PGT Academic Representation
Academic Representation gives postgraduate taught students a voice in their education. Representatives gather feedback, work with staff and decision-makers, and help improve the academic experience for current and future students.
Looking for your representative?
How Representation Works
Most changes start with students sharing feedback with their representatives. Reps raise issues in meetings with staff and work together to ensure feedback leads to action.
Students → Representatives → Meetings with Staff → Actions Agreed → Students Updated
This process is often called "closing the feedback loop" and helps ensure students know how their feedback has been acted upon.
Previous rep wins include:
- Improve assessment deadlines;
- remove timetable clashes;
- create additional skills sessions;
- bring in industry guest speakers;
- improve communication around curriculum changes;
- increase focus on inclusion and accessibility.
PGT Representation Roles:
There are several different PGT Representative roles, who work together at course, department, faculty and university level to ensure student feedback is heard and acted upon.
Represents students on a specific course and gathers feedback to improve the academic experience.
Student Staff Liaison Committees (SSLCs)
Course-level meetings where student feedback is discussed with academic staff.
PGT Roundtable
University-wide meetings where Academic Reps share feedback, discuss key themes and connect with other representatives.
Represents students within a department, supporting Academic Reps and raising department-wide issues.
Student Staff Liaison Committees (SSLCs)
Course-level meetings where student feedback is discussed with academic staff.
Department Learning and Teaching Committee (DLTQC)
Department-level academic decision making.
PGT Roundtable
University-wide meetings where Academic Reps share feedback, discuss key themes and connect with other representatives.
PGT Executive Committee
Brings together Department Reps, Faculty Reps and the PGT Exec Chair to discuss issues affecting postgraduate students across the University.
Represents students at faculty level and works to identify trends affecting multiple departments.
Facutly Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (FLTQC)
Faculty-level committee focused on the delivery and quality of courses within the faculty.
Board of Studies (BoS)
Faculty-level committee responsible for overseeing academic matters and student progression.
PGT Roundtable
University-wide meetings where Academic Reps share feedback, discuss key themes and connect with other representatives.
PGT Executive Committee
Brings together Department Reps, Faculty Reps and the PGT Exec Chair to discuss issues affecting postgraduate students across the University.
Represents postgraduate taught students at a university-wide level and leads the postgraduate representation network.
PGT Roundtable
University-wide meetings where Academic Reps share feedback, discuss key themes and connect with other representatives.
PGT Exec
Brings together Department Reps, Faculty Reps and the PGT Exec Chair to discuss issues affecting postgraduate students across the University.
Become a Rep
Whether you want to improve your course, lead representation within your department, influence faculty-wide decisions or coordinate the entire PGT representation network, there's a role for you.
PGT Rep Roles
| Role |
Represents |
Time Commitment |
Main Responsibilities |
Key Meetings |
| Academic Rep |
Course |
5-10 hours/month |
Gather and raise feedback |
SSLC, Roundtable |
| Department Rep |
Department |
10-15 hours/month |
Support Academic Reps and coordinate feedback |
SSLC, DLTQC, PGT Exec |
| Faculty Rep |
Faculty |
15-20 hours/month |
Represent students in strategic decision making meetings |
FLTQC, BoS, PGT Exec |
| PGT Exec Chair |
University |
10-15 hours/month |
Lead the PGT Rep network & shape the SUs work. |
PGT Exec |
Benefits of Becoming a Rep
- Develop leadership, communication, problem-solving, public speaking and teamwork skills.
- Build networks with students, staff and SU Officers.
- Recognition includes:
- Rep of the Month.
- Education Awards.
- Contributed towards Bath Award.
Elections and Recruitment
Most PGT Reps are recruited through elections at the start of semester one. Click on the links below to find out more about running in an election and to become a rep:
Rep Elections How to run in an SU Election
PGT Representation FAQs
No. Training and support are provided for all Representatives. Many students become Reps during their first year at Bath and gain experience as they go.
Representatives focus on issues that affect groups of students, such as:
- Teaching and learning
- Assessment and feedback
- Timetabling
- Learning resources
- Academic support
- Course organisation
If an issue affects multiple students, it is likely something a Rep can help raise.
Representatives are not expected to handle individual complaints or personal circumstances.
If you have a personal academic concern, wellbeing issue, housing problem, or complaint involving a specific member of staff, you should contact SU Adivce and Support.
Time commitments vary depending on the role:
- Academic Rep: 5-10 hours per month
- Department Rep: 10-15 hours per month
- Faculty Rep: 15-20 hours per month
- PGT Exec Chair: 10-15 hours per month
Representatives are students first, and the role should fit alongside your studies.
There are lots of ways to collect feedback, including:
- Conversations with classmates
- Course group chats
- Social media
- Surveys and polls
- Student meetings
Representatives aim to gather views from as many students as possible before raising issues.
Yes. All Representatives receive training and ongoing support from the Students' Union throughout the year.
Additional development opportunities may also be available depending on your role.
Issues are often discussed in meetings attended by Representatives, where staff and students consider what action can be taken. Some issues can be resolved quickly, while others may need to be escalated to department, faculty or university level. Representatives are encouraged to keep students updated on progress and outcomes.
Yes. All postgraduate taught students can stand for and vote in Representative elections.
International students play an important role in ensuring the experiences of all students are represented.
Being a Representative is an opportunity to:
- Improve the student experience
- Develop leadership and communication skills
- Gain experience working with staff and decision-makers
- Meet students from across the University
- Make a lasting impact on your course, department, faculty, or the wider postgraduate community
The skills and experience developed by working as a representative can also help boost your CV and employability when you finish your course.
You can also review the role descriptions above and speak with current Representatives to learn more about their experiences.
What's the difference between an Academic Rep, Department Rep and Faculty Rep?
The main difference is the level at which they represent students:
- Academic Reps represent students on a course.
- Department Reps represent students across a department and support Academic Reps.
- Faculty Reps represent students across an entire faculty.
- The PGT Exec Chair leads the postgraduate taught representation network and works on university-wide issues.
If you're unsure, contact the SU Voice Team for advice about the different roles and responsibilities.
You can find the contact details for your Academic Rep, Department Rep, Faculty Rep or PGT Exec Chair through the Find My Rep page.
Still Need Help with Representation?
Your SU Postgraduate Officer and the SU Voice staff Team are here to help you if you have any additional questions.
SU Voice Staff Team: su-voice@bath.ac.uk
SU Postgraduate Officer: SUpostgrad@bath.ac.uk