Student representation

Students participating in music, whether through academic modules or non-curricular activities, are represented by the Music Centre student presidents.

The 2025-2026 president is Abi Collins. The vice-president Luke Norman.  They can be emailed at musicpresident@st-andrews.ac.uk.

The president and vice-president connect with the Students' Association and Music Centre staff, promote peer mentoring within the Music Centre community, and work to improve communication and cooperation among students and others in making music.

Apply to become the 2026-2027 president or vice-president

Applications are invited for the roles of Music Centre student president and vice-presidents for 2026-2027.  These are part-time voluntary posts.  The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 16 March 2026, with interviews to be held on Tuesday 24 March in the Laidlaw Music Centre.

Aim

The role of the Music Centre student president and any vice-presidents (vocal and/or instrumental) is to represent undergraduate and postgraduate students involved in curricular (i.e. modules) and non-curricular activities run out of the Music Centre, to promote peer mentoring within the Music Centre user community, and to improve communication and co-operation among students and staff in making music.

Key responsibilities

The president and vice-president(s) will:

  1. promote and provide leadership to the Class Representative system for MU modules
  2. help chair every Music Centre forum and set agenda in advance, in consultation with the Director of Music and the Class Representatives
  3. oversee the appointment process for Class (Module) Representatives, ensuring that all modules have a designated representative, with support from the Director of Education
  4. liaise with music clubs and societies using the Music Centre, and help to articulate their strategic needs to the Music Centre management for planning purposes
  5. be willing to discuss student-related matters affecting student music making at the Centre and MU module teaching with Music Centre staff
  6. attend every School Presidents’ Forum, unless reasonable apologies are given
  7. represent the Music Centre to current and prospective students at orientation events and visiting days
  8. attend the Students’ Association Education Committee, unless reasonable apologies are given
  9. monitor the Music Centre student president email account and send out weekly emails to Music Centre members.

Task areas 4 and 9 may be specifically delegated to any vice-presidents with specific remits for vocal or instrumental students.

How you will do it:

  • Organise Music Student Forums for Class Representatives to discuss upcoming issues and help set the agenda
  • Develop surveys of Music Centre services and activities
  • Be in regular contact with the Director and Deputy Director of Music, Coordinator of Academic Music, Heads of Vocal and Instrumental Studies, and Music Centre Manager
  • Help to foster a sense of community between different Music Centre users.

Useful skills or characteristics

  • Past or present enrolment in one or more MU module
  • Involvement in music-making at St Andrews (i.e. a current Music Centre member or society member)
  • Knowledge of and experience with the Class Representative system
  • Team-working skills
  • Organisational skills
  • Communication skills
  • Ability to handle sensitive information confidentially
  • Commitment

Skills you can expect to learn and develop

  • Develop confidence and communication skills
  • Learn to negotiate with difficult (interesting) people
  • Increase organisational skills and flexibility
  • Improve own time management skills
  • Experience leadership of a small team
  • Get a better understanding of how an arts centre works to serve the needs of different people, and also a better understanding of the University and Higher Education in general

Expected time commitment

On average, you might spend about two to three hours a week on the role. Some weeks will be more demanding than others.

Eligibility

Applicants must be ALL of the following:

  • a full-time undergraduate student who will be an Honours student in the next academic year
  • a current or past MU module student
  • a current Music Centre member

Application

To apply, please email your CV to: musicmodules@st-andrews.ac.uk by 5pm on Monday 16 March 2026, with “Music Centre Student President” as the subject.

Appointment will be by interview of shortlisted applicants on Tuesday 24 March 2026.

Further questions

If you have any questions about the role, please email musicmodules@st-andrews.ac.uk with “Music Centre Student President” as the subject, or the current Student President Abi Collins musicpresident@st-andrews.ac.uk.