Structure and governance of Uppsala University

Uppsala University is ultimately led by the University Board. Below the University Board sits the Management Team consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Director and the three Vice-Rectors.

The Vice-Chancellor’s decisions are normally made at the Vice-Chancellor’s Decision-Making Meeting.

The Management Council supports and advises the Vice-Chancellor, and consists of the Management Team, the Planning Director, the Director of Communications and three representatives of the University’s students. The Vice-Chancellor also has the help of other advisers and advisory boards. 

The University Management Team consists of the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the University Director and the three Vice-Rectors.

The Vice-Chancellor is the head of the University as a public authority. The Vice-Chancellor’s deputy serves instead of the Vice-Chancellor when they are not on duty, and otherwise substitutes for the Vice-Chancellor to the extent determined by the Vice-Chancellor.

There are five advisory boards, each overseeing a specific university-wide issue and established by the Vice-Chancellor. The Advisory Board for Equal Opportunity, is led by the Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Equal Opportunities. The other advisory boards are led by the Vice-Chancellor or a person designated by the Vice-Chancellor.

• Advisory Board for Education 
• Advisory Board for Equal Opportunities
• Advisory Board for External Collaboration
• Advisory Board for Internationalisation
• Advisory Board for Research

There are also three advisers to the Vice-Chancellor with no advisory board.

• The Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Good Research Practice
• The Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Research Infrastructure
• The Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor for Campus Gotland

The advisory boards’ composition

The advisory boards consist of people chosen by the Vice-Chancellor and the student unions. Different divisions within the University Administration provide administrative and specialist support.

The Research Infrastructure Board

The Research Infrastructure Board will work to strengthen strategies and processes for prioritising research infrastructure and to increase the utilisation of existing research infrastructure. 

Uppsala University operations are organised in the following three disciplinary domains:

• Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy
• Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology

The Disciplinary Domain Board is the decision-making body of each disciplinary domain. The majority of the members of the Disciplinary Domain Boards are individuals with academic qualifications. The chair of the Disciplinary Domain Board is titled the Vice-Rector.

The disciplinary domains are organised in faculties. The majority of members of the Faculty Board are individuals with academic qualifications.

The Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences comprises six Faculties. The Faculty Board is the decision-making body of the respective Faculties. The chair of the Faculty Board is titled the Dean.

The Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy comprises two faculties. The Disciplinary Domain Board is also the Faculty Board and the decision-making body of the Faculties. Each Faculty has an academic representative titled the Dean.

The Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology comprises one Faculty. The Disciplinary Domain Board is also the Faculty Board and the decision-making body of the Faculty. The chair of the Disciplinary Domain Board is also the Dean.

Operations are carried out in departments. Each department belongs to a faculty. A department is governed by a head of department and a department board. The majority of members of the department board are individuals with academic qualifications. 

The University Administration supports the whole university, ensuring that it fulfils its overarching obligations as a public authority and employer. The University Administration is responsible for managing and developing the administration of the University. The University Director is the head of the University Administration.

Students have the right to be represented in the University’s decision-making and investigative bodies.

The Curators Committee, which is the Uppsala student nations’ cooperative body, works as a link between the University management team and the 13 student nations. The Curators Committee gathers the nations’ curators once a month during the semesters.

Every student nation has an inspector and a deputy inspector, who are the University’s representatives at the nations. They meet in the Inspectors Council and also function as contacts between the University and the student nations.