This is an exciting time to join our Student Communities Team to support the delivery of a pioneering project to create big change for students in the Northeast of England.

Transport has been identified as a major area of concern for students. We know many Sunderland students commute to campus from all over the Northeast region and so a region-wide campaign is necessary to effect the change students want to see. The University of Sunderland Students’ Union is initiating a regional transport campaign, which will bring together other students’ unions in the region to lobby the Northeast Mayoral Authority and other key stakeholders.

This role will involve the necessary administrative tasks required to make this important piece of work happen.

The Student Communities Team provides key services and support for student voice and activities. Community organising principles are used to enable students to feel part of a community and enact the changes they want to see.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about making a difference for students, not just in Sunderland but across the Northeast region. This is an important project for the Students’ Union, so good organisational and administrative skills are essential, as well as the ability to work proactively and efficiently, without close supervision.

You will be required to work flexibly across different hours and locations. The availability of additional hours may vary depending on operational requirements and your skills and experience. We are looking for a student who can work well in a team, is confident engaging professionally with a range of stakeholders in different settings and can bring new ideas and enthusiasm to the project.

We would like to hear from you about the skills you might be able to bring to the role in addition to the person specification, whether that’s event management, campaigning experience, or anything else you can think of. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience and develop key skills that can be applied to a range of careers.

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 on their course, about their course. 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 make a real difference to improve students’ academic experience and develop skills and experience that furthers their own employability and personal development.

For each School there is at least one Discipline Rep, representing Postgraduate Researcher  students.

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 the summer of 2026.

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:

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 the summer of 2026. In order to apply to be a PGR Rep, you must also express an interest in 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:

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 are hundreds of Course Representatives across Sunderland based courses, representing undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.

How to apply:

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.

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: 

• Education (Undergraduate)
• Eduction (Postgraduate and PGCE)
• Social Sciences and Law
• Computer Science and Engineering (Undergraduate)
• Computer Science and Engineering (Postgraduate)
• Business, Management and Tourism (Undergraduate)
• Apprenticeship
• Integrated Foundation Year
• Sunderland Online

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 the winter of 2026.

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:

Engaging with our students is fundamental - everything we do is for them. We are now seeking to appoint two Student Trustees who are passionate about helping shape the future of the organisation.

Your perspective as a current student is essential to ensuring student voices are represented at a strategic level. As a Trustee, you will play a key role in both supporting and constructively challenging how we deliver the best possible student experience.

To continue improving what we do, we must understand what matters most to our students and ensure they are at the heart of every decision.

If you are passionate about enhancing the student experience at the University of Sunderland, we encourage you to apply.

You must be a current student studying during the 2026/27 academic year to apply. No previous experience is required, and full training will be provided.

The role is for an initial term of one or two years, as agreed by the Appointments Committee, and commencing in accordance with the Byelaws. The term of office may be shorter or longer on a transitional basis to coincide with the alteration of the year start or end. A Student Trustee may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms, subject to remaining a student for the duration. You will no longer be able to be a trustee once you graduate.

For an informal discussion about the role, please email centralservices@sunderland.ac.uk

To apply for this role, please provide:

• A covering letter (maximum one side of A4) outlining your motivation for applying. Please include your course and expected start and end dates.
• A personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) demonstrating how you meet the criteria in the Person Specification.
• An up to date CV outlining your relevant employment history and experience.
• A completed EDI Monitoring form.

Please send your documentation in Word or PDF format to centralservices@sunderland.ac.uk by clicking on the 'Apply Now' button below or emailing directly.