This open access Handbook offers a unique and unprecedented global comparative account of student representation in higher education. It provides a systematic and structured range of specially commissioned chapters reflecting on the history, contemporary practices and current debates on student representation in higher education. The chapters analyse the organisational characteristics and political activities of representative student associations within multilevel governance of higher education and map opportunities for student representatives to influence higher education institutions and higher education policies. The Handbook re-examines and further develops the existing theoretical concepts and analytical lenses in existing research on systems of student representation and organisational models of student representative associations. It depicts empirical insights from 30 countries from all world regions, from 6 regional student federations and the Global Student Forum. The volume is unique in bringing together established scholars with a highly diverse group of current and former student leaders, specially trained and empowered to conduct research for this Handbook. This is a major contribution to the study of higher education, and politics and governance of higher education specifically.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com.