Rector and a Consejo Superior, are both elected by the Asamblea Universitaria, composed of professors, graduates (includes alumni, teaching auxiliaries and all other academic or research staff who do not qualify to vote as professors or undergraduate students) and undergraduate students elected by direct secret and compulsory vote.

The Consejo Superior designates several Secretarios to assist the Rector, and chooses one of its members to be the Vicerrector (the deputy to the Rector). Each faculty, school or college is headed by a Decano, designated by the Consejo Directivo or Consejo Académico, composed also by professors, graduates and undergraduate students. It also picks several Secretarios to assist the Dean on the daily business and the Vicedecano (deputy to the Dean).

Departments are chaired by a Director, which is assisted by Secretarios and a Director Adjunto (deputy to the Director). They have a Junta Departamental, the collegiate body which governs the department.

Please note that, unlike the USA, the Australian public services or government organisations also employ a large number of academics or researchers. Different organisations have their own established title systems (e.g., principal scientist, senior officer etc). However, it is the level rather than the title determines the equivalent academic rank. With CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industry Research Organisation) and most state governments, Level 4, equivalent to Postdoctoral Fellow or Associate Lecturer; Level 5, equivalent to Lecturer or Research Scientist; Level 6, equivalent to Senior Lecturer or Senior Scientist; Level 7, equivalent to Associate Professor; Level 8, equivalent to Professor; Level 9, Chief. The Western Australian state government introduced a specified calling system in 2008. Within this system, SC-Level 1, equivalent to Postdoctoral Fellow or Associate Lecturer; SC-Level 2, equivalent to Lecturer or Research Scientist; SC-Level 3, equivalent to Senior Lecturer or Senior Scientist; SC-Level 4, equivalent to Associate Professor; SC-Level 5, equivalent to Professor; SC-Level 6, Chief.

The ranks may differ between the Flemish Community and the French Community, as education is a community matter in Belgium.

At the University of Sao Paulo the academic rank system is:

In the Federal Universities the academic ranks receive other names:(In portuguese)

More information: (In portuguese)

The Ranking System at the Sofia University

Titles for regular faculty (and faculty with special or temporary appointments):