Rector (academia)
A rector is a senior official in an educational institution, and can refer to an official in either a university or a secondary school. Outside the English-speaking world, the rector is often the most senior official in a university, while in the United States, the highest-ranking officer within a university's academic administration is often referred to as a chancellor or president. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations, a university's chief executive is called vice-chancellor. The term and office of a rector can be referred to as a rectorate. The title is used widely in universities in Europe and is very common in Latin American countries. It is also used in Brunei, Macau, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Israel and the Middle East. In the ancient universities of Scotland the rector, elected by students, is formally the third most senior officer of the university and was historically responsible for chairing the university court.
Europe
Austria
In a few "Crown lands" of the Austrian Empire, one seat in federal state parliaments was reserved for the rector of the capital's university, notably: Graz in Styria, Innsbruck in Tyrol, and Vienna; in Bohemia, two rectors had seats in the equivalent state diet.Today, Austrian universities are headed from the rectorate. This consists of a rector, who is elected by the university council, and 3-5 additional vice-rectors. The rector is the CEO of the university.
Belgium
The head of Belgian universities is called a president, recteur, rector, previously rector magnificus or rectrix magnifica.Czech Republic
The heads of Czech universities are called the rektor. The rector acts in the name of the university and decides the university's affairs unless prohibited by law. The rector is nominated by the University Academic Senate and appointed by the President of the Czech Republic. The nomination must be agreed by a simple majority of all senators, while a dismissal must be agreed by at least three fifths of all senators. The vote to elect or repeal a rector is secret. The term of office is four years and a person may hold it for at most two consecutive terms.The rector appoints vice-rectors, who act as deputies to the extent determined by the Rector. Rectors' salaries are determined directly by the Minister of Education.
Among the most important rectors of Czech universities were reformer Jan Hus, physician Jan Jesenius, theologian Rodrigo de Arriaga and representative of Enlightenment Josef Vratislav Monse. Jiřina Popelová became the first female Rector in 1950.
The rectors are addressed "Your Magnificence Rector".
Denmark
In Danish, rektor is the title used in referring to the heads of universities, gymnasiums, schools of commerce and construction, etc. Generally rektor may be used for the head of any educational institution above the primary school level, where the head is commonly referred to as a 'skoleinspektør'. In universities, the second-ranked official of governance is known as prorektor.Finland
In Finland, the head of a primary school or secondary schools is called a rector provided the school is of sufficient size in terms of faculty and students, otherwise the title is headmaster. The head of some Finnish universities is called chancellor.Germany
The head of a German university is called either Rektor or Präsident. The difference is usually that a Rektor is elected by the Senate from among the professors of the university, while a Präsident need be neither a professor nor a member of the university prior to appointment. The Rektor is traditionally addressed as Magnifizenz. The rector forms a collegiate leadership body together with the pro-rectors and the university's chancellor - collectively the rectorate. The rectorate is usually aided by several advisors who provide advice on specific topics and take over responsibilities in the preparation of decisions, roughly comparable to an associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor in the British academic system.Rektor is also the official title of the principal/headmaster of an elementary school; the deputies are called Konrektor. In earlier times, the title Rektor was also used for the head of a Gymnasium. Today, these teachers usually hold the title of Oberstudiendirektor.
Iceland
The rektor is term used for the headmaster or headmistress of Icelandic universities and of some gymnasia.Italy
In Italy the rector is the head of the university and Rappresentante Legale of the university. The rector is elected by an electoral body composed of all Professori ordinari ed associati, the two highest ranks of the Italian university faculty, all the Ricercatori and representatives of the staff, students and PhD students.The term of a rettore is now six years, in accordance with the new national regulation and the statuto.
The Rettore is styled and formally greeted as Magnifico Rettore.
Kazakhstan
A rector in Kazakhstan is the chief executive and legal head of a university or other higher‑education institution. The rector oversees academic, administrative, and financial management and typically chairs the institution's collegial governing body, such as an Academic Council, though exact governance structures depend on each university's charter.Rector positions are regulated under national legislation, including Article 44 of the Law on Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and institutional statutes. Public university rectors are generally nominated by a university board or academic council and approved by the relevant governmental authority, with procedural details set by each institution's internal rules.
Because higher‑education institutions enjoy institutional autonomy, the powers, governance role, and tenure of rectors can vary between universities. In 2024, policy reforms by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education limited rectors to a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms, whereas previously terms and reappointments were set by individual university charters, with some rectors serving 10–15 years or more.
Under their authority, rectors may appoint vice‑rectors to oversee specific areas such as academic programs, research, or administration. Rectors also act as the legal representative of the institution and interact with state authorities, other institutions, and external organizations.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the rector is the principal of a high school. The rector is supported by conrectors.In Dutch universities, the Rector Magnificus is responsible for the scientific vision and quality of the university. The rector magnificus is one of the members of the executive board of a university. The rector magnificus is a full professor. The ceremonial responsibilities of the rector magnificus are to open the academic year, and to preside over the ceremonial PhD defenses and inaugural lectures of newly appointed professors. During PhD defenses the rector is usually replaced by another full professor who is acting rector during the session.
Norway
A rector, in the context of academia, is the democratically elected head of a university or university college. The rector is the highest official of the university, and is traditionally elected among the institution's professorship, originally by all the professors and in modern times by all academic employees, the students and the non-academic employees. The rector is traditionally the head of the Collegium Academicum, which has been renamed the university board in the 2000s, and is also the university's chief executive and ceremonial head. The elected deputy of the rector is known as pro-rector. Some institutions also have vice rectors, who are appointed by the rector and subordinate to the rector and pro-rector.Traditionally, Norwegian universities and colleges had democratic elections for the rector and pro-rector positions. Since 2016, the institutions may choose to have an elected or an appointed rector. Universities and colleges usually have a university director or college director, who is the head of the administration and subordinate to the rectorate.
Poland
In Poland, the rector serves as the elected head of a university or university college. In military and military-type higher education institutions, the equivalent position is referred to as commander. The rector is the highest official of the university. Rector of the university can be a person with at least a doctoral degree, employed by the university as the main place of work. Rector is referred to as Jego/Jej Magnificencja . The outfit of rector is red or purple coat with ermine fur, often with a scepter and a decorative string of symbols of the university. Deputy rectors at official ceremonies are dressed in the same gown, but with fewer decorations. Rectors of military universities wear only an officer's uniform and a necklace with symbols of the university.As of 2008, the term of office of the rector of public universities lasts for four years, beginning on 1 September in an election year and ending on 31 August of the year in which the term ends. A person may not be elected to serve as rector for more than two consecutive terms. In the case of private universities the rule is regulated by university statute.
Portugal
In Portugal, the Rector, frequently addressed as Magnificent Rector, is the elected highest official of each university, governing and representing the university.Those universities whose foundation has been historically approved by the Pope, as e.g. the rector of the University of Coimbra, the oldest Portuguese university, is referred to as Magnífico Reitor . The others are referred to as Excelentíssimo Senhor Reitor. The rector of a university is helped by vice-rectors and by pro-rectors, with different responsibilities. Until 1974, the director of each lyceum also had the title of Rector.