The University of Sydney is established by the University of Sydney Act 1989 (NSW), which along with supporting legislation and bylaws sets out our governance framework: who is responsible for institutional oversight, academic governance and executive management, and how these elements relate to one another.

The Senate is the University's peak governing body. Established by the University Act, it holds ultimate responsibility for the University's strategic direction, finances, risk, and compliance. Senate is chaired by the Chancellor and compromised of ex officio members, elected staff and students, members appointed by the NSW Government, and members appointed by Senate itself.

The Academic Board is the University's most senior academic governing body, also established under the University Act. Comprising senior University leadership and elected staff and student representatives, Academic Board has principal responsibility for maintaining the highest standards in teaching, scholarship, and research and, in doing so, safeguarding the academic freedom of the University. It holds delegated authority to approve and accredit courses of study.

The Vice-Chancellor and President is the University's principal executive officer. An ex officio member of both Senate and the Academic Board, the Vice-Chancellor chairs the University Executive, which brings together senior academic and professional leaders to support University-wide planning, decision-making, and oversight.

Under the University’s governance framework, Senate is able to authorise staff, committees, and other roles across the University to act in its place and on its behalf. The University of Sydney (Delegations of Authority) Rule is reviewed annually, and decisions are made within a policy framework published in our public Policy Register.

Independent oversight comes from our regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. The Senate also commissions periodic independent reviews of our governance arrangements, most recently in 2025.

As a statutory NSW agency, the University prepares an annual report for the NSW Parliament, which provides an overview of our activity and performance during the reporting year. The annual report also included our annual financial statements, which are audited by the NSW Auditor-General, who audits our financial statements before they are tabled in Parliament.