Student Representatives

Your Voice at SOAS.
Your Voice at SOAS.

Becoming a representative

Rep Elections 

You can now find your representatives. If you see a gap and want to volunteer, get in touch at reps@soas.ac.uk.

No vacancies (but if you're really interested, then you're welcome all the same--the more the merrier!)

Arts (School of)

Arts UG Year 1

Arts UG Year 2

Arts UG Year 3

MA Music

MA Global Creative and Cultural Industries

MA Curating Cultures

PG Cert/Dip in Asian Art

MPhil/PhD Arts x2

Development

Development UG Year 3

MA Media in Development

MPhil/PhD Development x2

East Asian Languages and Cultures

EALC UG Year 2

EALC UG Year 3 x3

EALC UG Year 4

MA Chinese Studies

MA Taiwan Studies

MA Korean Studies

Economics

Economics UG Year 3

MSc Economics (A)

MPhil/PhD Economics x2

Finance and Management

Finance and Management UG Year 1 x2

Finance and Management UG Year 2

MSc Accounting and Finance

MPhil/PhD Finance and Management x2

History, Religions and Philosophies

HRP UG Year 3

MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation

MPhil/PhD HRP x2

Law

BA Law Year 3

LLB Year 2 x2

LLB Year 3

LLM/MA Environmental Law

MA Gender Studies

LLM Law and Gender

LLM/MA Human Rights Law

MA Legal Studies

MPhil/PhD Gender Studies x2

MPhil/PhD Law x2

Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

LCL Year 2

LCL Year 3 x2

MA Islamic Studies

MA Linguistics

MA South East and Pacific Asian Studies

MPhil/PhD Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

Politics and International Studies

P&IS Year 2 x4

P&IS Year 3 x3

MA Politics of Africa

MA Political Thought

MA Politics of the Middle East

MPhil/PhD P&IS x2

MPhil/PhD Global Studies x2

 

Department Reps

Anthropology & Sociology PG Research

Arts Undergraduate

Arts PG Taught

Arts PG Research

Development PG Research

Economics PG Taught

Economics PG Research

Finance and Management PG Research

History, Religions and Philosophies PG Research

Law PG Taught

Law PG Research

Languages, Cultures and Linguistics Undergraduate

Politics and International Studies PG ResearchUse this page to nominate yourself or vote in the Rep Elections.

Your Programme and Department Reps are students, elected by you, who volunteer their time to listen to your feedback and tell the university what needs changing.

These pages are a source of information for Reps, potential Reps and any students who want to understand the role and how you are being represented!

All prospective and elected Reps must read and understand the Volunteer Agreement. Even if you've been a Rep before, do look at this again as there have been updates.

Problems nominating or voting? Email reps@soas.ac.uk. 

No elections are currently running

For Department Reps, once elected there are three reps per department (one undergraduate, one Master's, and one research student).

The figures below are estimates based on data from 4th October 2023.

Total Programme Rep Vacancies: 187

Total Department Rep Vacancies: 30 (there are 10 departments)

Breakdown for Undergraduate Programme Reps

These figures do not include the Foundation College Reps

What do Reps do?

They attend major decision-making meetings with staff at SOAS. By sharing your views with Reps, you know it’s getting to the right people.

Reps can’t fix everything. Usually, problems on your course are resolved slowly. Reps are trained to navigate the complicated, bureaucratic system on your behalf, or signpost you to the best person who can help if it’s a personal problem.

How is the Rep Network structured?

There are three types of Rep: Programme Reps (previously known as Course Reps), Departmental Reps, and College Reps.

Programme Reps are the largest group, and you would usually approach them first if you wanted to give feedback about your course. Once elected, there is:

  • One Rep per foundation class
  • One Rep per 50 undergraduate students per year of study
  • One Rep per Master's programme
  • One MPhil Rep per department
  • One PhD Rep per department.

Generally, these are the tasks Programme Reps carry out:

  • Gather feedback from students in person, by email or via the Tell Me About It reporting process.
  • Log feedback received so it can be collated
  • Attend numerous important meetings with SOAS management, relaying the feedback from students and advocating for them.

Department Reps are more experienced reps who have slightly different responsibilities. When elected, per department there is one undergraduate student, one Master's, one MPhil, and one PhD. Their role is similar to the programme reps, as they still gather feedback from students. Their additional responsibilities include:

  • Coordinating and leading the Programme Reps in their department
  • Attending specific department meetings.

College Reps are students who are paid by the SU to represent the collective views of the three colleges at these meetings. Additionally, they are experienced leaders who support the training and guidance of the volunteer Reps. There are six College Reps, one undergraduate and one postgraduate per College.

What do Reps gain from the experience?

Reps are volunteers who choose to spend their time making a difference for students. In many ways, this is its own reward. Specifically they:

  • Directly contribute to positive change at SOAS
  • Ensure the views of students inform changes to their courses and experience
  • Help students feel heard.

In the process, Reps gain valuable professional experience and learn skills, such as:

  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Finding mutually beneficial solutions
  • Understanding business organisation and management structures.

As a thank you to the Reps for their service, the SU will provide a letter of recommendation, upon request, to help them when applying for jobs.

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