Student representation

Becoming a student representative

You can get involved at UQ as a student representative in four ways:

• run for election to the Senate or Academic Board
• be a member of a School or Faculty Committee
• join an Advisory Group
• become a part of the UQ Union

All students are eligible to participate, however, each platform may have specific eligibility requirements for their members.

1. The Senate and Academic Board

The Senate and the Academic Board are the main decision-making bodies at UQ.

• The Senate is the highest governing body, and defines all structures, policies and governance processes that run the University.
• The Academic Board is the principle advisory body to the Senate, and formulates policy on all academic matters, including new programs, teaching, learning and assessment, and research.

Both the Senate and the Academic Board hold regular elections for their student representatives, which are advertised via email. 

2. Committees

Committees are formal governing bodies that develop policy and consult on a particular area of interest (e.g. a specific program, teaching and learning at a faculty).

Most committees are represented on the Academic Board, or report to the Executive Dean of their faculty. Committees are mainly staff-led, but have student representative as members.

Recruit or apply for a committee

3. UQ Union

The UQ Union is an independent student body that represents the interests of students. 

Union representatives sit on all important university committees and work with other elected representatives to advocate for student interests at all levels of governance at UQ. 

Student representative directory

Want to reach out to a specific committee member, or find the student representatives for your faculty? Check out the student representative directory below to find the advocate that you are looking for.

Browse through the directory