This following is a current list of the chancellors, vice-chancellors and visitors of universities in the United Kingdom. In most cases, the

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

is a ceremonial head, while the

vice-chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...

chief academic officer A provost is a senior academic administrator. At many institutions of higher education, they are the chief academic officer, a role that may be combined with being deputy to the chief executive officer. They may also be the chief executive office ...

and

chief executive A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

. In

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, the principal is the chief executive and is usually ''

ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

'' vice-chancellor, which is a purely

titular Titular may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Title character in a narrative work, the character referred to in its title Religion * Titular (Catholicism), a cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome ** Titular bisho ...

position.

Long service

Since the development of the university sector in the UK there have been several hundred individuals appointed to the role of Vice-Chancellor (or Director, President, Principal). A small number of Vice-Chancellors have served in this capacity for 15 years or more, with some portion of this time in office as a Vice-Chancellor in the UK. They include: 47 Years: George Baird (Edinburgh 1793-1840); 43 Years: Sir Henry Reichel (Bangor 1884-1927); 36 Years: George Campbell (Aberdeen 1759-95); 35 Years: Duncan Macfarland (Glasgow 1823-58), John Mackay (Dundee 1895-1930); 34 Years:

Hector Boece Hector Boece (; also spelled Boyce or Boise; 1465–1536), known in Latin as Hector Boecius or Boethius, was a Scottish philosopher and historian, and the first Principal of King's College in Aberdeen, a predecessor of the University of Abe ...

(Aberdeen 1500-34); 33 Years: Neil Campbell (Glasgow 1728-61); 31 Years: Sir James Irvine (St Andrews 1921-52), Sir

Emrys Evans Sir David Emrys Evans (29 March 1891 – 20 February 1966) was a Welsh classicist and university principal. Life Evans, from Clydach, Glamorgan, was educated at Ystalyfera County School, before going on to University College, Bangor, and ...

(Bangor 1927-58); 30 Years: Patrick Sharp (Glasgow 1585-1615), William Robertson (Edinburgh 1762-92); 29 Years: John Adamson (Edinburgh 1623-1652), Sir James Donaldson (St Andrews 1886-1915); 28 Years:

Charles Thorp Charles Thorp, (13 October 1783 – 10 October 1862) was an English churchman, rector of the parish of Ryton and, later, Archdeacon of Durham and the first warden of the University of Durham. Life He was born in Gateshead, County Durham, t ...

(Durham 1834-1862), Thomas Roberts (Aberystwyth 1891-1919), Arthur Lowie (Heriot-Watt 1900-28),

Ellen Charlotte Higgins Ellen Charlotte Higgins (14 August 1871, Brixton, London - 13 December 1951, Edinburgh) was the third Principal of Royal Holloway College, London, Royal Holloway College, University of London (RHC) from 1907 to 1935. Her father was a publisher an ...

(RHC 1907-35); 27 Years: John Stirling (Glasgow 1701-28); 26 Years: George Smith (Aberdeen 1909-35), Sir Charles Evans (Bangor 1958-1984), ''Michael Driscoll (Taylor's 2015-ff Middlesex 1996-2015)''; 25 Years: John Strang (Glasgow 1626-51), William Lake (Durham 1844-69), John Caird (Glasgow 1873-98), John Murray (Exeter 1926-51), Sir

Hector Hetherington Sir Hector James Wright Hetherington (21 July 1888 – 15 January 1965) was a Scottish philosopher, who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool from 1927 to 1936, and Principal of the University of Glasgow until 1961. Early life H ...

GBE (Glasgow 1936-61), Sir

Albert Sloman Sir Albert Edward Sloman (1921 – 28 July 2012) was the founding and longest serving Vice Chancellor of the University of Essex, UK. Background Albert Sloman was born in Cornwall and educated at Launceston College, before attending Wadham Coll ...

(Essex 1962-51), Sir

Aubrey Trotman-Dickenson Sir Aubrey Fiennes Trotman-Dickenson (12 February 1926 – 11 November 2016) was a British chemist and academic administrator. Biography Trotman-Dickenson was born in Wilmslow, Cheshire on 12 February 1926. His father, Edward Newton Trotman-Dicken ...

(Cardiff 1968-93); 24 Years:

William Leechman William Leechman or Leishman (1706–1785) was a Scottish minister, theologian and academic. He was Professor of Divinity and later Principal at Glasgow University. Early life and education The son of William Leechman, a farmer of Dolp ...

Glasgow 1761-85), Sir William Halliday (KCL 1928-52); 22 Years: Edward Wright (Glasgow 1662-84), Sir Donald Brewster (St Andrews 1837-59), Dame

Margaret Tuke Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (13 March 1862, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England21 February 1947, Hitchin) was a British academic and educator. She was the youngest child of the philanthropist James Hack Tuke. She was created a Dame Commander of the Ord ...

(Bedford 1907-29), James Smail OBE (Heriot-Watt 1928-50), Baron Stopford (Manchester 1934-56); 21 Years:

Henry Charteris Henry Charteris the younger (1565–1628) was a Scottish minister and Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1599 to 1620. Life He was the eldest son of Henry Charteris, Printer to the King in Scotland (this status allowed printing of Bibl ...

(Edinburgh 1599-1620), Sir Edward Ross (SOAS 1916-37), Geraldine Jebb CBE (Bedford 1930-51), Bill Bevan CBE (Cardiff 1966-87),

Tim Wheeler Timothy James Arthur Wheeler (born 4 January 1977) is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter, and musician for the alternative rock band Ash. He has written nearly all of Ash's notable works, such as " Oh Yeah", " Shining Light", " Girl from Mars ...

(Chester 1998-2019); 20 Years: William Taylor (Glasgow 1803-23), Sir

John LeFevre John LeFevre (born 1980) is a former Salomon Brothers and Citigroup investment banker and bond syndicate executive. LeFevre is known for creating the anonymous Goldman Sachs Elevator (@GSElevator) Twitter handle. The account purported to reflect and ...

(London 1842-62), Sir

Donald MacAlister Sir Donald MacAlister, 1st Baronet of Tarbet (17 May 1854 – 15 January 1934) was a Scottish physician who was Principal and Vice-Chancellor and, later, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He was a member of the Cambridge Apostles intelle ...

KCB (Glasgow 1909-29), Sir Frederick Rees (Cardiff 1929-49), Sir

Alexander Carr-Saunders Sir Alexander Morris Carr-Saunders, (14 January 1886 – 6 October 1966) was an English biologist, sociologist, academic, and academic administrator. He was Director of the London School of Economics from 1937 to 1957. Early life Carr-Saunder ...

(London 1937-57), Sir Philip Morris (Bristol 1946-66), Baron Butterworth (Warwick 1965-85), John Watson (St Andrews 1966-86), Sir

Cyril Philips Sir Cyril Henry Philips, FRAS (27 December 1912, Worcester – 29 December 2005, Swanage, Dorset), knighted in the 1974 New Years Honours List, was a noted British historian and academic director. Early life His father had worked as an engine dri ...

(SOAS 1956-76), Sir

Graeme Davies Sir Graeme John Davies (7 April 1937 – 30 August 2022) was a New Zealand engineer, academic and administrator. During his career, he was Vice-Chancellor of three universities: the University of Liverpool, the University of Glasgow and the ...

(London 2003-10 Glasgow 1995-2003 Liverpool 1986-91), Sir Colin Campbell (Nottingham 1988-2008), Sir Timothy O'Shea (Edinburgh 2002-18 Birkbeck 1998-2002); 19 Years: John Lea (Edinburgh 1840-59), Thomas Edmonds (Aberwystwyth 1872-91), Sir

Oliver Lodge Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge, (12 June 1851 – 22 August 1940) was a British physicist and writer involved in the development of, and holder of key patents for, radio. He identified electromagnetic radiation independent of Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, H ...

(Birmingham 1900-19), Sir Ralph Turner (SOAS 1937-56),

Frank Thistlethwaite Frank Thistlethwaite CBE (24 July 1915 – 17 February 2003) was an English academic who served as the first vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia. Early life Thistlethwaite was born on 24 July 1915 at 11 Powell Street, Burnley, Lanca ...

CBE (East Anglia 1961-80), Sir

Fraser Noble Sir Thomas Alexander Fraser Noble (29 April 1918 – 21 August 2003) was a Scottish academic. He was former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester and then Principal of the University of Aberdeen. Early life He was born in Cromdale in ...

(Aberdeen 1976-81 Leicester 1962-76), Baron Chilver (Cranfield 1970-89), Raymond Rickett (Middlesex 1972-91), Anthony Kelly CBE (Surrey 1975-94), Sir Michael Stirling (Birmingham 201-09 Brunel 1990-2001), Alan Gilbert AO (Manchester 2004-10 Melbourne 1996-2004 Tasmania 1991-96),

Paul Wellings Professor Paul William Wellings CBE DL FRSN FRSA FAICD is an Australian/British ecologist and long serving university leader. He is notable for his past service as Vice-Chancellor of University of Wollongong (2012-21), Vice-Chancellor of Lanca ...

CBE (Wollongong 2012-21 Lancaster 2002-12), ''David Green CBE (Worcester 2003-ff),'' ''David Latchman CBE (Birkbeck 2003-ff''), ''Gerald Pillay OBE (Liverpool Hope 2003-ff)''; 18 Years:

William Wishart (secundus) William Wishart (secundus) (1691/92–1753) was a Scottish clergyman who served as the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1736 to 1753. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Church of Scotland in 1745. Life He was born in L ...

(Edinburgh 1736-54), Archibald Davidson (Glasgow 1795-1803), John Jones (Cardiff 1883-1901), Sir William Muir KCSI (Edinburgh 1885-1903),

William Beveridge William Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge, (5 March 1879 – 16 March 1963) was a British economist and Liberal politician who was a progressive and social reformer who played a central role in designing the British welfare state. His 194 ...

(LSE 1919-37), Sir

Raymond Priestley Sir Raymond Edward Priestley (20 July 1886 – 24 June 1974) was an English geologist and early Antarctic explorer. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, where he helped found The Raymond Priestley Centre on the shores ...

(Birmingham 1938-52 Melbourne 1934-38), Ifor Evans (Aberwystwyth 1934-52), Sir James Mountford (Liverpool 1945-63), Sir

Steve Smith Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to: Academics * Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager * Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...

(Exeter 2002-20); 17 Years: Sir Alexander Grant (Edinburgh 1868-85), Ernest Griffiths (Cardiff 1901-18), Sir

Franklin Sibly Thomas Franklin Sibly K.B.E. (25 October 1883 – 13 April 1948) was a British geologist who had a distinguished career in University administration, being first Principal of University College, Swansea (1920), and later Vice-Chancellor of the Univ ...

(Reading 1929-46), Edith Batho (RHC 1945-62),

Bertrand Hallward Bertrand Leslie Hallward (24 May 1901–17 November 2003) was a British educationalist who served as Headmaster of Clifton College and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.Edward Appleton GBIE KCB (Edinburgh 1948-65), Anthony Steel OBE (Cardiff 1949-66), Hugh Nisbet CBE (Heriot-Watt 1950-67), Sir

Derman Christopherson Sir Derman Guy Christopherson (6 September 1915 – 7 November 2000) was a British engineering science academic. Early life and education Christopherson was born the son of a clergyman, Derman Christopherson (the vicar of Plumstead in southeast ...

(Durham 1961-78), Geoffrey Templeman CBE (Kent 1963-80), Sir

Samuel Curran Sir Samuel Crowe Curran (23 May 1912 – 15 February 1998), Royal Society, FRS, FRSE, was a physicist and the first Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde – the first of the new technical universities in Britain. He ...

(Strathclyde 1964-81),

Brian Flowers Brian Hilton Flowers, Baron Flowers FRS (13 September 1924 – 25 June 2010) was a British physicist, academician, and public servant. Early life and studies The son of the Rev. Harold Joseph Flowers and Mrs Marian Flowers, Brian Hilton Flowe ...

(London 1985-90 Imperial 1973-85), Geoffrey Sim OBE (Sheffield 1974-91), Sir Martin Harris (Manchester 1992-04, Essex 1987-92),

Tessa Blackstone Tessa Ann Vosper Blackstone, Baroness Blackstone, (born 27 September 1942) is an English politician and university administrator. Early life Her father, Geoffrey Vaughan Blackstone, CBE, GM, was the Chief Fire Officer for Hertfordshire and h ...

(Greenwich 2004-11 Birkbeck 1987-97), Frank Hartley (Cranfield 1989-2006), Dame

Glynis Breakwell Dame Glynis Marie Breakwell (born West Bromwich, 26 July 1952) is a British social psychologist, researcher and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath. In January 2014 she was listed in the Science Council's list of '100 leading UK p ...

DBE (Bath 2001-18),

Brian Cantor Brian Cantor CBE FREng (born 11 January 1948) is long serving university leader, a Visiting Professor in the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford and a Research Professor at the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology ...

CBE (Bradford 2013-19 York 2002-13), Sir Michael Arthur (UCL 2013-21 Leeds 2004-13), Sir Peter Gregson (Cranfield 2013-21 Queens Belfast 2004-13), ''George Holmes (Bolton 2005-ff)''; 16 Years: Sir Alfred Dale (Liverpool 1903-1919), Sir

Peter Noble Peter Noble (19 August 1944 – 6 May 2017) was an English footballer who played forward. Noble began his career with Consett where he combined a career in painting and decorating with football. After an impressive season with a record breaki ...

(KCL 1952-68), Sir Charles Carter (Lancaster 1964-80), Frederick Crawford (Aston 1980-96), Sir Michael Thompson (Birmingham 1987-96 East Anglia 1980-86), Sir

John Kingman __NOTOC__ Sir John Frank Charles Kingman (born 28 August 1939) is a British mathematician. He served as N. M. Rothschild and Sons Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Director of the Isaac Newton Institute at the University of Cambridge from ...

(Bristol 1985-2001), Sir Adrian Smith (London 2012-18 QMC 1998-2008), Sir

Alan Langlands Sir Robert Alan Langlands FRSE FRCP (Hon.) FRCGP (Hon.) FRCS (Edin.) (Hon.) FRCPSG (Hon.) FFPH FCGI FIA is a former vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds. He is notable for past service as the fourth chief executive of the National H ...

(Leeds 2013-20 Dundee 2000-09),

Calie Pistorius Carl Wilhelm Irene ("Calie") Pistorius (born 9 August 1958) is a South African academic who is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom. He announced, on 1 August 2016, that he would be stepping down ...

(Hull 2009-17 Pretoria 2001-09), Sir

David Eastwood Sir David Stephen Eastwood, (born 5 January 1959), is a British academic and long serving university leader who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham between 13 April 2009 and December 2021. Early life Eastwood was born on 5 Jan ...

(Birmingham 2009-21 East Anglia 2002-06), Richard Davies (Swansea 2003-19),

Alice Gast Alice Petry Gast (born May 25, 1958) is an American researcher, was the 16th president of Imperial College London, and sits on the board of directors of Chevron. Gast was named one of the top 100 "Modern Era" engineers in the US under the categ ...

(Imperial 2014-22 Lehigh 2006-14), ''John Cater CBE (Edge Hill 2006-ff)''; 15 Years: Duncan Bunch (Glasgow 1460-75), Richard Jeff (KCL 1843-68), Elizabeth Reid (Bedford 1849-64), Thomas Barley (Glasgow 1858-73), Alfred Barry (KCL 1868-83), Thomas Hamilton (Queens Belfast 1908-23), Sir Charles Robertson (Birmingham 1923-38), Sir Thomas Holland KCSI KCIE (Edinburgh 1929-44), Sir Irvine Masson (Sheffield 1938-53),

Baron Morris There have been several hereditary and life peerages created for persons with the surname Morris, all in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Baron Morris, of St John’s in the Dominion of Newfoundland and of the City of Waterford, is a title in ...

(Leeds 1948-63), Sir Robert Aiken (Birmingham 1953-68), Sir Charles Wilson (Glasgow 1961-76), Sir

Alec Merrison Sir Alexander Walter Merrison FRS (20 March 1924 – 19 February 1989) was a British physicist. He was a professor in Experimental Physics at Liverpool University and the first Director of the new Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory. He later ...

(Bristol 1969-84), Sir

Howard Newby Sir Howard Joseph Newby (born 10 December 1947) is a British sociologist. He was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool in 2008 and retired in December 2014. He was vice-chancellor of the University of Southampton from 1994 to ...

CBE (Liverpool 2008-14 West England 2006-08 Southampton 1994-2001),

Brenda Gourley Brenda Mary Gourley (born December 1, 1943) was the Vice-Chancellor of the Open University from 2002 until 2009. Career Gourley is a qualified Chartered Accountant and an emeritus professor of Accounting and Finance. She has served as a non-ex ...

(Open 2002-09 Kwa-Zulu Natal 1994-2002), Dame

Janet Finch Dame Janet Valerie Finch DBE, DL, FAcSS (born 13 February 1946) is a British sociologist and academic administrator. She was Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Social Relations at Keele University, and has held a number of other public appoint ...

DBE (Keele 1995-2010), Malcolm McVicar (UCLAN 1998-13), David VandeLinde (Warwick 2001-06 Bath 1992-2001), Steven Schwartz AM (Macquarie 2006-11 Brunel 2002-06 Murdoch 1996-2002), Frank Morgan OBE (Bath Spa 1997-2012), Sir Bob Burgess (Leicester 1999-2014),

Paul O'Prey Paul Gerard O'Prey is a British academic leader and author. In 2019 he was appointed chair of the Edward James Foundation, which owns a large rural estate in the South Downs and runs West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. Between 2004 an ...

CBE (Roehampton 2004-19), Dame

Janet Beer Dame Janet Patricia Beer, (born 1 August 1956) is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool. She took over from Howard Newby in February 2015, having previously been Vice-Chancellor at Oxford Brookes University and Pro-Vice Chancellor ...

DBE (Liverpool 2015-22 Oxford Brooks 2007-15), ''Hugh Brady (Imperial 2022-ff Bristol 2015-22 UCD 2004-13)'', ''Colin Riordan (Cardiff 2012-ff Essex 2007-12).'' italics: Driscoll, Green, Latchman, Pillay, Holmes, Cater, Brady and Riordan are currently in office (as at September 2022).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:British university chancellors and vice-chancellors, list of University Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors * * *United Kingdom

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

Long service

See also

References