Student representative bodies
Student representative bodies, including students' unions, come in all shapes and sizes. They play an important role in supporting students who are unhappy with something they have experienced. Sometimes they can help students and providers to resolve an issue without formal complaints being made. Or they may provide advice or support to a student going through a formal process, sometimes acting as an adviser or representative. Most work with providers to develop and improve regulations and procedures using learning and insights gained from advising and representing students in complaints and appeals.
When advising individual students on complaints to us, student representative bodies can:
- support and guide the student through our process.
- ensure they understand the types of complaints we can and can't look at.
- explain the time limits involved.
- help the student provide the information they need to support their complaint.
- help manage expectations relating to possible outcomes.
Find out more about:
Register a student representative body Point of Contact
Our effectiveness as an organisation relies in part on our ability to communicate and engage with all of our key stakeholders, including student representative bodies. Registering a Point of Contact helps us to share good practice guidance and details of our outreach activities with your organisation.
If you would like to register a Point of Contact, please email Barry McHale, Student Liaison Officer at barry.mchale@oiahe.org.uk.
✉️Subscribe to our e-newsletter
Our e-newsletters are a good way to keep up to date with our latest news and information.
Contact Barry, our Student Liaison Officer
If you would like to talk to us about your student representative body or would like to know more, please get in touch with Barry McHale at barry.mchale@oiahe.org.uk.
Toolkit for Student Representative Bodies
More information
Who can complain to us?
Learn more about who can complain to us and what they can complain about
Our Rules
Our Rules set out how our Scheme works, who can complain, what we can and can’t look at, how we review complaints, and what higher education providers should do
What happens when a student complains to us?
Learn more about how we handle complaints, and what happens when we receive a complaint
Outreach and events
Find out more about our upcoming workshops, events, provider visits, speaking engagements and webinars
Good Practice Framework
Our guidance on handling complaints and academic appeals, as well as new chapters which complement the Framework
Learning from our casework
Guidance, notes and summaries around complaints relating to subject and student specific matters
Completion of Procedures Letters
Our guidance for Completion of Procedures (COP) Letters