As an Academic Rep, you could be the voice of change representing students on your Course, Department, or in your Faculty. Whatever UCL department you belong to, as a rep you will work with staff to:

  • represent student views

  • let staff know what students most enjoy

  • resolve any problems students are experiencing

  • improve the quality of education

  • and so much more!

The Union supports reps to do their job well through training, resources, and communication. You will also join a network of Academic Reps who you can share practice and ideas with. We, as a Union, want to stay aware of what’s happening all across UCL and our Academic Reps help us do this. We want our work to improve education across UCL and be a true reflection of current student priorities. 

Find out more about the different types of Academic Rep positions below

Course Reps

As a Course Representative, your responsibilities are to:

  • Proactively seek out students’ thoughts and opinions on their programme of study and their wider learning experience to effectively represent their academic interests.
  • Present students’ concerns and feedback to your department and appropriate members of staff.
  • Take part in Staff-Student Consultative Committee (SSCC) meetings, and other meetings you may be invited to attend as a representative of students in your department.
  • Communicate with students on an ongoing basis about your work with your department, and any positive changes made as a result.
  • Play an active role in the development and enhancement of your programme.
  • Promote the value of students and staff working together to build a better education.

Further to these responsibilities, the opportunities that exist are:

  • Play an active role in Students’ Union activities and campaigns
  • Work with your Faculty Representative on Faculty-wide issues and developments
  • In conjunction with the Students’ Union, take part in negotiating changes to students’ learning experiences across the whole of UCL
  • Develop skills and attributes that will benefit your personal and professional development, including through formal training opportunities

Being an effective representative should take around 15 hours per term, which includes attending training, meetings in the department, and spending time consulting with and reporting back to students in your department.

Research Student Reps

As a Research Student Representative, your responsibilities are to:

  • Proactively seek out students’ thoughts and opinions on their learning and research in your department, in order to effectively represent their academic interests.
  • Present students’ concerns and feedback to your department, and to appropriate members of staff.
  • Take part in Staff-Student Consultative Committee (SSCC) meetings, and other meetings you may be invited to attend, as a representative of students in your department.
  • Communicate with students on an ongoing basis about your work with your department, and any positive changes made as a result.
  • Play an active role in the development and enhancement of the academic experience in your department.
  • Promote the value of students and staff working together to build a better education.

Further to these responsibilities, the opportunities that exist are:

  • Play an active role in Students’ Union activities and campaigns.
  • Work with your Faculty Representative on Faculty-wide issues and developments.
  • In conjunction with the Students’ Union, take part in negotiating changes to students’ learning experiences across the whole of UCL.
  • Develop skills and attributes that will benefit your personal and professional development, including through formal training opportunities.

Being an effective representative should take around 15 hours per term, which includes attending training, meetings in the department, and spending time consulting with and reporting back to students in your department.

Lead Department Reps

As a Lead Department Representative, your responsibilities are to:

  • Play an leadership role in the development and enhancement of your programme.
  • Work with staff in the department to ensure that SSCC meetings run smoothly and address issues of importance to students in your department.
  • Proactively seek out students’ thoughts and opinions on their programme of study and their wider learning experience.
  • Along with departmental staff, co-chair Staff-Student Consultative Committee (SSCC) meetings.
  • Attend (or ensure another SSCC member attends) Departmental Teaching Committee meetings, and/or the research education equivalent if relevant.
  • Liaise with your Faculty Representative to keep them informed of issues in your department.
  • Be a point of contact for the Students’ Union on changes and developments within the department.
  • Communicate with students on an ongoing basis about your work with your department, and any positive changes made as a result.
  • Communicate and meet with other representatives in your department to ensure effective and co-ordinated working.
  • Promote the value of students and staff working together to build a better education.

Further to these responsibilities, the opportunities that exist are:

  • Play an active role in Students’ Union activities and campaigns.
  • Work with your Faculty Representative on Faculty-wide issues and developments.
  • In conjunction with the Union, take part in negotiating changes to students’ learning experiences across the whole of UCL.
  • Develop skills and attributes that will benefit your personal and professional development, including through formal training opportunities.

Time Commitment for being an effective Lead Departmental Representative should take around 20 hours per term, which includes attending training, meetings in the department, and spending time consulting with other students in your department.

Faculty Reps

As a Faculty Representative, your responsibilities are to:

  • Play an active role in the development and enhancement of your faculty’s educational provision.
  • Proactively seek out students’ thoughts and opinions, particularly those of Course/Research Student Reps and Lead Departmental Reps in your faculty.
  • Attend committees such as the Faculty Teaching Committee as a representative of students in your faculty.
  • Act as a member of Union Council, the Students’ Union’s democratic decision-making body.
  • Communicate with students and other representatives on an ongoing basis about your work with your faculty, and any positive changes made as a result.
  • In conjunction with the Students’ Union, examine SSCC feedback to spot trends across the faculty.
  • Maintain contact with the Union on changes and developments within the faculty.
  • Promote the value of students and staff working together to build a better education.

Further to these responsibilities, the opportunities that exist are:

  • Play an active role in Students’ Union activities and campaigns
  • Work with the Union on institutional-level issues and developments
  • Develop skills and attributes that will benefit your personal and professional development, including through formal training opportunities

Time Commitment for being an effective Faculty Representative should take around 25 hours per term, which includes attending training and meetings, and spending time consulting with other representatives in the faculty.

How to get involved

To get involved, you should contact a member of staff on your programme to find out more and to let them know that you would like to be an Academic Representative. Lead Department Representatives will be selected from amongst the group of Course and Research Student Representatives in each Department. 

Faculty Representatives are elected through elections hosted by the Students’ Union in term one.

Provided you have more questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions about being an Academic Rep.

Last updated 3 years ago Read time 5 mins