Students working for students
SUPRA is the postgraduate student association at the University of Sydney, and is run by postgrads for postgrads.
SUPRA represents all postgraduates at the University of Sydney, and all postgraduates can look to SUPRA for assistance with any issues that may confront them, both academically and personally, during the course of their candidature.
SUPRA is governed by a Council of postgrads elected by the postgraduate student body. We also employ a team of professional staff who are here to help students and Council.
Our history
Formed in 1970 by science research students, SUPRA was formally acknowledged by the University of Sydney Senate in 1974 after years of debate. Because most postgraduate students at the time were research students, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) considered them to be junior academics and declined to admit them as members. SUPRA is the only organisation that has ever represented postgraduate students at the University of Sydney.
In 1979, SUPRA became a founding member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), the peak body representing Australian postgraduate students.
Over the years SUPRA has grown from a small volunteer-based organisation to a much bigger one. SUPRA now employs a number of professional staff to assist council in representing the interests of postgraduate students within the University and broader community, as well as to support individual postgraduates through their courses of study.
The constituency of SUPRA has changed a lot since 1970. Notably, the University of Sydney now has considerably more coursework postgraduate students than research students. While changes in higher education policy since the late 1980s have changed the nature of Australia’s education system and the issues faced by students, SUPRA’s core objectives, as expressed in the Constitution, remain as relevant as ever.
Read more about our Mission and purpose.
Membership
All candidates for a postgraduate degree, postgraduate diploma, or postgraduate certificate at the University of Sydney are SUPRA constituents. All SUPRA constituents are entitled to become SUPRA members.
SUPRA members are postgraduate students who have provided their contact details and Student Identification Number (SID) to SUPRA.
SUPRA members can:
- attend SUPRA events
- access SUPRA’s resources and services, including the Postgraduate Advocacy Service and the Legal Service
- stand for and hold elected positions of the Association
- vote in SUPRA elections and at General Meetings, including the AGM.
Membership is free, as are our services and publications.
Get all the benefits – become a SUPRA member
• Get involved with your postgrad community.
• Get involved in the decision-making that affects your studies.
• Get free, confidential, independent professional advice.
Stay in touch with us