COUNCILS AND BOARDS

In the university elections, you can vote for a student/staff representative on – or stand for a seat on:

  • AU’s board
  • your academic council
  • your board of studies
  • your PhD committee

There is a four-year election cycle that determines which seats on which bodies are up for election and who can vote. See the election cycle through 2030

Meet VIP employee representatives on the board, academic councils and boards of studies

Meet TAP staff representatives on boards and academic councils

The board is Aarhus University’s highest authority and thus governs all five faculties. Each faculty has its own academic council, PhD council and multiple boards of studies (one for each department/school).

Read about the different bodies below and explore their webpages.

Board of studies

The board of studies is an elected body which, in collaboration with the director of studies and the AU Studies administration, manages courses and exams.

You must contact your board of studies if you want to apply for exemptions to rules, credit transfer, preliminary approval of courses in other places (including when studying abroad) or any other deviation from the academic regulations or the decisions concerning exams.

The board of studies also provides input and proposes changes to the academic regulations, ensures that the programme develops its course offerings and teaching, and follows up on course evaluations.

The board of studies comprises an equal number of academic staff and student representatives, so this is also where you as student can influence your the conditions of your studies.

Find your local board of studies on your subject portal.

Academic council

According to the Danish University Act, the Academic Council must ensure the co-determination and involvement of staff and students in decision-making processes concerning academic issues.

The tasks of the Academic Council are as follows:

  • Making of recommendations to the Rector on the internal distribution of funds
  • Making of recommendations to the Rector on central strategic research questions and educational issues and plans for knowledge exchange
  • Making of recommendations on the composition of academic committees assessing applicants for academic positions
  • Awarding PhD and doctoral degrees
  • Other tasks as set out in the university statutes

The Academic Council comprises representatives of the academic staff, including employed PhD students and student representatives.

Members of the council are elected by and from the academic staff, the PhD students and the student body.

PhD Comittee

The main tasks of PhD Committee are:

  • Approve PhD courses
  • Draw up drafts of internal guidelines for the PhD school
  • Recommend the composition of the Assessment Committee

The PhD Committee is composed of:

  • Representatives of the academic personnel, whom are elected for 3 years at a time
  • Representatives of the PhD students, whom are elected for 1 year at a time

The Aarhus University Board

The Board is Aarhus University’s highest authority, and its mandate is to promote the university’s interests as an institution of research and education. The Board determines the framework for the university's organisation and sets long-term goals for its activities and development.

Pursuant to the university’s Articles of Association, the University Board consists of eleven members. Two members are elected by and from academic staff, one member is elected by and from the technical/administrative staff, two members are elected by and from the university’s full-time students and the remaining six members are external.