Organisational Structure
Read out
Legal Form
With a few exceptions, all German Studierendenwerke/Studentenwerke are public-law institutions (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts), i.e. primarily independent institutions performing public functions. The governing body (for Bavarian Studierendenwerke the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts) merely carries out legal supervision, but does not explicitly play a role in its administration, with the exception of BAföG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) enforcement.
The individual German Studierendenwerke are autonomous institutions. There is no higher-level Studierendenwerk issuing directives. The Deutsches Studierendenwerk in Berlin (DSW) is the umbrella organisation for the German Studierendenwerke/Studentenwerke. It organises courses and events and promotes communication and the exchange of experiences between the individual Studierendenwerke/Studentenwerke. The DSW also represents the interests of students regarding public matters as well as towards the federal and state governments.
Organs
The Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern is divided into five departments, supported by four staff departments. The Director of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern, as its legal representative, is directly responsible for the success of the institution. The Director is appointed and supervised by both the Board of Representatives (Vertretungsversammlung) and the Board of Administrators (Verwaltungsrat).
Both boards including their make-up and their tasks are described in the Bavarian university regulations (Bayerisches Hochschulinnovationsgesetz / BayHIG)
Student Representation: The students are represented in the two controlling bodies, the Board of Representatives and the Board of Administrators, and can thus influence the Studierendenwerk’s basic company policy.
Have a look at the current members in the Board of Administrators and the Board of Representatives.
Board of Representatives
The Board of Representatives is made up of the following persons for each of the universities within the jurisdiction of the Studierendenwerk:
- a member of the university management
- two professors
- three students of the university (as of autumn 2023)
- the university’s representative for equal opportunities for women in science and art
- the university’s representative for the interests of students with a disability or chronic illness
The Board of Representatives has the following tasks (see BayHIG, in German):
- electing the Board of Administrators
- voting the Board of Administrators out of office
- receiving the Director’s annual report and annual statement of accounts
- receiving the report on basic questions regarding future management.
Board of Administrators
The Studierendenwerk’s Board of Administrators is made up of:
- two persons from the circle of professors and university management
- three students (as of autumn 2023)
- a public figure
- a representative from the Studierendenwerk’s Staff Council
- one university’s representative for equal opportunities for women in science and art
- one university’s representative for the interests of students with a disability or chronic illness
The Board of Administrators decides on (see BayHIG, in German):
- the budget
- appointing the auditor
- the approval of the Director on the grounds of the audited annual accounts
- appointing and dismissing the Director and their representative
- acquisition, mortgaging and alienation of real assets
- bylaws in accordance with Art. 121 (2) and (3) BayHIG.
