To ensure your voice is always heard and we represent your interests at every level, Your SU is responsible for overseeing and supporting Course/Discipline Reps, Student Voice Reps, and Postgraduate Research Reps. They are current students with a passion for creating the best possible academic experience for themselves and their fellow students, at course or school level.
If you have any questions, please contact yourcommunities@sunderland.ac.uk.

Course Reps represent apprentice, undergraduate and postgraduate taught student views about their course. Each Course Rep is responsible for a specific year group of their specific course or programme, working with programme staff to address student feedback.
Discipline Reps represent postgraduate research students within their discipline (subject) area, working with faculty staff to address researcher issues.
Student Voice Reps (SVRs) represent a school’s overall student body in high-level meetings and committees, ensuring that student perspectives are considered in institutional decisions. There are also some specialist Student Voice Rep positions that focus on a particular type of student experience: apprenticeships, online, and integrated foundation year (IFY).
PGR Reps are selected from the pool of Discipline Reps, and work together to represent PGR (postgraduate research) students within the Graduate school and institution-wide.
Salary: Voluntary position.
Closing date for applications: Open All Year!
Please click 'About the role' and view the application documents.
The Course Representative (CR), usually referred to as a Course Rep, is a volunteer leadership role that serves as a vital link between students, Sunderland Students' Union, and the University. Course Reps volunteer to represent the views of students on their course, about their course. Each Course Rep is responsible for their own specific year group within their programme. They work with their Student Voice Rep, Programme Lead, and academic staff to ensure that student feedback is acted upon. They attend meetings to highlight trends from student feedback and develop their leadership. Course Reps make a real difference to improve students’ academic experience and develop skills and experience that furthers their own employability and personal development.
There is a network of hundreds of Course Representatives across Sunderland based courses, representing undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.
How to apply:
1. Click "Apply Now"
Please note that you must be an enrolled Student at the University of Sunderland to apply for this role.
CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.
Salary: Voluntary position.
Closing date for applications: Open All Year!
Please click 'About the role' and view the application documents.
The Discipline Representative (DR), usually referred to as a Discipline Rep, is a volunteer leadership role that serves as a vital link between students, Sunderland Students' Union, the Graduate School and the University. Discipline Reps volunteer to represent the views of students with their academic discipline (subject) area. Each Discipline Rep is responsible for their own specific research area, tied to their relevant School within the University. They work with their PGR Rep, the Graduate School, and academic staff to ensure that Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) feedback is acted upon. They attend meetings to highlight trends from student feedback and develop their leadership. Discipline Reps can make a real difference to improve student researchers’ academic experience and will develop skills and experience that furthers their own employability and personal development.
For each School there is at least one Discipline Rep, representing Postgraduate Researchers.
How to apply:
Please note that you must be a Postgraduate Researcher student at the University of Sunderland for the academic year 2026/27 to apply for this role. You cannot apply for this role if you graduate in January 2027.
CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.
To express an interest in this role, please view the job description for further details and complete the following steps:
1. Download and read the Job Description document.
2. Download and complete the EDI document.
3. Click on 'Apply Now' to submit your experssion of interest.
Salary: Voluntary position (~4 hours commitment per week term-time). An honorarium of £1,800 paid in three instalments throughout the year on submission of a report
Closing date for applications: Monday, 9th November 2026, 17:00
Interviews: Wednesday, 18th November 2026 to Tuesday, 24th November 2026
Please click 'About the role' and view the application documents.
The Student Voice Representative (SVR) is a volunteer role that serves as a vital link between students, Sunderland Students' Union, and the University. SVRs are the student lead for representation in their school. This means they are responsible for building relationships with Course Reps and school staff to escalate any academic student concerns and work to find solutions for student feedback. They sit on high profile meetings and committees to elevate the student voice and develop their leadership. SVRs make a real difference to improve students’ academic experience and develop skills and experience that furthers their own employability. There are 17 Student Voice Representatives across Sunderland based courses, representing undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.
We are looking for Student Voice Representatives for the following Schools:
How to apply:
Please note that you must be a student at the University of Sunderland for the academic year 2026/27 to apply for this role. You cannot apply for this role if you graduate in January 2027.
CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.
To express an interest in this role, please view the job description for further details and complete the following steps:
1. Download and complete the EDI Monitoring Form
2. Click on 'Apply here' to complete the SVR Application Form. Enter your information and submit your application along with your completed EDI form.
Salary: Voluntary position. Stipend of up to £600 a year.
Closing date for applications: Monday, 23rd November 2026, 13:00
Interviews: Wednesday, 27th November 2026 to Friday, 7th December 2026
Please click 'About the role' and view the application documents.
The Postgraduate Researcher Representative (PGR Rep) is a volunteer role that serves as a vital link between Discipline Reps, Sunderland Students' Union, and the University’s Graduate School. PGR Reps are the lead for representation in their research area. This means they are responsible for building relationships with Discipline Reps and Graduate School staff to escalate any academic concerns and work to find solutions for PGR student feedback. They sit on high profile meetings and committees to elevate the student voice and develop their leadership. PGR Reps make a real difference to improve PGR’s academic experience and develop skills and experience that furthers their own employability.
There are 4 PGR Reps across Sunderland-based routes, representing PGR students related to their academic faculty. 3 are ringfenced for each academic faculty.
How to apply:
Please note that you must be a Postgraduate Researcher student at the University of Sunderland for the academic year 2026/27 to apply for this role. You cannot apply for this role if you graduate in January 2027. In order to apply to be a PGR Rep, you must also express an interest in the Discipline Rep role, as the PGR Rep responsibilities are an addition to the Discipline Rep role.
CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.
To express an interest in this role, please view the job description for further details and complete the following steps:
1. Download and read the Job Description document.
2. Download and complete the EDI Form
3. Click on 'Apply here' to submit your expression of interest.