Typically, the AStA is made up of a board consisting of one or more people who are responsible for representing and coordinating the AStA. In addition, there are various departments that are headed by students and focus on specific subject areas or groups of students.
Autonomous departments are organizationally associated with the AStA. They have greater autonomy and can make independent decisions. Autonomous departments often have a political orientation and advocate for certain social issues and the interests of marginalized students. Examples of this are the Flinta* Referat, which campaigns for the rights of Flinta* students. The Queer* Referat, which campaigns for the interests of queer students.