Apply by 9 October to become a student representative and make a difference in your faculty
Would you like to develop the University’s operations? Do you feel that students are inadequately consulted in decision-making? Here is your chance: new student representatives are being sought for all faculty councils and the University Collegium. Applications are accepted from 11 September to 9 October 2025.
Faculty councils are the highest decision-making body in faculties. In addition to the dean, the faculty council comprises 10 or 18 members, of whom three to five represent students. Two tasks of the University Collegium, a body that supervises the Board of the University, is to decide on the number of Board members and select the chancellor. The Collegium has a total of 48 members, of whom 16 represent students.
As a student representative, you will have a concrete influence on the University and will pass on student ideas and feedback. You will also gain useful experience for professional life, one credit per year and fees for meetings. The fee is €35 per meeting in faculty councils and €65 per meeting in the Collegium.
You need no special skills to apply, but must be motivated to put in the effort. We asked two faculty deans to explain what makes student representatives so important and why you should apply. Read on!
Students’ voice at faculties
The key task for student representatives is ensuring that faculty councils take into account student voices and perspectives.
“Faculties are there for students and teaching. Student representatives are a really important link between students and faculty leadership,” says Dean Ritva Toivonen of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.
Dean Marjaana Seppänen of the Faculty of Social Sciences also points out that a large part of faculty operations is specifically aimed at ensuring the meaningfulness and smooth progress of studies.
“Faculty councils make important decisions that have a direct impact on students’ lives. Student representatives have a genuine influence over faculty affairs, and they also gain experience of how the organisation functions.”
Curiosity and commitment key for student representatives
Both deans believe that an active and curious approach to the position as well as the willingness to attend meetings regularly are the most important qualities of student representatives. Faculty councils convene once a month in term time.
There are no specific requirements. Instead, all students interested in decision-making at their faculty can apply.
“Wanting to contribute and being prepared to take part in discussions is the most important thing,” Seppänen says.
The deans admit that thinking about attending a faculty council may induce anxiety. The threshold for bringing forward development proposals for discussion may be high, especially to begin with. Both deans urge students to boldly bring forward their ideas: faculties are genuinely interested in hearing student perspectives.
“Students know best which matters affect the smooth progress of their studies. It’s really important to include this perspective when making decisions at the Faculty,” Seppänen points out.
The Student Union will orient new representatives to the duties, while the Faculty of Social Sciences has also considered its own orientation in its specific affairs. The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry has introduced a discussion session where students have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the topics of the upcoming meeting one week in advance.
“We now always have an item for student news on the council meeting agendas. This way, we make it as easy as possible for students to make their voice heard in meetings,” Toivonen says.
Important experience for the future
Student representatives have a prime vantage point to the University’s operations, while gaining useful experience and networks.
“Student representatives gain experience of both strategic and everyday management and get to know the other members of the faculty council,” notes Toivonen, who served as a student representative herself in her time as a student.
“I genuinely believe that serving in this position will be useful later on also in professional life,” Seppänen says, offering encouragement.
Interested?
Attracted by the prospect of applying? Great! Here are the key facts in a nutshell:
- Student representatives serve two-year terms. The representatives selected this autumn will begin their term on 1 January 2026.
- Their duties include attendance at and preparation for meetings, as agreed. Attending to the duties is easy alongside studying.
- Fees for attending meetings, for both members and their deputies, are paid once per academic year.
- The appointments are based on the principles of inclusivity and equity, and the faculty councils seek to recruit students from a variety of backgrounds. Student representatives are nominated by selection committees composed of faculty students.
- Sound exciting? Don’t worry, you will get an orientation session before the start of your term. In total, almost 700 student representatives are serving in the University’s administrative bodies, so you will not be alone.
Application instructions and additional information are available on the Student Union of the University of Helsinki website. Ready to make a difference? Apply by 9 October 2025!
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro (University of Helsinki)