Postgraduate students are represented on some of the key committees in the department, as well as at local levels. We encourage students to get involved in conversations with the postgraduate reps, and to consider standing for rep positions themselves.

Postgraduate Representative nominations

New Academic Postgraduate Reps are elected on an annual basis, near the beginning of the academic year. Information on how to stand and how to vote is circulated to all students by email. The role is most suited to students in their second or third years. Representatives are usually elected during Michaelmas Term. These include Postgraduate Research (PGR) and Postgraduate Taught (PGT) student members of the Engineering Faculty Board and a PGR rep to the School of Technology's Postgraduate Education Committee. Nominations and elections for this take place during Michaelmas, and are organised by the Cambridge Students' Union.

Additionally at least one PGR Rep is sought for each Division, and all Divisional Reps are members of the department's Postgraduate Education Committee and are expected to be represented at its three meetings a year. In addition, reps are asked to volunteer to attend at least two or three meetings per year of any of the committees below:

• Student-Staff Joint Committee
• Diversity Committee
• Library Committee
• Safety Committee
• Centre for Languages and Inter-Communication Committee 

The postgraduate reps form a network, and are expected to meet regularly to coordinate joint initiatives and share information about any relevant business from the departmental committees. One of the PGR reps will volunteer to act as a "rep of reps", to facilitate this (usually the Faculty Board rep). They may also liaise with the PGT course reps, and/or the undergraduate reps. The PGR reps network is asked to write a termly report for the Postgraduate Education Committee, to update key staff on their activities.

Committees

Postgraduate students in Engineering are represented by the student representatives on most of the main committees which consider matters that may impact on postgraduate students. With the exception of the Degree Committee, all of the committees described below have postgraduate student representation.

Engineering Degree Committee

Chair: Tim Wilkinson  Secretary: Rachel MacDonald

The Engineering Degree Committee represents both the Department of Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering, and comprises members from both departments. The full terms of reference of degree committees can be found in the University's Statutes and Ordinances. Much of the business of the meetings involves reviewing examiners reports and making recommendations or decisions on awarding of degrees. Other high level postgraduate student business is also considered, such as new course proposals and changes to student regulations.

Degree Committee meeting dates 2025-26

Degree Committee meeting dates 2026-27

Postgraduate Education Committee

Chair: Tim Wilkinson  Secretary: tbc

The Postgraduate Education Committee considers departmental-level business pertaining to postgraduate students. Membership consists of academic staff from the six divisions in the department, as well as a couple of taught course directors, a member of library staff, the RDC leaders and student representatives from both taught and research programmes. Business considered at meetings includes matters relating to taught modules and courses, researcher development and admissions, along with ad hoc business that arises from time to time. The meeting has both reserved and unreserved sections, with some confidential matters being considered without student reps being present.

Postgraduate Education Committee meeting dates 2025-26

Postgraduate Taught Courses Committee

Chair: Tim Wilkinson  Secretary: tbc

Further information coming soon.

Faculty Board

The Faculty Board is statutorily responsible to the General Board, via its Education Committee, for ensuring that teaching within the Department is appropriate and of a high standard. It meets twice a term to receive information, advice and recommendations from University-level bodies and from various subcommittees within the Department.

Student Staff Joint Committee

The remit of the SSJC is to contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality of all aspects of the undergraduate Engineering course, including teaching, examinations, administration and facilities. As graduate students are often involved in the teaching of undergraduates (through acting as demonstrators and supervisors), there is a postgraduate student representative on the committee.

Diversity Committee

The Diversity Commmittee is committed to coordinating initiative that work towards improving equality and diversity in the department, as well as constructing applications for the Athena SWAN award. The Engineering Department currently holds a Silver Award.

Library Committee

Chair: Colm Durkan

Library Committee plays an advisory and advocacy role regarding the Library in its support of teaching, learning, and research at the Department of Engineering. The meetings discuss strategic priorities and departmental requirements for library and information service, the development of new and ongoing services, resources and facilities, and provide feedback on new resource recommendations that feed into University wide Committees for resource acquisition (Currently Journal Coordination Scheme Steering Committee and Accessions Committee). Committee members are expected to gather and represent the views of their communities and act as advocates for the library.

Safety Committee

The purpose of the Departmental Safety Committee is to assist and advise the Head of Department on planning, prioritisation and implementation of measures to manage the safety risks of departmental activities. The committee meets four times (usually out of term time) in each academic year, so approximately at three month intervals.

Membership consist of academic staff from the six divisions in the department, our three specialist Safety Officers (Laser/Radiation/Biological), Safety Office, Teaching Office, Building and Estates Services, technician and administrative representatives, graduate student representatives and Trade Union (TU) appointed safety representatives. The Chair is appointed by the Head of Department and from time to time the committee may invite additional persons to attend meetings who have special expertise in a subject to be discussed.