Experience, meeting fees and the opportunity to influence your degree programme: Apply to become a student representative from 21 September to 19 October

Would you like to develop your degree programme? Do you feel students are inadequately consulted in decision-making? Here is your chance: new student representatives are being sought for the steering groups of all bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Applications are accepted from 21 September to 19 October 2026.

As a student representative, you will have a concrete influence on your programme and will pass on student ideas and feedback. You will also earn credits, a €35 fee for each meeting and useful professional experience.

You need no special skills to apply, but must be motivated to put in the effort.

We asked the directors of two programmes to explain what makes student representatives so important and why you should apply. Read on! 

A student voice in degree programmes 

The key task for student representatives is ensuring that programme steering groups take student voices and perspectives into account. Without student input, degree programme operations easily become detached from students’ everyday lives.

“Students almost always bring to the discussion new perspectives which we employees haven’t come to think of. We need information on the everyday challenges students face so that we are able to do things and teach in the right way,” says Jaakko Hilppö, Director of the Bachelor’s Programme in Education.

Hanna Tuominen, Director of the Master’s Programme in European and Nordic Studies, agrees:

“Based on student feedback, we have rescheduled compulsory studies to increase flexibility for traineeships. For instance, master’s seminars now have flexible starts in Moodle rooms,” Tuominen says.

In the degree programmes of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, student representatives have concretely influenced the Faculty’s operating culture.

“With the support of programme steering groups, students conducted a survey to collect Faculty students’ experiences of inappropriate behaviour. Among other things, the survey highlighted experiences of bullying, which we immediately started to address, for example, by developing tutor training,” Hilppö says,

“Students played a very important role in bringing up the issue, conducting the survey and identifying solutions that support everyday studying.”

Student representatives rely on courage and interest

As a student representative, you need no special skills, but must be both motivated to put in the effort and committed to steering-group activities.

“It’s good when student representatives have the courage to take on a role where they actively ask for their fellow students’ opinions, as well as to bring even difficult topics to the discussion in steering groups,” Tuominen muses.

“With another student as a fellow representative, you certainly don't have to do this on your own. For example, we have one Finnish and one international student as representatives. That’s really good also because they have slightly different perspectives on things.”

Hilppö concurs:

“Anyone can apply to become a student representative. You don’t have to be a student class manager or overly active. Having said that, it’s really important to be genuinely interested in other students’ experiences as well.”

Both directors encourage students to apply for the positions, even if they are a little hesitant.

“If you are wondering what it’s like to be a student representative, you should contact your current representatives and ask them about their experiences,” Tuominen says.

“It takes little time to become familiar with meeting practices, administrative intricacies and steering group members,” Hilppö adds.

“And it’s perfectly normal if you initially feel like you have nothing to say about certain topics – that’s nothing to be afraid of. In the steering group, we teachers support students in learning the ropes of steering-group activities, and you never have to hesitate about asking for help.”

Student representatives in a nutshell

Applications for student representative positions are accepted from 21 September to 19 October 2026. For further information and application instructions, see the Student Union website.

• Student representatives serve two-year terms. The representatives now appointed will begin their term on 1 January 2027.
• A fee of €35 per meeting is paid for attendance. In addition, you can earn one credit per calendar year for the position.
• Attending to the duties is easy alongside studying. An exchange period or a traineeship in the middle of the term is no obstacle, as each representative is also appointed a deputy. If you graduate in the middle of your term, a new representative can be appointed.
• Worried about taking on the role? Don’t be. You will receive orientation on the University’s operating structures as well as tips for keeping in touch with the students you represent.