Alongside the Bundestag election, many universities hold a separate election in which the student body chooses its representatives. Depending on the university, this body is called student parliament, student council or student body, and it decides on matters such as finances, semester tickets, advice and events. Anyone who knows how the university election works knows when it takes place and how to take part. Each university sets its own rules in its own election regulations (Wahlordnung, in German).
In short: The election to the student parliament follows the election regulations of your university. They set out eligibility, the election committee, the public notice, deadlines and how votes are cast. As an example, the regulations of the Folkwang University of the Arts dated 21 January 2026 require the election notice at least seven weeks before the first voting day. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The university election follows the regulations of your own university, not the Federal Electoral Act.
- The election is announced in advance, and admitted lists are published shortly before the first voting day.
- An election committee runs the election, and its members are not themselves standing as candidates.
- Votes can be cast electronically, by electronic ballot box or in an emergency polling room, depending on the regulations.
- Deadlines for objections and challenges are short and run from fixed dates.
Who is entitled to vote in the university election?
Eligibility is set out in the regulations and can differ within one university. The regulations of the Folkwang University of the Arts provide an example. There, students of a degree programme assigned to the faculty are eligible to vote for the direct representatives of that faculty. For the six further members, all enrolled students are eligible. You should therefore check whether you can vote in the faculty election, in the overall election or in both.
How does the university election work?
Most regulations follow a similar pattern, although deadlines and responsibilities differ in detail. The table below shows the stages using the Folkwang University of the Arts as an example. Its regulations were adopted by the student parliament on 23 December 2025 and approved by the rectorate on 14 January 2026.
| Stage | What happens | Deadline under the regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Public notice | The election is announced on the homepage of the student body | At the latest seven weeks before the first voting day |
| Submission of lists | Lists and candidacies are submitted | Four weeks after the notice, one extension of two weeks possible |
| Publication of lists | Admitted lists are made public | At the latest two weeks before the first voting day |
| Objection to the voter register | You can have your eligibility checked | Up to two weeks before the election |
| Challenge to the election | The provisional result can be challenged | Within three working days after publication |
Who runs the election and who supervises it?
An election committee is responsible for the process. At the Folkwang University of the Arts it consists of at least two members elected by the student parliament who may not stand for election. The election management is determined by the parliament. The committee has a quorum regardless of how many members attend, and in a tie the vote of the election management decides. Election helpers serve voluntarily. The rules show that a committee must not consist of candidates, in order to protect the neutrality of the election.
How can you cast your vote?
The regulations treat voting differently. At the Folkwang University of the Arts, voting takes place electronically through an election portal after data-protection-compliant authentication. There is an electronic ballot box, and a paper printout of the vote is not permitted. An emergency polling room is available for people without a digital device. Postal voting is not regulated in that set of rules. Whether your university works in a similar way is stated in its own regulations.
What you should note about deadlines
Deadlines are where students most often miss out, because they respond too late. At the Folkwang University of the Arts, the deadline for objecting to the voter register ends two weeks before the election. Anyone who wants a candidate removed must object within one week after being notified of the decision. These short periods show why it is worth reading the public notice early and marking the election calendar for your semester.
Why does the student parliament matter?
The student parliament decides how the funds of the student body are used and represents student interests towards the university management. Which tasks it has in detail is determined by the state higher education act and the statutes of your university. It is therefore worth reading the statutes of the student body before deciding whom to vote for.
When is there a new election?
A set of regulations can also lay down minimum numbers. At the Folkwang University of the Arts the rule is that if fewer than 15 seats are filled, new elections must be ordered without delay. The regulations do not name a fixed total of seats, because the parliament consists of six members of the whole student body and three direct representatives per faculty. Rules like these differ between universities, so read your own regulations in the original.
How is a university election prepared?
Before the actual vote, there is a preparation phase. The university or the student body compiles a voter register, and you should check that your entry is correct. Anyone who is missing or wrongly listed can object before the election. The deadline is set in the regulations and usually ends well before the first voting day.
In parallel, interested people put together their lists. The deadlines of the regulations apply here as well, because submitted proposals are examined before they are admitted and published. If you want to stand yourself, it is worth reading the regulations before you submit a list.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Federal Electoral Act also apply to the university election?
No. The university election follows the regulations of your own university and is separate from the Bundestag election. The rules on first and second votes play no role there, because student parliaments are elected under different rules.
Can I vote online in the university election?
That depends on the regulations. At the Folkwang University of the Arts, online voting is provided for, alongside an electronic ballot box and an emergency polling room. Other universities may offer postal voting or entirely different procedures.
Who can stand as a candidate?
The regulations also govern this. At the Folkwang University of the Arts, election proposals can be submitted, and candidacies can be rejected or struck off where there are grounds. An objection against such a decision is possible within one week after notification.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
As a rule, you then lose the chance to influence the affected procedure, for example an objection against the voter register. It is therefore worth reading your university election notice early and marking the dates in your calendar.
What you can do now
- Search the website of your university for the regulations of the student body or the election notice.
- Enter the deadlines for the notice, objections and the vote in your calendar.
- Check whether you are eligible in a faculty election, in the overall election or in both.
- Inform yourself about the lists and proposals before you vote.
Related guides
- Elections 2027: All dates at a glance and what you need to know
- University committees: who decides at the university and how (in German)
- Subject representation: what it does and how you can get involved (in German)
- First and second vote
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
