Apply to be a Student Representative in University Administration for the term 2027–2028!
We are looking for student representatives for the Academic Board, the Education Council, the Societal Interaction Council, the Appeals Committee, and all seven Faculty Councils for the term 2027–2028. The application period is from 24 August to 13 September 2026.
We are looking for student representatives for the university-level bodies of:
- The Academic Board: 5 members
- The Education Council: 4 members, 4 deputy members
- The Societal Interaction Council: 1 member, 1 deputy member
- The Appeals Committee: 2 members, 2 deputy members
We are looking for student representatives for the Faculty Councils of the faculties of:
- Information Technology and Communication Sciences: 5 members, 5 deputy members
- Management and Business: 5 members, 5 deputy members
- Education and Culture: 5 members, 5 deputy members
- Medicine and Health Technology: 5 members, 5 deputy members
- Built Environment: 4 members, 4 deputy members
- Engineering and Natural Sciences: 5 members, 5 deputy members
- Social Sciences: 5 members, 5 deputy members
The term of office of each position open for application will start on 1 January 2027 and end on 31 December 2028. You can fill in the application and act as a student representative in all of the bodies using either Finnish or English as your working language.
Application form for the Academic Board in Microsoft Forms (Requires Tampere University login).
Application form for the Education Council in Microsoft Forms (Requires Tampere University login).
Application form for the Appeals Committee in Microsoft Forms (Requires Tampere University login).
Application form for the Faculty Councils in Microsoft Forms (Requires Tampere University login).
Applicants must provide clear answers to all mandatory questions on the application form. After the application period, the Election Committees may request additional information or invite applicants for an interview, if necessary.
The primary selection criteria are the applicants’ motivation and readiness to perform in the role. In addition, efforts are made to ensure a balanced representation across faculties, degree programmes, and fields of study where possible. In all elections, the provisions of the Finnish Act on Equality between Women and Men (609/1986) Section 4a, Subsection 1 regarding gender representation in public decision-making bodies will be taken into consideration.
Further information
Onni Härkönen, Specialist in Educational Affairs at TREY (onni.harkonen@trey.fi, tel. +358 40 713 0077, Telegram: @treyonni).
Student representatives act as the voice of students in Tampere University’s administration. The representatives ensure that students’ interests are not overlooked in matters that affect students. As students are the largest community group at the university and the true experts in student life, it is vital that the administrative bodies include a broad representation of faculties, degree programmes and stages of study.
Faculty Councils are multi-member bodies addressing faculty activities in research, teaching, and societal interaction, monitoring finances and following current issues concerning both the University and the faculty. Faculty Councils typically meet once a month, excluding July.
The Academic Board is the university’s highest academic decision-making body. The Academic Board meets approximately once a month, excluding July. Student representatives in this board are usually more experienced in advocacy work.
The Education Council handles matters related to education, prepares items for the Academic Board, and develops teaching and learning. The Education Council meets approximately once a month during the academic year.
The Societal Interaction Council prepares matters related to the university’s societal interaction and impact and monitors the university’s engagement with society. The Societal Interaction Council meets monthly or less frequently.
The Appeals Committee deals with requests for rectification under Section 27, Subsection 4 of the Finnish Universities Act (558/2009), such as grade appeals. The Committee meets when necessary.
The Student Union of Tampere University (TREY) elects student representatives to the Academic Board, the Education Council, the Societal Interaction Council, the Appeals Committee, and the seven Faculty Councils. Student representatives promote students’ interests in the university’s administration and ensure that the voice of the students is heard in decision-making.
Eligibility criteria for a student representative are:
- The applicant must have the right to complete a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, a licentiate degree or a doctoral degree, or a specialist degree in medicine at Tampere University
- The applicant must have registered as present by the end of the application period
- The applicant cannot hold the right to vote in university elections
- According to Electoral Rules of Tampere University, the right to vote applies to those employed full-time by the university for a minimum period of six months, or those conducting full-time grant-based research at the university for a minimum period of six months
- “Full-time” is defined as carrying out at least 40% of full-time duties
Further details available on the Tampere University intranet (Tampere University login required).
To be eligible to apply for a student representative position on one of the Faculty Councils, the applying student’s degree programme in which they hold a study right must be administratively located within the faculty in question. Students holding multiple study rights may apply for and be selected to only one Faculty Council.
- For example, a student studying in the Sustainable Urban Development programme is eligible to apply only to the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Built Environment.
- A student with study rights in both Mechanical Engineering and Politics is eligible to apply to the Faculty Councils of both the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Management and Business. However, they must indicate in their application which Faculty Council they are applying to and may only be selected to that council.
A student representative may act in only one decision-making body at a time. Decision-making bodies include the Academic Board, the Appeals Committee, and Faculty Councils. Additionally, a student representative may not simultaneously act on the Academic Board and on a body that prepares matters for the Academic Board (the Education Council, the Societal Interaction Council, or the Science Council).
Acting as a student representative provides valuable experience in decision-making and collaboration across different groups of the university, while giving you the opportunity to have an influence on matters at Finland’s second-largest university!
Elected student representatives are expected to maintain close contact with the student union. TREY provides orientation and ongoing support for the role and facilitates communication and cooperation between representatives across different bodies.
Student representatives receive a meeting fee of 40 euros per meeting. For student representatives on the Academic Board, the fee is 120 euros per meeting as the body meets frequently and there are no deputy members for the full members of this body.
In addition, student representatives may include their position of trust as part of their degree. By participating in the university’s administrative bodies, you can be awarded 2–10 study credits. Credits are awarded by the faculties.