Academic Self-Administration - An Introduction

Berlin's institutions of higher education are managed according to the principles of academic self-administration. Self-administration or self-governance is a university’s right to make decisions independent of the state or federal government in areas such as:

• University bodies and scientific institutions
• Designing teaching, studies, and research
• University examinations, doctorates, and Habilitations
• Professorial appointments
• The advancement of junior scholars

The central organs of self-administration are the Board of Trustees, Extended Academic Senate, Academic Senate, Faculty Boards, and the institute councils. 

The Section on Matters of Academic Self-Administration undertakes the legal supervision of the bodies on behalf of the Executive Board to ensure they act in accordance with legal regulations. The Section also advises committees. It is a staff unit of the Office of the Vice President for Administration (K3).