Following the association of the Canberra University College with the Australian National University and the formation of the School of General Studies in 1960, the Deans of Faculties was comprised of Deans of the originally four faculties. The first Dean appointed in the Faculty of Arts was Alec Derwent Hope, Faculty of Economics was Burgess Don Cameron , Faculty of Law was Harold Arthur John Ford, and Faculty of Science was James Desmond Smyth. In 1961, the Faculty of Orient Studies was established within the School of General Studies which became known as the Faculty of Asian Studies in 1970. In 2006, the ANU Colleges was formally constituted with the University’s Faculties, Research Schools, and Centres grouped along discipline lines into seven Colleges.

The Institute of Advanced Studies which comprised the Research Schools of the University from 1960 to 2001, included the head of each research school on its Board.