Students' Representative Council

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A Students' Representative Council represents student interests in the government of a university, school or other educational institution. Generally the SRC forms part of a broader Students' Association which may include other functions such as societies, entertainments (in the form of a Students' Union) and sports (in the form of a Sports Union.)

Universities may have a statutory obligation to receive representation from the SRC and it is usual for student representatives from the SRC to form part of university structures including the University Court, Academic Senate and other bodies.

[edit] Scotland

Scottish SRC (Students' Representative Council) were established by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 and are present at the four ancient universities of Scotland: Aberdeen, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as the more recently established University of Dundee and University of Strathclyde, though at Aberdeen the body has been renamed the Students' Association Council. Heriot-Watt's Scottish Borders Campus also has an SRC. Generally these SRCs form part of a broader Students' Association which may include other functions in addition to representation, such as welfare, societies, entertainments (in the form of a Students' Union) and sports (in the form of a Sports Union.) An exception is Glasgow University Students' Representative Council which is not part of a Students' Association.

Each University has a statutory obligation to receive representation from the SRC and it is usual for student representatives to be elected by the SRC or student body onto the University Court, Academic Senate or Council. The SRC is usually headed by a sabbatical officer elected by the student body, who will usually be paid and take a year out of study to take on the rôle. Sometimes they will, instead, dedicate a year after completing their studies. In many cases there are a small number of other full-time elected officers. There are also unpaid part-time officers who continue with their studies, and there may be permanent staff members employed to assist in the running of the SRC.

The SRC or its Students' Association may choose to facilitate a vote on membership of the National Union of Students Scotland or the Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland, and it is the Students' Association, rather than the individual students, which may become a member of one of those bodies.