The Students’ Union is an independent charity that exists to advance your education at the University of Portsmouth through a range of exciting services and activities. Our mission is to have a positive impact with every Portsmouth student: Students are heard, students are empowered, students thrive.

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At UPSU's Advice Service, we offer confidential, impartial and non-judgemental support on a range of academic and university issues that may affect your experience. Our team of trained advisers are on hand all year round to offer help where it's needed. The independent service works closely with the University of Portsmouth to resolve issues and ensure students are treated fairly.

UPSU are here to represent every student at the University of Portsmouth. We have many ways you can express your student voice, including: our Course Rep system, Have Your Say, Student Council, StART, Hot Topic, Annual Survey, Focus Groups, and more! Click on the tabs to learn more about each platform regarding Representation! You can also see a summary of our research by clicking on the UPSU Research & Data page.

Student Groups are a great development opportunity and a great place to find new friends, build a community and have a sense of belonging whilst at University!

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Welcome to UPSU

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School Representatives

ACADEMIC REPRESENTATION

School Reps

School Reps are elected student leaders who represent students at School level and help shape the academic experience across their School.

YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR VOICE

What is a School Rep?

School Reps are elected to represent students at School level. They are student leaders who work with Course Reps, other student representatives and students across their School to make sure academic issues are heard and acted upon.

While Course Reps focus on the experience of students on their course, School Reps take a wider view. They identify themes and issues affecting students across a School and work with staff and representatives to help influence positive change.

THE ROLE

What do School Reps do?

School Reps work with students and staff to understand what is happening across their School and make sure students have a voice in decisions that affect their academic experience.

Represent students

Gather feedback from students across your School and make sure their views are represented in discussions and decision-making.

Identify wider issues

Look beyond individual courses to identify themes, successes and challenges affecting students across your School.

Work with Course Reps

Build strong relationships with Course Reps and help bring together feedback from across different courses and student groups.

Influence decisions

Take part in School-level discussions and use student feedback to help influence decisions and improvements.

Close the feedback loop

Keep students informed about what has happened with their feedback, including responses, actions and improvements.

Lead and collaborate

Work collaboratively with students, Course Reps, University staff and UPSU to create a stronger academic experience.

WORKING TOGETHER

School Reps and Course Reps

School Reps and Course Reps have different roles, but they work closely together to make sure students' academic experiences are represented at every level.

Course Reps are closer to the day-to-day experience of students on their course. School Reps help bring those individual experiences together, identify wider themes and make sure they are considered at School level.

Students

Share experiences, ideas and feedback.

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Course Reps

Represent students at course level.

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School Reps

Bring together wider issues and represent students at School level.

A STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLE

Make a difference across your School

Being a School Rep is a leadership position. You will have the opportunity to work with other student representatives and University staff to understand what is happening across your School and help shape its future.

The role is about more than raising individual issues. It is about spotting patterns, bringing people together and using the student voice to help create meaningful and lasting improvements.

Listen Understand the experiences of students across your School.

Connect Build relationships with Course Reps, students and staff.

Influence Use evidence and student feedback to shape decisions.

Lead Help turn student feedback into positive change.

MEET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Your School Reps

We are currently onboarding our School Reps for the academic year. Details about your School Reps will be added to this page soon.

School Rep information coming soon

We are currently onboarding our School Reps. Once this process is complete, you will be able to find information about your School's representatives here.

YOUR REPRESENTATION TOOLKIT

Tools for student voice

School Reps can use UPSU's feedback and representation platforms to understand what students are experiencing and make sure their voices are heard.

ACADEMIC FEEDBACK

StART

UPSU's platform for collecting academic feedback from students and identifying current issues and successes.

Find out more →

STUDENT VOICE

Have Your Say

A way for students to raise issues, share ideas and help shape the work of UPSU.

Have your say →

Page created: Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:43:35 GMT
Page updated: Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:47:07 GMT

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Call: 023 9284 3628
Email: hello@upsu.net
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The University of Portsmouth Students’ Union has a vision of creating a positive impact with every Portsmouth student during their time at University.