Networks are the grassroots of representation and campaigning at Bristol SU, bringing students together to work on different issues, like Wellbeing and Sport, or representing different types of students, like LGBT+ or international students. Networks work closely with Full-Time Officers to run campaigns, hold events, and to get things changed at the SU or University.

As Chair, you would be the lead representative for your Network or area, working with a committee or volunteers to run its activities. As a key voice in the SU, you’ll also be a part of Student Council and Standing Committee, where you’ll speak up for students in your Network and make sure the Full-Time Officers are acting in their interests.

We make sure you’ve got the resources and support to do all of this. You’ll be able to bid for money from the SU’s Campaigns Fund, and can get professional support in planning campaigns, holding events and marketing your activities. And remember: you won’t be by yourself with the role. You’ll have at least one Full-Time Officer working to support you, a committee or volunteers from your Network, and you can always drop into the SU for a chat with Officers or staff. 

Click here to find out more about what Networks got up to last year, and scroll down for descriptions of of each Chair role up for election

Why should I run?

Make a real difference - You will genuinely improve students’ lives - whether it’s a policy that gets changed because of your campaign, or a student who finds their feet through the Network community you’ve built. You’ll learn how to maximise the impact of your work and pass this knowledge on to your successor so that we can keep making progress.

Meet some amazing people - One of the best parts of Networks is the way they bring students together to work on the issues they care about. You’ll inspire and support each other, and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way.

Build skills that make a difference - You’ll develop the skills you need to be an effective campaigner, community organiser and leader. Depending on your focus, you can also get hands-on experience with marketing, events planning or policy development. At the end of your year, you might even think about running to be a Full-Time Officer!

Click on the links below to find out more about each specific Network Chair role

For election in March: 

Mature Students, Parents and Carers Network

Care Leavers and Estranged Students Network

Women's Network

Disabled Students Network

Black Students' Network

BAME Network

LGBT+ Network

Trans Network

International Students Network

Widening Participation Network 

Multifaith Network

Chairs of Interests and Opportunities Networks:​

Societies Network

Sports Network

Chair of Student Council 

Co-Chair of the Postgraduate Network (PGR)

Chairs of Student Living Networks:​

Wellbeing Network

Sustainability Network

Volunteering and Fundraising Network

Currently electing PGR and PGT Faculty rep roles that are unfilled

Faculty Reps are the lead academic reps for their Faculty, working together with the Full-Time Education Officers to form the Education Network Committee. As a leader in your Faculty, you will play a vital role in supporting, consulting with and building community amongst other academic reps in your Faculty (course reps or PGR reps). As a leader in the Education Network, you will be a key voice on educational issues at the University and help to shape our campaigning on higher-education policy nationally too.

With full membership of Student Council and Standing Committee, you’ll also be a valuable voice in our democratic structures. You’ll make sure that SU policies and campaigns take into account the needs of students in your faculty, and that other representatives are aware of the issues facing them.

Why should I run?

Be part of the big conversations - Faculty Reps look beyond the experiences on individual courses. From the redesign of all curricula at Bristol, to the future of Higher Education funding, you’ll often be working on the big picture and helping to make some really big changes to the student experience.

Develop your skills - You’ll be invited to our residential development programme and a range of training opportunities through the year, growing your leadership, policy and campaigning skills. You’ll also learn to chair meetings and improve your public speaking!

A great step in your career - If you are interested in a career in academia, this role will be particularly beneficial, as it will give you meaningful committee experience and insight into decision-making and policy-setting processes in Higher Education.

Roles Available

There are 18 Faculty Rep positions in total, with each Faculty having a rep for Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research students. 

• Find out more about the Undergraduate Faculty Rep role here - elected in TB2
• Find out more about the Postgraduate Taught Faculty Rep role here - elected in TB1
• Find out more about the Postgraduate Research Faculty Rep role here - elected in TB2

As a member of a Network committee, you'll be part of a student team. You'll run events and campaigns to foster meaningful communities for students, lobby the university for positive change, and stand as part of the student leadership team that works together to make the University of Bristol a more welcoming and accessible institution. 

There are 5 roles avalible with each of our 18 networks. 

• Vice Chair 

• Events Officer  

• Communications and Social Media Officer 

• Welfare Officer 

• Equality & Diversity Officer