Academic Representation
Studying at NTU is incredible, but it's not always perfect. You may encounter things about your course you'd like to change—things that are hard to change on your own.
That's why NTSU helps students put academic reps in place—to ensure you have a say in shaping your education.
How does academic representation work?
NTSU helps students elect other NTU students to become one of two types of academic rep: Course Reps and School Officers. They each play a vital role in enabling students to share their feedback on critical decisions made by NTSU and NTU.
This student-led academic representation ensures students have a seat at the table where fundamental decisions are made about their education.
As a student, your feedback can significantly change teaching and learning at NTU—not just in the present but for many years to come.
You're the expert on student life and how your academic experience can be bettered. Becoming a course rep or school officer means you can ensure you and your peers are accurately represented and appropriate changes are made to improve your learning experience.
And even if you choose not to become a course rep or school officer, knowing they're there gives you an avenue to provide feedback on your course and create the changes you want to see.
Interested in becoming a rep?
Applications for the UG School Officer role are open from 12:00pm on Monday 28 April to 12:00pm on Monday 12 May
Big ideas
Got an idea about how you could improve the University or Students’ Union?
Tell us so we can help you make it happen.
Our Big Ideas scheme is a quick and easy way to suggest changes to your student experience. If your idea gets enough support from other students, NTSU will try to make it a reality.
An effective Big Idea should consider 3 things
- Facts: What is the issue we are trying to solve? What do we already know about this issue?
- Impacts: How does this issue impact the student experience? Are there any potential negatives?
- Reacts: What would you like NTSU to do to fix the issue? How can we take this forward?
Big decisions are being made – and we need your vote.
Come to the Term 3 Union Meeting on Tuesday 29 April to vote on major changes to how your Students’ Union works. Whether you join us in person or online, your voice will help shape the future of NTSU.
Plus, there’ll be free pizza, exciting updates from your Officers, and a chance to win £500 worth of prizes.
You can attend either in person or online:
👥 Joining in person? You’re welcome to just turn up on the day — but if you can, we’d really appreciate it if you sign up in advance.
💻 Joining online? You’ll need to book ahead so we can send you the access link.
👇 However you're joining, make sure to secure your spot now:
What is a Democracy Review?
Since the summer NTSU has been working with third party consultants and higher education experts to complete a comprehensive review of our Democratic Procedures Document. The review includes all levels of NTSU’s representation systems and will encompass elections, student meetings and our equality and diversity networks. This will determine how we channel student voice and how we get you involved in the decisions we make.
What has the SU done so far?
NTSU has spent the last year collecting feedback from various stakeholders of the Union to find the perceived strengths and weaknesses in the Union’s democratic structure and determining what our members want from its representation system. This feedback was gathered from several meetings with NTU and NTSU staff, current and former NTSU officers and NTSU trustees. As we moved into September time, we switched our attention to student feedback collecting over 200 survey responses and running student focus groups across each of our campuses. Since Christmas our work has shifted. Now with initial idea and feedback on how our democracy needs to be changed we have been working with our consultant to come up with new ways that we can engage our students in democracy. These ideas focused on making our democratic structures more accessible and shifting our working patterns meaning we will come to you our members in spaces that are familiar to you rather than asking you to come to us.
What happens now ?
We took our new proposals to Union Meeting Term 3 on 29th April. These were passed with a 2/3’s majority. The proposals will now be taken for ratification. Once we have received this we will work with the incoming NTSU Officer Team over the summer to make sure these changes are implemented for the start of next academic year.
Students' Union Election Results
Here are the results of your Students’ Union elections! A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and be part of this process. Your voices have shaped the leadership for the year ahead.
We appreciate your engagement and support in making this election a success. Stay involved, stay engaged, and let’s work together for a better student experience.
President
Libby Sinclair
My Manifesto
Libby Sinclair for President!
As your current NTSU VP Education 24/25 working closely with both NTU and the current president, I have the experience, knowledge, and passion to take on this role.
Manifesto:
1. Cost of Living:
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Campaign for better, more affordable student housing in Nottingham, pushing for rent reductions, not just price freezes.
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Create money-saving initiatives.
2. Make Change:
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Address the sexual violence crisis among students.
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Fight for a safer and more understanding environment both locally and nationally.
3. Student Experience:
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Improve international student induction so students are more prepared at NTU.
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Enhance and raise awareness of: campus medical facilities, inclusive opportunities, safe spaces, and safe taxi scheme.
4. Collaboration:
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Work with students, officers, and other unions to uplift voices and make improvements that benefit students, such as support, nighttime safety, fresher’s team, officer accountability, and representation.
For more priorities, follow on Instagram: @libby.4president
If you care, vote Libby Sinclair!
VP Education
Mischa Dooley
My Manifesto
My name is Mischa and I’m running to be your next VP of Education. I have consistently been involved with working with students for students throughout my university career, from being a course rep in my first year representing all students on my course and fighting for improvements, to being on the committee of an academic society throughout my third year, focusing on improving students' university experience both within the classroom and on a social basis.
My Manifesto:
If elected, I aim to improve
Support:
- Make NECs more easily accessible for students, and more confidential; you shouldn’t have to disclose personal circumstances to attain a needed extension!
- Implement a system to streamline the Access Statement process
Employment:
- Improve awareness of employment opportunities available
- Provide workshops for graduating students based on CV building and interview prep
Remember, Don’t be a Fooley, vote for Dooley!
VP Postgraduate
Ryan Turner
My Manifesto
Hello, my name's Ryan and I'm running to be VP Postgraduate 2025/26. I want to:
- Lobby the university timetabling to allow postgraduates to have Wednesdays off to participate in sporting activities.
- Lobby the university to improve postgraduate studies, increasing timetabled teaching and reduce reliance on self-taught study.
- Lobby the local council to work with landlords to remove the requirement for international students' guarantors and generally improve housing conditions.
- Reform international representation and provide appropriate feedback avenues for students to raise important concerns.
- Advocate for more appropriate facilities and spaces for doctoral candidates.
- Provide more financial incentives for academic representatives such as school officers to improve engagement and motivation.
VP Community and Welfare
Joe Cormack
- Mental Health – Continue to promote mental health initiatives and help provide more services for mental health support, pushing for mental health training workshops and encouraging that conversation.
- Night time safety – Work on improving night time safety, with more focus on creating awareness for male night time safety. Working with local companies in the night time industry to provide more safety and support.
- Housing – Work on providing support in finding and managing housing for students who struggle, working with landlords and letting agents to reduce housing issues.
- Student Support – Organise specific support around academic issues with students, working on the relationships between students and their courses and promoting time away from work for wellbeing purposes.
VP Opportunities
Ben Parker
My Manifesto
During my 4 years of university, I’ve spent 2 years on a society committee. I have worked closely with NTSU and multiple other societies, which has developed my experience and passion to fit this role.
Manifesto:
- Committee Benefits:
- Incentivise students to run to be committee members.
- Free socials, networking events, and skills workshops throughout the academic year.
- Academic Society Funding:
- Work with VP Education to bridge the gap between courses and their corresponding society.
- Advocate for schools to invest in societies.
- Society Spotlight:
- Regular videos on SU social media pages highlighting a society.
- Opportunities for committee members to promote their society and events.
- Cross Campus Events:
- Support societies who want to extend their reach to other campuses.
- Providing them with support and incentives to cater to other campuses.
Think again, Vote for Ben.
More info: @Ben4VPOpps
VP Sport
Jasmyn Smith
My Manifesto
Reward & recognition: Continue celebrating and promoting ALL sports clubs by going to different clubs' sessions, and continuing ‘club achievement of the week’ on social media and SU screens.
- Introduce ‘club of the month’ with incentives.
Varsity: Continue to help build on the varsity rebrand and allow more sports clubs the opportunity to be involved in the 2026 series.
Improve cross-campus engagement: Promote fixtures and improve engagement for students playing across all campuses, e.g., internal leagues, Brackenhurst fixtures.
- Ensure Sports Council is accessible for students across all campuses.
Mental health in sport & EDI: Receive mental health in sport training from Student Minds and continue to develop committee training with my skills and training, e.g., EDI.
Funding: Continue the Sports Activities Fund and ensure NTU Sport opportunities are accessible for all students.
Society & Club interaction: Plan activities/events for clubs and societies to interact and build relationships throughout the year.
Brackenhurst Officer
Paige Skelland
My Manifesto
Hi! I'm Paige, and I am currently 19 years old, studying Equine Sports Science in my first year at Brack.
I would love this role because I genuinely want to be a voice for students who have opinions and ideas about what happens at Brack. This year, I’ve been a bit of a quiet student, partly because I’ve felt a little out of place. That’s why I want to return with more confidence, find my place here, and make a difference.
Currently, I am part of the Equine Society, but I am excited to explore more opportunities next year and meet new people. I aim to be someone approachable and easy to talk to, especially for quieter students who might need someone to represent their voices.
Thank you!
Mansfield Officer
Della Pinnock
My Manifesto
I am a student at mansfield campus. If you elect me I will throw myself into everything that you need from me, and will be happy to help and support you. Please consider voting for me.
