The vice-chancellor is appointed by the Swedish government to lead LiU. The university has one deputy vice-chancellor appointed by the university board, who can substitute for the vice-chancellor when required, and other deputy vice-chancellors appointed by the vice-chancellor. The role of the latter is to replace the vice-chancellor in various contexts. These constitute University Management together with the university director who is responsible for University Services. The deputy university director is also co-opted to University Management.
Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, professor of medical cell biology, was appointed vice-chancellor for Linköping University on 1 July 2020. Karin Axelsson, professor in information systems, was appointed deputy vice-chancellor responsible for education on 1 January 2022. Per-Olof Brehmer is deputy vice-chancellor for collaboration and campus development, while Matts Karlsson is deputy vice-chancellor for research.
There is also an Advisory Council, an Educational Board, a Quality Assurance Board and a Scientific Council to support the vice-chancellor.
