Senate

Senate oversees teaching and research at the University and makes academic regulations.

On this page

Responsibilities and terms of reference

Senate provides assurance to the Board of Trustees: 

  • for academic quality, standards and governance
  • that the University is meeting the Office for Students (OfS) conditions of registration in respect of quality and standards.

The primary responsibilities of Senate are set out in Ordinance 6.

Membership

There are over 100 members of Senate. Members include the Vice-Chancellor and President, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Deans, Heads of School, Chief Operating Officer and Registrar, Director of Governance and University Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, Librarian, Bristol Students' Union Sabbatical Officers, and a number of elected staff and student representatives.

Download the Senate membership 2024/25 (PDF, 131kB)

Senate Secretary

  • Current post-holder: Helen Cole, Senior Governance Officer
  • Email: helen.cole@bristol.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0)117 45 60586

Committees of Senate

Several committees report into Senate: 

Vacancies

Staff, contact your faculty office about possible Senate vacancies. 

Students, contact the Students' Union Impact and Influence directorate to find out if there are any vacancies. Senate has 12 student representatives.

Meeting dates and paper submission deadlines 2024/25

View paper submission guidance. 

Senate meets in accordance with its Standing orders (PDF, 174kB).

  • Monday 6 October 2025, 2pm
  • Monday 8 December 2025, 2pm
  • Monday 2 February 2026, 2pm
  • Monday 13 April 2026, 2pm
  • Monday 1 June 2026, 2pm

Agendas and minutes

Download agendas and minutes from previous Senate meetings. 

2024/25

2023/24

2022/23

2021/22

Papers

University staff can download the papers from previous Senate meetings.