rep?

As a Student Rep, you can expect to benefit from:

• Being part of a growing community of Student Reps interested in improving the experience of all Aston students and researchers;

• Getting more involved with your course and department, working in partnership with staff and learning how the University works;

• Representing your fellow students and making a real difference to their experience;

• Gaining skills that assist in your personal development and help to improve your employability.

There are also a number of reward and recognition schemes to show Student Reps how much we appreciate their work. These include Bronze, Silver & Gold recognition, and the Academic Awards towards the end of the year. If you are an Undergraduate student, your contribution as a Rep will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).