Course Representatives

A course representative, or course rep for short, is an elected student who volunteers for the Students’ Union and the University to encourage students to provide feedback on their student and learning experience, both in person and via the MySurrey Voice platform, and who voices this feedback to the University.

Representing your voice

What do course reps do?

They provide a way for students to communicate their diverse range of opinions and experiences to the staff who deliver their courses, and to make change happen.

Course reps have three core responsibilities:

  1. Research student opinion – reps will encourage all students on their course to engage in discussions about their academic experiences, and promote the opportunity to post collective feedback, ideas, and questions using MySurrey Voice discussion boards, whether it is positive or about something that needs changing. This gives the course rep and the University a full understanding of student opinion. 
  2. Represent students – reps attend departmental meetings held by the University to give voice to more complex issues requiring collective discussion with staff, along with monitoring and escalating student feedback on MySurrey Voice discussion boards and directly to relevant staff on time-sensitive matters. 
  3. Report back – reps will let students know what has happened as a result of their feedback! This will help students see the value in sharing their opinions with their rep, through MySurrey Voice discussion boards, and to the University.  

How they will represent students

Course reps will represent you through formal University meetings, on your MySurrey Voice discussion boards, and in meetings with the Students’ Union.

Formal University meetings

Staff Student Liaison Committees (SSLCs)

SSLCs provide a forum for discussion between staff and students about courses and the student learning experience. SSLCs also consider the outcomes of student surveys and contribute to the development of action plans in response.

Meeting at least once each semester, attendees will consist of at least one nominated Course Rep from each course. The SSLC will be expected to report to, and raise matters for consideration at the relevant Board of Studies, held once a semester.

Boards of Studies

The Board of Studies is responsible for the overall academic standard of your programmes. The membership of the Board will include course reps from each related programme, along with all academic teaching staff.

MySurrey Voice

The University has a student feedback platform to help reps gather and escalate student feedback.

MySurrey Voice is an online space where students, reps and staff can collectively raise, discuss and resolve feedback and issues. The platform is structured as a discussion board, where you can privately discuss issues and ideas with your course rep, and then escalate them to a public space to the attention of staff, where staff can view the posts, staff and Reps can respond and provide updates on progress.

Students' Union forums

The Students' Union (SU) hosts a number of forums over the academic year to provide course reps and students to raise issues which affect the wider student body.

The SU hosts the Student Voice Forum, where all course reps, along with other students in representative positions with the Union, such as liberation reps, are able to address questions to a panel of senior University management staff to answer your questions and address your concerns. Other events such as Faculty Voice Forum will also run during the year to address more local concerns.

Who is my course rep?

You can find out who your course rep(s) is and how to contact them on the Students' Union website.

Don't forget that you can also use MySurrey Voice to raise, discuss and resolve both academic and more general experience issue.

Become a rep

Why become a Course Rep?

Aside from becoming a recognisable and respected student leader, being a Course Rep comes with loads of benefits offered to you from your Students’ Union. Here’s just a few:

  • A record of your role detailed on your HEAR
  • Training opportunities
  • Logging volunteering hours
  • Get access to other opportunities eg. workshops, focus groups
  • Opportunities to win Course Rep of the Month and other Rep Awards
  • Become a vital part of your department’s community.
What skills and experience will you gain from being a rep?

Being a Course Rep is also a fantastic way to boost your employability, assertiveness, and communication skills. Having a leadership role on your CV when you leave University is going to help you stand out from the crowd, and help you to develop qualities you’ll need when you leave Surrey to start work – think about how much practise you’ll have in public speaking and negotiation from attending departmental meetings and representing your cohort.

You will also develop skills in the following:

  • Leadership
  • Public speaking
  • Organisation skills
  • Persuasion and negotiation
  • Collaboration
  • Meeting skills.
What is the time commitment?

Not as much as you might think! Many Reps easily balance their responsibilities alongside their studies and other voluntary roles, and even part-time work. You’ll need to ensure you have the time to attend Course Rep meetings – these are the core responsibility to the role. You can expect to attend three meetings a semester, which will take up about 10 hours total.

There are also some other time commitments, such as USSU events like Student Voice Forum, and these will add around three hours per semester. The rest of your role will be less time-demanding – sending out emails and posting on social media to gather student opinion and to update your cohort on the results of your departmental meetings.

How to apply

Any student can stand to be the Course Rep for their course, and there will be at least one per level for all courses.

You just need to be ready to listen to student feedback and be willing to communicate this to staff in an effective, professional way. The Union will provide you with training and additional rewards for your hard work! If you’re looking to make an impact at University, gain some invaluable skills, and to learn a lot, then this is the role for you.

Elections for Course Reps happen twice a year: in May for returning students and from week one of the academic year for new students. 

Nominate yourself online.

Find out more about the process on the Students' Union website or get in touch via email.

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