UNIVERSITY STRUCTURE (ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION)
Hierarchy Overview
Faculty / College: The top-level academic division.
School: A mid-level or specialised unit (which can sit under a faculty or operate independently).
Department: The base-level unit focused on a single discipline.
Definition: A large, primary administrative division of a university that groups together a broad cluster of related academic fields or disciplines. (In North America, this is more commonly called a College).
Leadership: Headed by a Dean who chairs the Faculty Board (consisting of professors and department heads). Examples: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Arts, or Faculty of Engineering.
Role: Manages high-level budgets, coordinates cross-departmental policies, and oversees multiple schools or departments.
Definition: A specialised academic unit focused on a specific professional field or a tight group of disciplines. A school can either be a subdivision inside a larger faculty or stand alone as a major unit with professional accreditation (e.g., Law, Medicine, or Business).
Leadership: Often headed by a Director, Head of School, or Dean.
Examples: School of Law, Harvard Business School, or School of Journalism.
Role: Concentrates on specific career or vocational training tracks and often maintains direct ties with external professional accreditation boards. [1]
Definition: The fundamental, granular building block of academic organisation. It represents a single, coherent academic discipline.
Leadership: Headed by a Head of Department (HOD) or Department Chair.
Examples: Department of History, Department of Physics, or Department of Economics
Role: Directly responsible for hiring faculty/lecturers, designing course syllabi, delivering daily classes, assigning grades, and running specific degree programmes.
Quick Comparison between Department, School and Faculty
| Unit | Scope | Typical Hierarchy Position | Core Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty / College | Broad umbrella | Highest tier | Oversees a major branch of the university |
| School | Disciplinary or professional focus | Mid-tier (inside a faculty or standalone) | Delivers specialised or professional programmes |
| Department | Single subject / discipline | Lowest/base tier | Handles day-to-day teaching and course delivery |