The theoretical and practical principles of student self-governance in Galician gymnasiums in the first third of the XX century have been analyzed in the article. Galician teachers considered student self-government as an integral part of the formation of conscious and responsible citizen, patriot of Ukraine. Area of activity, the structure and form of student self-governance on general school level were different. They depended on the life of student collective, the development of certain types of its activity. The initiative to create an organization came from the students. The students were very active and initiative, sought to deepen their knowledge, develop individual abilities. Pedagogical theory and practice enriched the knowledge about the activities and structure of bodies of student self-governance, as well as its form in Galician gymnasiums first third of the twentieth century.