Your university experience is, more often than not, going to be full of a lot of different opportunities. One of these is the chance to be a student rep or ambassador and there are many benefits to going down this path.  

From getting the opportunity to help people to looking great on your CV/ resume or graduate portfolio, there are good reasons why you may want to take this position but how do you know if it’s right for you?  

To get a better understanding of whether or not becoming a student rep or ambassador is right for you, there are a few things to consider. 

There is a considerable amount of responsibility in this role, but it can be an equally rewarding one for the right person. 

Why do universities have these positions? 

Though it might seem easier for the university to hire someone to fulfil the roles of a student rep or ambassador, the reason that existing students are chosen is due to a desire to put the students first.  

Universities understand that, as a student, sometimes it’s nice to be able to speak to a like-minded individual. A fellow student, who likely knows exactly what you’re going through, will be able to empathise with you much more and support you with a resolution to the problem you may be having.  

Also, universities want to know how their students are feeling about certain things. Having a group of students there to represent the student body of that university is a great asset for them to have. 

How to become a student rep or ambassador 

Becoming a student rep or ambassador is relatively straightforward. It’s just a matter of contacting your university, or current student ambassadors and expressing your interest.  

There may be some requirements, with many universities requesting that you apply only when you have completed your first year. This gives students a chance to throw themselves into the student lifestyle before making any commitments. 

It may also be the case that you need to wait for one student rep or ambassador to leave before you can fill their space. Thankfully, unlike other jobs where it’s a matter of waiting for someone to hand in their resignation, student reps are still students and therefore won’t be there for very long themselves. 

It’s for this reason that you may find universities discussing taking on new student reps at the end of each academic year as they know several of their current ambassadors will be graduating soon. 

Benefits of a role like this 

Being in this role for even a short period of time can allow you to develop the skills employers are looking for in graduates. From improving your communication and people skills to understanding how a big organisation is managed. 

Being a student rep or ambassador looks great on a CV/resume too. This is due to it showing, not only that you got your degree and have a vast amount of knowledge in your chosen subject, but that you went one step beyond this to support your fellow students. Taking up this role shows a willingness to take on responsibility while balancing your other work commitments.  

If you have a passion for helping people and would like to make a positive difference in your university, becoming a student rep or ambassador might be right for you. Although it’s important that your studies come first and for you to enjoy everything university has to offer, there are many perks to entering this role and you will most definitely be glad you took part when you graduate.