The abbreviation for 'Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss' (General Student Committee). This is the elected student representation at a German university, which represents students' interests.
example
Der AStA organisiert das Semesterticket und bietet eine Rechtsberatung für Studierende an.
The AStA organizes the semester ticket and offers legal advice for students.
Usage tips
Abbreviation
'AStA' is an abbreviation and stands for 'Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss' (General Student Committee). That is why the word is often written in capital letters or with an internal capital letter (AStA).
EXAMPLE
Der AStA hat neue Richtlinien für die Vergabe von Zuschüssen veröffentlicht.
The AStA has published new guidelines for awarding grants.
Cultural context
The AStA is an established institution in the German higher education system. It is the official student-elected representation and often takes on administrative and social tasks.
EXAMPLE
Die Erstsemester-Party wird vom AStA organisiert.
The first-semester party is organized by the AStA.
Typical collocations
You can 'sich an den AStA wenden' (contact the AStA), 'im AStA aktiv sein' (be active in the AStA), or 'vom AStA Unterstützung bekommen' (get support from the AStA). The AStA is often the organizer of events.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du Probleme mit deiner Wohnung hast, kannst du dich an die Rechtsberatung des AStA wenden.
If you have problems with your apartment, you can contact the AStA's legal advice service.