Dr Debbie McVitty is a senior research and policy officer at the National Union of Students. Based in the higher education team, her remit includes postgraduates, mature and part-time students and widening participation. Prior to this she worked in researcher development at the University of Oxford, specialising in the preparation of Humanities postgraduates for academic practice.

She holds a DPhil in English Literature from the University of Oxford, awarded in 2008. Current projects include research into the experience of postgraduate researchers who teach and building the capacity of students’ unions to engage in widening participation policy and practice.