Legal framework

Higher education laws

The legal basis for higher education in Germany is formed by the Higher Education Laws. The Federal Higher Education Framework Act (HRG) in the version of 12 April 2007 is still applicable law, which can now be replaced by state law. Only in the area of higher education admissions and degrees has legislative competence remained with the federal government, although the latter has not made use of this so far.

The German higher education system is governed by the higher education legislation of individual states, which specifies and supplements the legal requirements of the federal government and the federal states. In some states there are additional state laws for universities of the arts, which of course must also be observed. Most state constitutions grant higher education institutions the right to regulate their legal affairs on a self-governing basis within the framework of higher education autonomy.

The higher education laws of the federal states describe the general objectives of higher education institutions as well as the general principles governing the organisation of higher education, studies, teaching and research, student admissions, membership and participation, and university staff. These regulations apply in principle to all higher education institutions, i.e. also to institutions that are not publicly funded.