The Chancellor
The office of the Chancellor has existed since the foundation of the University and no comprehensive definition of its powers has been made in any modern statute. The most authoritative definition is contained in the return made by the University to the Commissioners of 1826 which states: "The Chancellor is head of the University. He is consulted on all public matters relative to its welfare, and he is also Conservator of its privileges. The power of conferring degrees is vested in him: this he may exercise either personally when present or by his depute when absent, with the advice of the doctors and masters of the University."
The present Chancellor is Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP who, in terms of The Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, was elected in 2006, by the General Council and holds office for life. The Chancellor is the ordinary President of the General Council and appoints an Assessor on the University Court.
The Vice-Chancellor
From an early date in the history of the University it was customary for the Chancellor appoint a Vice-Chancellor to confer degrees in his absence.
The Act of 1858 explicitly empowers the Chancellor to appoint a Vice-Chancellor in his absence discharge his office "in so far as regards conferring degrees but in respect". By a convention uniformly observed since 1859 the Principal of the University appointed Vice-Chancellor. In the absence of both the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor degrees are conferred by the senior member of the Senatus Academicus present.