Student Representative System

Sheffield Hallam Students' Union represents the views of Sheffield Hallam students and aims to make their time at university enjoyable, engaging and rewarding. There is a strong emphasis on developing students and providing them with the opportunities to gain new skills and experiences to enhance their employability. Events, clubs and societies have also been established to enable students to meet new people and develop their skills and experiences.

All students at Sheffield Hallam University are members of the Students' Union. Being a member means having unlimited access to all the events, activities and services we provide. As a not-for-profit organisation, social enterprise and registered charity, we reinvest our income straight back into improving the services we offer for the 35,000 students at Sheffield Hallam University. We are committed to enhancing the student experience by making a positive difference through the development and delivery of student focused activities.

The Students’ Union is led by a dedicated and professional staff team. In addition, there are five full-time Officers who support 12 part-time Union Representatives, all of whom have been democratically elected by the student body. Officers help to ensure that everything we do is student centred and liaise formally and informally to ensure their views are represented to the University, the community and nationally.

As a student, you can have a voice within your course and University through the Student Representative system.  Each course has several Course Representatives (Reps) who provide valuable feedback to the course team about the course from the students' point of view.  Course Reps are jointly trained and supported by your College and Sheffield Hallam Students' Union and work together with the course team, Union and University to improve courses and your student experience.

Your course leader will arrange for Course Reps to be appointed during the first few weeks of your course.  Any student can put themselves forward to be a Course Rep. and Course Reps are also eligible to apply for the Hallam Award, to recognise their developed skills, supporting their employability.  To find out how to nominate yourself as a Course Rep. speak to your course leader or contact studentreps@shu.ac.uk.

Once Course Reps have been appointed, it is their role to gather feedback and represent you and the rest of the student body.  They will contact you to ask for feedback so make sure that you respond to give your views about your course.  You can also contact your Course Reps at any time to ask for feedback or raise issues about your course. If you don't know who your reps are, ask your course leader or contact studentreps@shu.ac.uk.

Current or former Course Reps can also put themselves forward to become Department Reps. This is an opportunity to represent the student view higher up in the University to enhance the wider SHU experience. Department Reps can participate in University and Students’ Union committees and get involved in projects to improve the student experience

For more information on Student Reps, visit the SHU SU information pages.