Class & Postgrad Reps

Class Representatives perform the following core functions within their departments:

1. Gather feedback from the cohort they represent.
2. Collate and analyse that feedback, looking for trends, themes, and possible actions that could be taken.
3. Present feedback and potential outcomes to staff at Student-Staff Consultative Committee meetings in their departments.
4. Work with staff to implement actions and make changes that students want to see.
5. Close the feedback loop by communicating changes and the effects of student feedback to their cohorts.

In addition, Class Reps work with the School President or Language Convener on school-wide priorities and initiatives (helping out with other tasks as assigned). Class Reps can also work on other student initiatives and projects that they identify!

Postgraduate Taught and Research Representatives speak for their cohorts on matters related to the learning and research experience respectively. Specifically, PGT and PGR Reps:

1. Gather feedback from the postgraduate cohorts they represent.
2. Collate and analyse PG feedback, looking for trends, themes, and possible actions that could be taken.
3. Present feedback and potential outcomes to PG-focused staff at Student-Staff Consultative Committee meetings in their departments.
4. Work with staff to implement actions and make changes that postgraduates want to see.
5. Close the feedback loop by communicating changes and the effects of PG feedback to their cohorts.

In addition, Postgraduate Reps work with the PGT and PGR Presidents on PG-wide issues and priorities, and attend a regular forum meeting to collaborate and dialogue with other PG Reps. PG Reps can also take on other school-wide priorities and initiatives that they identify.

The Postgraduate Taught President is the lead voice for PGT students and oversees the PGT Rep system. They serve on important University Committees as well as the Student Represetantative Council (SRC). This is a part-time paid position.

A full role description (PDF) is available for this position.

The Postgraduate Research President is the lead voice for PG researchers  and oversees the PGR Rep system. They serve on important University Committees as well as the Student Represetantative Council (SRC). This is a part-time paid position.

A full role description (PDF) is available for this position.

Careers & Employability Reps represent students in Schools on matters related to skills, jobs, practical learning, connecting with alumni, and employability generally.

The role of Careers and Employability Rep has two main areas of focus:

1. Influencing the curriculum related to careers and employability, pushing to embed essential skills and knowledge into the classroom.
2. Building careers events and opportunities in their departments.

Careers & Employability Reps work closely with the University's Careers Center, the Employability Officer in the Students' Association, and their School Presidents to achieve their individual goals and respond to student priorities in the area of employability. They also attend Student-Staff Consultative Committees in their department.

EDI Reps represent students in Schools on matters related to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

The role of EDI Rep has the following areas of focus:

1. Supporting and championing a curriculum that is diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist;
2. Representing student interests related to equality, diversity and inclusion to staff members;
3. Ensuring that Class Representatives and other role holders are considering a diversity of student voices and perspectives.

EDI Reps work closely with their School President to support and champion EDI goals within their schools. EDI Representatives also serve as a member of their School's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, and their School's Student-Staff Consultative Committee; they attend meetings to drive improvements related to diversity, inclusion, or equity for students.

The Disability & Academic Support Reps represent students in Schools on academic support and disability matters, and they may contribute to the improvement of support services in their school.

The role Disability & Academic Support Rep has two main areas of focus:

1. Advocate for change in disability support and accessibility in your School,
2. Signpost and promote support resources for disabled students.

Disability Representatives also serve as a member of their School's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, and their School's Staff-Student Consultative Committee; they attend meetings to drive improvements related to accessibility, inclusion, or equity for disabled students.

Sustainability Reps bridge the gap between operational and academic aspects of sustainability, working to drive and support positive changes within their academic school. Their primary responsibilities include:

1. Gathering student opinion on the state of sustainability (both operational and curricular) in the School/Department.
2. Lobbying for operational changes in their School/Department (e.g. running a "plastic free" audit).
3. Campaign for embedding sustainability content in the department's curriculum.

Sustainability Reps work closely with the University's Sustainability Coordinator, the Environment Subcommittee of the Students' Association, and their School Presidents to achieve their individual goals and respond to the student priorities in the area of environment and sustainable education. They also attend Student-Staff Consultative Commitees in their department.

Unless you’ve opted out of Students’ Association Membership, any and all matriculated undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research students can run and/or vote in the elections for the positions relevant to their respective study level and area of study.

Nominations for UG and PGT students open in the first week of the first semester, with voting taking place in the second week. However, PGR students instead vote in the fourth week of the first semester, as they do not matriculate until the end of September. Please see the calendar above for exact dates and timelines.

Yes! All Representatives may hold multiple leadership roles in Societies, Union Subcommittees, and external organisations. You can even run for more than one Rep role across multiple Schools (e.g. Second Year Rep in two Schools).

However, you cannot run for multiple positions within the Student Representation hierarchy (e.g. You cannot run to be both a PGT Rep and the PGT President at the same time).

Most representatives (Class Reps, School Roles, and Postgraduate Reps) are expected to volunteer 1 to 3 hours a week, but most weeks only require an hour’s time on average. Excluding a few set meetings each semester, there are no fixed time commitments, so representatives can work on their own schedules.

The PGT and PGR President have a workload of approximately 10-15 hours per week.

All elected representatives will receive a formal training session from the Students’ Association; this will include information about their role, about the meetings they attend, and how to escalate information to the relevant party.

Class Reps and PG Reps are also given access to a comprehensive Microsoft Teams area, where they can ask questions and interact with Academic Representation leadership and collaborate with other reps on shared issues or events.

Reps also receive a formal handover report from their predecessor to guide them in their new role. There are also several staff members within the Students’ Association, such as the Director of Education and the Academic Representation Coordinator, who can help Reps with any guidance they need.

Class Reps, report to their School Presidents; PGT Reps and PGR Reps report to the PGT President and the PGR President respectively.

You should receive confirmation screen at the end of voting. You can always log back into the Elections Portal to ensure you have submitted your ballot. If you still need help, contact [email protected].

Please note, there is no way for you to change your votes once they are submitted, including votes submitted by accident. (This is to protect the secrecy of individual ballots; once a vote is submitted there is no way to distinguish that it was “yours”.)

Being a Rep is an incredibly powerful way to make changes and improvements to the St Andrews Experience. In addition to the training and support to make such change, all Reps who complete the requirements of their role (including attending training, relevant meetings, and completing a Handover Form) are eligible to have a record of their service as a Rep listed on their HEAR Transcript. In addition, Reps are also awarded a LinkedIn Badge that they can download and display on their LinkedIn Profiles. 

Reps are also eligible to be nominated for Class Representative Awards and a variety of other opportunities for reward throughout the year.

Email [email protected]. We’re happy to help!