The Senate
Senate is the principal academic body of the University, responsible to Council for: regulating and directing the academic work of the University in teaching, examining and research. It oversees quality assurance and standards of the education provided by the University.
Membership 2025/26
Membership 2025/26
| Ex-Officio Members | Position |
| Professor Adam Tickell | Vice-Chancellor and Principal (in the Chair) |
| Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams | Provost and Vice-Principal (Deputy Chair) |
| Professor Deborah Longworth | Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) |
| Professor Rachel O'Reilly | Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) |
| Professor Robin Mason | Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) |
| Professor Helen Abbott | Head of College of Arts and Law |
| Professor Marika Taylor | Head of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences |
| Professor William Bloss | Head of College of Life and Environmental Sciences |
| Professor Neil Hanley | Head of College of Medicine and Health |
| Professor Catherine Mangan | Interim Head of College of Social Sciences |
Three College Board Members nominated by the Heads of College, two of which must be Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer and Director of Education.
| College | Members | Position |
| Arts and Law | Professor Katharine Sykes | Director of Education |
| Professor Fiona de Londras | Director of Research | |
| Professor Aleksandra Cavoski | Director of Global Engagement | |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences | Professor Andrew Quinn | Director of Education |
| Professor Costas Constantinou | Director of Research | |
| Professor Alessandro Mottura | Head of School, Metallurgy and Materials | |
| Life and Environmental Sciences | Professor Matt Bridge | Director of Education |
| Professor Richard Butler | Director of Research | |
| Professor Nick Kettridge | Head of School, Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences | |
| Medicine and Health | Professor Chris Tselepis | Director of Education |
| Professor Jo Parish | Director of Research | |
| Professor Phil Lumley | Deputy Head of College | |
| Social Sciences | Dr Mark Wenman | Director of Education |
| Professor Paul Jackson | Director of Research | |
| Professor Karen Guldberg | Head of School, Education |
Education Officer of the Guild of Students
| Jacob Dyke | Ex-Officio |
Five registered students nominated by the Guild of Students
| Name | Term of Office (to 31 July - unless otherwise stated) |
| Aliasgar Gandhi | 2026 |
| Micha Aviani-Bartram | 2026 |
| Tianjie (Alice) Liu | 2026 |
| Ayush Mehta | 2026 |
| Matthew Widdop | 2026 |
Four members of the Academic or Research Staff of each College, one of whom must be a Professor, elected by and from the Academic and Research Staff of each College
| College | Name | Department | Term of Office(to 31 July -unless otherwise stated) |
| Arts and Law | Dr Rehana Parveen | Birmingham Law School | 2028 |
| Dr Eleanor Dobson | EDACS | 2027 | |
| Professor Sara Jones | LCAHM | 2026 | |
| Dr Emma Sullivan-Bissett | Philosophy, Theology & Religion | 2027 | |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences | Professor Sam Cruchley | Metallurgy and Materials | 2028 |
| Professor Mark Lee | Computer Science | 2027 | |
| Professor Olga Maleva | Mathematics | 2028 | |
| Dr Xinfang Wang | Chemical Engineering | 2027 | |
| Life and Environmental Sciences | Professor Matthew Broome | Psychology | 2026 |
| Dr Fay Julal-Cnossen | Psychology | 2028 | |
| Dr Aneika Leney | Biosciences | 2026 | |
| Dr Craig McAllister | Sport Ex | 2026 | |
| Medicine and Health | Dr Nicki Adderley | Health Sciences | 2028 |
| Professor Mat Coleman | Medical Sciences | 2028 | |
| Professor Liz Sapey | Medical Sciences | 2028 | |
| Dr Jennifer Marshall | Medical Sciences | 2026 | |
| Social Sciences | Professor Anindya Banerjee | Birmingham Business School | 2028 |
| Dr Stephen Bates | Government | 2028 | |
| Professor Anne-Marie Glover | Social Policy | 2026 | |
| Professor Tim Haughton | Government | 2027 |
Up to six members co-opted by Senate on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor
| Name | Position |
| Professor Jessica Blair | Director of the Doctoral School |
| Professor Michael Grove | Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education Policy and Academic Standards) |
| Professor Matthew Leeke | Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) |
| Professor Dominique Moran | Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Impact) |
| Professor Edward Wilding | Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Excellence) |
| Vacancy |
Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference
| 2.10 | Powers of the Senate |
| 2.10.1 | The Senate shall, within the authority delegated by the Council and further specified in any terms of reference approved by the Council from time to time: |
| a) keep under review the overall academic policies and academic strategies of the University and make recommendations thereon to the Council; | |
| b) be responsible to the Council for regulating and directing the academic work of the University in admission, teaching, assessment and research for the award of all Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions of the University; and | |
|
c) be responsible to the Council for the control and regulation of the conduct, discipline and academic progress of the Registered Students of the University (whether intra-mural or extra-mural) and for the enforcement of discipline and for procedures for hearing the legitimate complaints by Registered Students against the University. |
|
| 2.10.2 | The Senate shall have power to discuss any proposed change in the Charter and Statutes and to send views to the Council. |
| 2.10.3 | Such matters as shall be committed to the Senate by the Council shall be transacted by the Senate, provided always that the Senate may at any time delegate any of its duties or powers to: |
| a) an appropriately qualified member of the Senate; or | |
| b) an appropriately qualified committee consisting of persons appointed by the Senate or under its authority; or | |
|
c) an appropriately qualified member of the Staff. |
|
| 2.10.4 | The Senate may make standing orders governing the procedure at meetings of the Senate. This includes the power to add to, amend, alter or repeal any theretofore made. |
Committees of Senate
Committees of Senate
The Committees of Senate are:
- Education Committee
- Research Committee
- Honorary Degrees Committee
Further information about Committees can be obtained by contacting be contacting the Secretary for the Committee. The Secretary's contact details can be found on the individual web page for each Committee.
Contact Details
Contact Details
Any queries relating to Senate should be directed to:
Paul Bowman
Governance and Risk Officer
E-mail: P.J.Bowman@bham.ac.uk
