Laws, Ordinances, and Contractual Regulations

Everything regulated by law

Technische Universität Berlin is governed by various legal provisions. These are laws and regulations enacted by the State of Berlin, the federal government, and by Technische Universität Berlin itself. Laws and ordinances are legal provisions that are binding for all Technische Universität Berlin employees. The University is also subject to contractual regulations.

Here we provide an overview of some of the most important laws and ordinances. In addition, there are various internal regulations and guidelines that, unlike laws and regulations, have no legal character.

Basic legal and contractual regulations

Framework Act for Higher Education (Hochschulrahmengesetz)

The Framework Act for Higher Education (Hochschulrahmengesetz) regulates higher education in the Federal Republic of Germany. Cultural and scientific sovereignty in Germany lies with the federal states. As a result, specific details are regulated in the states’ own higher education legislation. The federal government is only permitted to enact detailed regulations in exceptional cases.

Framework Act for Higher Education (only in German)

Berlin State Higher Education Act (Berliner Hochschulgesetz)

The Berlin State Higher Education Act (Berliner Hochschulgesetz) is used by the federal states in Germany to exercise their legislative sovereignty within higher education. In general, the Berlin State Higher Education Act contains regulations regarding the internal organization and responsibilities of a university as well as regulations on research, teaching, and studies, including university admission and university degrees. 

Berlin State Higher Education Act (only in German)

Constitution of Technische Universität Berlin

Pursuant to the Berlin State Higher Education Act, every university is required to adopt a constitution. The constitution regulates all University matters according to the principle of academic self-administration. Aside from the provisions prescribed in the Berlin State Higher Education Act, it particularly lays down regulations on corporate law and members’ duties as well as on processes in committees.

TU Berlin Constitution (only in German)

Berlin State University Election Principles Act

Members of the Academic Senate, Extended Academic Senate, faculty and institute councils, university members on the Board of Trustees, and members of the student parliament are elected in accordance with the principles of personalized proportional representation. The act regulates the principles governing the conducting of personalized proportional representation elections and exercising of the active and passive right to vote at public universities in the State of Berlin.

Berlin State University Election Principles Act (only in German)

The Election Regulations of Technische Universität Berlin

The Election Regulations of Technische Universität Berlin apply to all elections at the University if they are not regulated by special legal provisions.

Election Regulations of Technische Universität Berlin (only in German)

General Equal Treatment Act

The General Equal Treatment Act, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Act, aims to prevent or remove disadvantages due to reasons of race or ethnic background, gender, religion or worldview, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

General Equal Treatment Act (only in German)

University Agreements of the State of Berlin

The University Agreements of the State of Berlin regulate the financing of the public/state universities in Berlin. They aim to ensure the Berlin universities long-term planning security, continuity, and more autonomy in financing.

University Agreement between the State of Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin for 2018 to 2022 (only in German)

Regulations governing academic studies

Act on the Admission to Higher Education Institutions in the State of Berlin to Degree Programs with Restricted Admission (Berliner Hochschulzulassungsgesetz)

The Act on the Admission to Higher Education Institutions in the State of Berlin to Degree Programs with Restricted Admission (Berliner Hochschulzulassungsgesetz) and the State Treaty on the Establishment of a Joint Higher Education Admission Institution determine the allocation of study places in all restricted admission study programs at public universities in the State of Berlin.

Act on the Admission to Higher Education Institutions in the State of Berlin to Degree Programs with Restricted Admission (Berliner Hochschulzulassungsgesetz) (only in German)

Regulations Governing General Study and Examination Procedures

The Regulations Governing General Study and Examination Procedures govern the organization and execution of studies and exams for all study programs at Technische Universität Berlin.

Regulations Governing General Study and Examination Procedures (only in German)

Quality Management for Teaching and Learning

The quality management regulations for teaching and learning at Technische Universität Berlin regulate the internal accreditation procedure for all TU Berlin degree programs as well as related quality assurance procedures.

Quality Management Regulations for Teaching and Learning (only in German)

Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG)

The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) aims to provide all young people with the possibility to complete training or studies that reflect their abilities and interests – independent of their social and economic status. A lack of financial means should not be a barrier to a qualified education.

Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) (only in German)

Statutes on Appointing Professors and Junior Professors

Appointment Regulations

These Regulations govern the principles, structures, and procedures for appointments to professorships and junior professorships at Technische Universität Berlin.

Appointment Regulations

Regulations governing scientific work

Statute on the Safeguarding of Good Academic Practice at Technische Universität Berlin

This statute sets out principles for good academic practice and formulates fair procedures in the event of suspicion of infringement. The principles reflect the corresponding recommendations of the German Research Foundation.

Doctoral Regulations

The Doctoral Regulations govern the procedure for acquiring a doctoral degree and the title of doctor, specifically doctor of engineering (Dr.-Ing.), doctor of natural science (Dr. rer. Nat.), doctor of philosophy (Dr phil.) and doctor of economics (Dr. rer. oec.) at Technische Universität Berlin.

Service and labor law regulations

Act on Teaching Duties at Universities in the State of Berlin (Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung)

This applies to scientific and artistic staff with teaching responsibilities whose principal employment is at public universities in the State of Berlin. It regulates the scope of teaching duties.

Act on Teaching Duties at Universities in the State of Berlin (Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung) (only in German)

Act on Academic Fixed-Term Contracts (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

The act regulates the conclusion of fixed-term contracts with scientific and artistic personnel with the exception of university teachers/professors and lecturers.

Act on Academic Fixed-Term Contracts – WissZeitVG (only in German)

Berlin Staff Council Act (Personalvertretungsgesetz)

The Berlin Staff Council Act (Personalvertretungsgesetz) governs the election, jurisdiction, responsibilities, and authority of staff councils. Staff councils for the purpose of this Act are staff councils, general staff councils, and the main staff council. At Technische Universität Berlin there is a staff council representing the interests of all employees including civil servants, and trainees, as well as a staff council for student assistants.

Berlin Staff Council Act (only in German)

Collective Wage Agreement for Universities in the State of Berlin (TV-L)

The Collective Wage Agreement for Universities in the State of Berlin (TV-L) governs the rights and responsibilities of the agreements’ members. It regulates, for instance, remuneration (wages and salary), working hours, entitlement to vacation days, working conditions, and the conclusion and termination of employment contracts.

Collective Wage Agreement (only in German)

Berlin Civil Service Remuneration Act (Landesbesoldungsgesetz)

The Berlin Civil Service Remuneration Act (Landesbesoldungsgesetz) governs the remuneration of professors, full-time university administrators, and full-time employees of university administrations.

Link to Berlin Civil Service Remuneration Act (only in German)

TU Berlin/Staff Council agreements (Dienstvereinbarungen)

There are also TU Berlin/Staff Council agreements (Dienstvereinbarungen) which are binding for the University as an employer and all employees.

TU Berlin/Staff Council agreements (only in German)

Berlin Data Protection Act (Berliner Datenschutzgesetz)

The Berlin Data Protection Act (Berliner Datenschutzgesetz) regulates the prerequisites under which Berlin authorities may process personal data.

Berlin Data Protection Act (only in German)

Regulations on Forwarding Addresses (Adressweitergabeordnung – AWO)

The University is authorized to use students’ private addresses and the business addresses of university members for certain purposes, for instance to prepare and conduct events for teaching and research or to conduct scientific research.

Regulations on Forwarding Addresses (Adressweitergabeordnung – AWO) (only in German)