University Court
Rectorial election
Following the close of the nomination period, six candidates have been nominated and are standing for election to be the next Rector of the University of St Andrews.
The election will be administered by Civica Election Services and voting will take place Thursday 15 to Friday 16 October 2026.
All matriculated students of the University on the date that nominations closed (Wednesday 7 October) will be invited to vote in the election.
Briefing materials:
- Role of the Rector 2026 (PDF)
- 2026 Rectorial Election Timetable and Rules (PDF)
- Nomination Form (Word)
Any queries relating to the election rules should also be directed to Court Office in the first instance.
The University Court is the governing body of the University. The Court has overall responsibility for the governance of the University, including all aspects of strategic planning and the management of financial, human and physical resources. This responsibility comes through Acts of Parliament, which give the Court authority over all of the University’s property and revenues, as well as the power to review the decisions of the Senate.
The University Court meets in St Andrews on a quarterly basis. Minutes from Court meetings are publicly available after each meeting. The Universities (Scotland) Acts, 1858-1966, and ordinances and resolutions made in accordance with these acts, regulate the present constitution and government of the University, and are outlined in the ordinances and resolutions section.
The University Court has a number of standing committees:
- audit and risk committee (including academic, University ethics, and health and safety assurance groups)
- governance and nominations committee
- planning and resources committee (including the investment and treasury assurance group)
- remuneration committee
- superannuation and life assurance scheme