The rector is directly elected among the (full) professors by all the members of the university community, that is academic employees, students and technical-administrative staff, who received the right to vote in this order.
The rector's deputy and the university's second highest official, the pro-rector, is also directly elected at the same time.
Both the rector and the pro-rector are elected for four-year terms and may stand for reelection to the same office once.
From 1845 to 1907, the Collegium academicum, the highest body of the university, elected a chairman among its members to serve for one year.
From 1814 to 1845, the university had a Chancellor, which was only a ceremonial office held by the Lord Lieutenant (stattholder), and a Pro-Chancellor, who was the deputy of the Chancellor and ex officio chairman of the Collegium academicum.