Student Charter 2026-2027

"The Student Charter represents our commitment to each other. It highlights how our community works together, to empower one another and generate a learning environment that’s transformative and inspiring.

Collaboration and co-creation are key themes throughout the charter, as we recognise the strength of our diverse community as active participants in our future development. We hope you embrace the opportunities represented here and help us celebrate your success."

DMU Vice-Chancellor

"De Montfort Students' Union continues to empower students, build communities, and provide opportunities to give you the best student experience possible.

We are grateful for the collaborative and positive work our colleagues in DMU do to listen and act on the student voice, and we are proud that all of you are on this journey with us to bring the Student Charter to life."

De Montfort Student' Union

"As the Undergraduate Technology, Arts and Culture (TAC) Faculty Lead Representative, I have seen what happens when student feedback is treated as data worth acting on and not just collecting.

Sitting on Academic Board as a Student Representative also showed me that real change starts with listening properly, then having the discipline to turn what you hear into something concrete. It is DMU's commitment to these that makes this university worth representing."

DSU, Undergraduate Faculty Lead Representative (TAC)

"As the Postgraduate Health and Life Sciences (HLS) Faculty Representative, I have enjoyed attending a university where I am able to work with fellow students, as well as technical experts and academics, to continue sharing knowledge and expertise across generations."

DSU, Postgraduate Faculty Lead Representative (HLS)

DSU will...

respect all students, staff and the wider community thereby contributing to a safe and inclusive environment
represent your academic interests through student representatives and student-led academic societies
provide free, confidential and independent advice on your course, wellbeing and wider student experience
create opportunities through student societies, clubs, and volunteering for your enjoyment, personal development and belonging
ensure an independent voice at university, supporting you where needed
provide elected Student Leader roles that represent and celebrate the diversity of students at DMU
provide an inclusive and creative environment that hosts social events for you to create friendships
gives you a voice to represent your peers and create change through democratic structures across the university
be led by YOU. You can shape the student experience, through Student Council, Annual Members Meeting and by standing to represent your fellow students in free, fair and transparent elections

DMU will...

expect all students, staff and the wider community to contribute to a safe and inclusive environment
provide excellent teaching, learning opportunities and student support
continually review its curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
encourage your personal growth, and support collaborative and co-creative working between students, staff, employers and DSU to ensure a rewarding student experience
provide you with an academic tutor to guide you through your university experience and who will invite you to meet with them on at least two occasions in each year of your studies
empower you to develop the tools to build the confidence and skills to succeed, and to achieve your full potential through our Empowering University Strategy
provide opportunities for student representation and the student voice at every level of the university
continue to enhance its digital environment to support your studies and transform your experience
provide practical opportunities and support for learning
support your personal well-being and aspirations through the Healthy DMU Hub, DMU Careers Team, and DMU Sport
recognise and celebrate your contributions and that of your peers to the success of the university
take a proactive approach to communications with its students
provide an equitable learning experience for every DMU student through Equality for all

As a DMU student, I will...

respect all students, staff and the wider community to contribute to a safe and inclusive environment for all, in line with the Student Code of Conduct
demonstrate full commitment to my course by attending and participating in learning and teaching, and academic support activities
demonstrate academic integrity throughout my university experience and will not engage in fraudulent academic practices
make the most of the services provided by DMU and DSU that could enhance my personal and professional development
respond in a timely manner and directly to all communications from the University, my Faculty or branch campus, or my course tutors
consider the opportunities offered to me to engage with co-curriculum and extra-curricular activities, which may be facilitated by the University, the Students’ Union and local community, to enrich my overall student experience
take advantage of opportunities which allow me to amplify the student voice, to enhance the student experience for myself and others

Glossary

Term	Meaning
Academic contact (named)	When you begin your studies at DMU, you will be given the name of an academic member of staff (e.g. academic tutor) who will follow your academic progress and be able to guide and advise you on matters to do with your programme.
Academic integrity	Academic integrity is about honesty and trust and is fundamental to all learning, teaching and research activity at DMU. This means doing your own work, submitting your own work, gaining credit for your own work and acknowledging the work of others accurately and appropriately.
Academic interests	Everything to do with your studies and your academic progress while a student at DMU. This also includes opportunities for you to use your voice and express your views constructively to enhance your student experience.
Academic practices (fraudulent)	Good academic practices are underpinned by academic integrity. Examples of fraudulent academic practices include: Buying an essay from an organisation or website rather than completing an assignment yourself (also known as contract cheating) Getting a third party (e.g. relative or friend, and AI platforms such as ChatGPT,) to complete an assignment on your behalf and submitting it as your own work Fabricating results (e.g. claiming to have carried out data collection that you have not in fact carried out) Fraudulent academic practices ultimately undermine the value of your degree. See also Academic Offences. Examples of Academic Offences include plagiarism, cheating, collusion, copying work, undertaking research without ethics approval, inappropriate use of ChatGPT and GenAI (Home – Using Generative Artificial Intelligence – LibGuides at De Montfort University (dmu.ac.uk)), etc.
Annual Members Meeting (AMM)	The AMM is a chance for the entire membership of De Montfort Students Union (DSU) to debate, discuss and vote on some of the most important issues currently affecting students. It is also where the DSU Executive Committee present the finance budget, discuss affiliations and pass constitutional changes.
Co-creative working	Co-creative working is about co-designing elements of your student experience with academic staff, professional services or external partners. Examples might be co-designing an assessment activity or co-developing a process or procedure.
Course tutors	Your course/programme will be delivered by a team of academic staff including the Programme Leader who leads and manages your programme (course), the Module Leader who manages and oversees learning, teaching and assessment in a specific module, and module tutors (who may also be the Programme or Module Leaders) who deliver and manage the content and assessment of a learning and teaching activity.
Faculty/branch campus	DMU has three Faculties at DMU Leicester and two branch campuses: BAL = Faculty of Business and Law HLS = Faculty of Health and Life Sciences TAC = Faculty of Technology, Arts and Culture DMU Dubai = branch campus DMU London = branch campus Your programme of study (or course) will be located in one of these Faculties and/or branch campuses.
Inclusive teaching	Inclusive teaching is an approach to education that aims to provide an equitable learning experience for all students. This ensures that teaching, learning and assessment are designed and taught in a way which takes into account students’ varied learning needs from the outset.
Student representation and the student voice	Your views (student voice) about your studies and your student experience will be captured through several mechanisms (e.g. module/programme evaluation surveys, Student Voice Committees, Programme Management Boards, Shadow Academic Board etc.) and will be represented to your faculty and the university through the DSU and through course representatives.