University elections

In the university elections, students decide who represents their interests at HTW Berlin. Student representatives are elected for the student body and for central bodies of the university.
On this page you will find an overview of which bodies are being elected, why your vote matters, and how you can run as a candidate yourself. We have summarised the most important information on deadlines, nominations, and the individual bodies here for you.

What is it about?

At HTW Berlin there are two important levels of student participation: student self-governance and the academic self-governance of the university. In student self-governance, the StuPa and Fachschaftsräte directly represent students’ interests. In the university bodies, student members bring the student perspective into decisions about studies, teaching, appointments, departments, budgets, and university development.

What?

The election is about your student representation at every level: in the StuPa, in the Fachschaftsräte, and in the university bodies. Students have a seat at the table in all of these and bring your perspective into the conversation.

Why?

The bodies discuss many things that directly affect your everyday student life: good teaching, fair exams, better study conditions, and services for students. The more students vote or run as candidates, the stronger our collective voice at the university.

How?

The election takes place online and is done in just a few minutes. You vote for specific individuals and at the same time support the list they are running on. This is how you help decide which student voices will be represented in the bodies going forward.

Phase 1: Nominations

– by 26 May 2026 –

Nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, 26 May 2026, by e-mail to the office of the central electoral board. For most elections the official form is required. You can either run together as a list or join an existing nomination (similar to party groups in parliaments).

Phase 2: The Election

– 22 June to 26 June –

The online election runs from Monday, 22 June 2026, to Friday, 26 June 2026, at vote.htw-berlin.de. All eligible students can cast their votes during this period for student representatives and student seats in university bodies. Further information and reminders will be sent by e-mail in good time.

Elections of the student body

The student body manages its own affairs independently. To this end, students elect their direct representatives: the Studierendenparlament for university-wide student matters and the Fachschaftsräte for the interests of students in the individual departments.

  • Studierendenparlament (30 seats)

    The Studierendenparlament, or StuPa for short, is the central parliament of the student body. It addresses university-wide student matters, passes resolutions on behalf of the student body, and elects the Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss. In 2026, 30 students will be elected for the term of office from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

  • Fachschaftsräte (9 or 11 seats per FSR)

    The Fachschaftsräte represent the students of their respective department. They serve as points of contact for problems in everyday student life, organise services for students, and bring student interests into the department. The Fachschaftsräte of all five departments are elected: in departments 1, 2, and 5, nine students are elected each; in departments 3 and 4, eleven students each.

Elections of the university

Alongside student self-governance there is the academic self-governance of the university. Students also have seats there and can participate when decisions are made or discussed regarding teaching, studies, appointments, departments, budgets, equal opportunities, and the development of the university.

University Bodies

  • Akademischer Senat (4 seats)

    The Akademischer Senat is a central body of academic self-governance. It deals with university-wide matters and has responsibilities including issuing opinions on appointment proposals and electing the university executive board. Four seats are allocated to students; the term of office runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

  • Kuratorium (1 member and 1 deputy)

    The Kuratorium oversees the development of the university. It consists of four internal members of the university and four external members from society, science, research, culture, business, technology, and social and ecological sustainability. Its responsibilities include approving the annual financial statements and budget plan. One student member and one student deputy are elected; the term of office runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

  • Fachbereichsräte (2 seats per department)

    The Fachbereichsräte make decisions at the department level. They deal with matters including the designation of professorships and appointment proposals. Two students are elected per department to represent the interests of students in their department. The term of office runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

  • Electoral body for the chief women's and equal opportunities officer (2 seats)

    This electoral body elects the chief women’s and equal opportunities officer and her deputies. Two female students are elected to represent the student group. For this election, only female members of the respective membership group are eligible to vote and to stand for election. Nominations for this body are submitted informally to the central electoral board; a declaration of consent from the nominated person must be included, and self-nomination is permitted.

Interested in getting involved?

Would you like to run as a candidate? Then submit your nomination by Tuesday, 26 May 2026 by e-mail to the office of the central electoral board. For most elections you use the official form for this. Only nominations for the electoral body of the chief women’s and equal opportunities officer are submitted informally. All deadlines, formalities, and details are set out in the Wahlbekanntmachung.

Website of the central electoral board
Wahlbekanntmachung
Nomination form
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