Your voice can make change happen; shape your Edge Hill experience and collaborate with decision-makers to influence the things that matter to you and your fellow students.
Student Advisory Panel recruitment for academic year 25-26 is now closed. Recruitment will open again at the beginning of next academic year.
What is the Student Advisory Panel?
The Student Advisory Panel is your opportunity to influence real change at Edge Hill. We are committed to making sure every student voice is heard, especially voices that aren’t always included.
Working closely with staff, you will be provided with frequent opportunities to share your lived experience and help shape the future of university life.
The Student Advisory Panel is key to the success of our Widening Access and Student Success Strategy; our vision to have a whole university approach to widening access and student success, where all those with potential have parity of access and success within Higher Education.
As part of this work, we are committed to working with our students to collaborate and co-produce new, innovative and impactful activity. Access this short video which provides an overview of the Student Advisory Panel from our Student Success Officer.
Who is eligible for the Student Advisory Panel?
We want to ensure diversity of voices so the considerations we take forward reflect the needs of our student population. The SAP eligibility for academic year 2025/26 includes:
Students who are a care leaver, care experienced or estranged.
Students who were eligible for free school meals.
Students entering university from a neighbourhood where there is low participation in higher education, and students from low-income households (Check your postcode).
Students with caring responsibilities.
Students whose ethnicity is Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic.
Students who did not study A Level qualifications, e.g. BTEC.
Mature students (aged 21+ on entry).
Disabled students (including those with a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) or a mental health condition).
Students who are the first in their family to study at university.
What does being a Student Advisory Panel member involve?
As a panel member, you’ll join facilitated group discussions that matter. Working with decision-makers and fellow students, you’ll share your lived experiences to help shape and improve services, policies, and the wider student experience at Edge Hill.
By being a Student Advisory Panel member, you can expect to:
Take part in open, respectful panel discussions
Co-produce with staff from across the university
Connect with peers who share similar experiences
Build skills and confidence that support you in life and career journey
How can being a Student Advisory Panel member benefit me?
Consultation and co-production in higher education provides a host of benefits for students, both personally and professionally.
Being a Student Advisory Panel Member is a paid role. We value your time and perspectives, and Student Advisory Panel members are paid £14.40 (inclusive of holiday pay) per hour for their contribution.
You can expect to be seen as an expert in your own experience and work with the university in a space where we ensure you are empowered to contribute towards equity for all students here at Edge Hill.
Through co-facilitated dialogue, being a Student Advisory Panel member will support many Graduate Attributes including:
Ethics and diversity
With a strong sense of purpose, you’ll display personal and social responsibility and contribute to shared responsibility whilst acting with integrity. You’ll also be able to demystify how decisions are made at university fostering trust.
Enterprise and entrepreneurship
You’ll recognise opportunities for improvement and growth and find innovative and effective approaches to supporting students.
Personal and interpersonal skills
You’ll become more confident, grow and develop skills in voicing opinions and shaping change, enhancing your self-awareness, active listening skills, team-working, negotiation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills along the way.
Student experience
Access this short video to hear about what it is like to be a Student Advisory Panel Member and how the opportunity helps our members to grow and make a difference.
How can I get involved?
1. Apply
When the recruitment cycle is open, you’ll be asked to complete a short application form if you meet the eligibility criteria. Tell us a bit about yourself including why you want to join the panel and what skills or experience you’d bring. This is your chance to share your passion and perspective.
Support in completing your application can be provided via Get Ahead appointments with our Careers team.
A link to complete the application form, and a full role description, will become visible when recruitment is open.
2. Shortlisting
The Student Success Team will review all applications. We are keen to ensure we have representation of our diverse student population and if your application is successful, we’ll invite you to the next stage.
3. Interview
If successful, you’ll be invited to attend a panel interview. This will be a relaxed interview where you’ll take part in a short mock panel. It’s a great way for you to experience what the role involves and ask any questions.
Post interview feedback can be provided upon request.
4. Get started
To work for the University, you’ll need to complete a right to work check before your training starts. This is a legal requirement for all paid student roles. We’ll guide you through the process if you’re offered a place.
5. Start your training and join the panel
Once everything’s in place, you’ll be invited to a training session to help you feel confident and prepared. Then it’s time to get involved and start making a difference.
What happens with the feedback the panel members provide?
The ideas and feedback shared in panel meetings are passed on to teams across Edge Hill to help improve services, policies and the overall student journey.
Want to see what happens next? You can see the impact the Student Advisory Panel has already made and follow any future progress below.
You said, we listened.
2024/2025
You said
We listened
Student Advisory Panel members suggested reviewing promotion and interview process for Student Advisory Panel roles. (October 2024-The Widening Access and Student Success team)
We introduced a new process to enable video applications and accessibility requests were added to all communications as standard. We have captured student experiences of the Student Advisory Panel in video and text format for promotion on our webpages.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested designing a resource for BTEC students with a focus on Academic Skills and Time Management. (October 2024 – UniSkills) (March 2024 – Widening Access and Student Success Team)
We produced an Academic Skills Questionnaire and a Time Management session which will be embedded into a department’s curriculum area in 25/ 26 to support a pilot with a focus on transition which will be rolled out if successful.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested reviewing Thrive promotion, programme launch and support session content and delivery. (November 2024 – The Widening Access and Student Success team)
We have streamlined and refreshed our Thrive launch and support sessions and recordings will be circulated to students who can’t attend in person. Delivery prior to Welcome Week now ensures clearing students can attend. We have captured student experiences of the Thrive programme in video and text format for promotion on our webpages.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested enhancing academic skills transitional support pre-entry and between years 1-2 and 2-3. (November 2024 – UniSkills)
We have produced a new Introduction to Catalyst Specialist Support Toolkit and introduced new Edge Hill Catalyst Catch up emails monthly which will highlight support available including new and developed toolkits. We have added Student Advisor video(s), sharing student’s lived experience around induction and transition, to the Preparing to Study webpage.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested reviewing the content and delivery of our Access Programmes (October 2024 – The Widening Access and Student Success team)
We added more information on wellbeing and student support as well as student finance information to our Supporters’ Talk.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested enhancing knowledge and awareness of money advice support to prospective students (October 2024 – Money Advice Team)
We created Padlets containing pre-entry information, advice and guidance to be used at Open Days and Offer Holder Days.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested reviewing the content of the Growth Resilience Model (March 2025 – Wellbeing Team)
We have updated the slides in line with accessibility requirements and have added a new, standardised slide in each Growth Resilience Model presentation to support more positive framing of the terminology around resilience.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested the draft assessment strategy needed to reflect needs of WP students (February 2025 – Academic Staff)
We have now provided recommendations for the student experience improvement board which will help share the new learning, teaching and assessment strategy.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested the Careers webpages include support to how to talk about a disability, health condition or neurodiversity to an employer.(March 2025- Careers Team)
Student Advisory Panel members suggested wide and sensitive promotion to students and staff of the Social Prescribing Service and new Student Assistance Programme toreach all students. (February 2025 – Social Prescribing)
We have promoted both the Social Prescribing and Student Assistance Programme to ensure promotion reaches all students and staff across all platforms. Communications colleagues and teams across departments have been consulted and sensitivity in messaging is inclusive and accessible for students.
Student Advisory Panel members suggested reviewing navigation and content on student portals to ensure accuracy of information which will lead to a positive user experience (November 2024 – Target Connect Team)
Links to the webpages and student facing portal functionality has been reviewed. Appointment booking system has been simplified and enhanced with additional information about self help and support added.
Student Advisory Panel members contributed to the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers award submission to ensure representation of Care Experienced and Estranged students in the documentation. (November 2024 – Widening Access and Student Success Team)
We included Care Experienced and Estranged students’ feedback within the award documentation and successfully obtained the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers award in 2025.
Are there any other ways I can get involved with Student Voice?
Here at Edge Hill, we’re committed to making sure every student voice is heard. Therefore, if SAP isn’t the right fit for you, there are still plenty of ways to get involved and make a difference through our Student Voice Community.
Student Advisory Panel FAQs
Student Advisory Panel FAQs
What’s a ‘mock panel’?
It’s a short practice version of what a real panel meeting might look like so you can get a feel for the role and ask questions. It’s informal and designed to help you feel more confident.
What’s a ‘right to work’ check?
This is a legal requirement for any paid role in the UK that confirms that you’re eligible to work. We’ll guide you through what you need to do if you’re offered the role.
How often do panel meetings take place and how do I sign up for a panel?
Panel meetings happen a few times each term and usually last between 1-2 hours. We’ll always give you plenty of notice so you can plan around your studies, work, or other commitments.
You’ll be emailed the upcoming panel dates and times. If you’re available, you’ll just reply to let us know.
Contact us
Reach out to us at[email protected] learn more about the panel and how to get involved.
