Oberstudienrat (OStR) (in literal translation meaning "upper councillor in education/of studies") is an official title of teachers in Germany, mostly in the regular state-owned grammar schools. Being an official or civil servant, as an "upper councillor" he or she belongs to the upper rank, the "higher service", as opposed to the lower "elevated", "middle" and "lower" service ranks. The Oberstudienrat is remunerated according to "A 14", one of the highest salary levels for civil servants starting with "A 13" and ending with "A 16". A comparable title of officials in administration is "Oberregierungsrat" ("upper councillor of administration").
The Oberstudienrat is the higher grade post after the "Studienrat" ("councillor in education" or "educational councillor"). Until the 1980s this promotion was reached regularly after a specified time of service. Today promotion mostly presupposes additional functions and duties.
About 20 percent of civil servants at educational institutions in Germany are Oberstudienräte (2014).
The following higher ranks are Studiendirektor ("director of education" or "educational director") and "Oberstudiendirektor" ("upper director of education").
In the former GDR Oberstudienrat was not used as denominating a rank but solely as a honorary title of high reputation.