General Council
New University Chancellor
We are seeking to appoint a new Chancellor of the University, to find out more please visit the Chancellor's webpage.
Notification of Draft Ordinances
In terms of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966, the following draft Ordinances, promulgated by the University Court of the University of St Andrews on Friday 17 October 2025, are sent herewith to the General Council. The draft Ordinances have been sent to the Senatus Academicus and made available for Public Inspection:
- Draft Ordinance No [135] – Composition of the University Court (revoking Ordinance No 132)
- Draft Ordinance No [136] – Election of the Chancellor to the University Court (revoking Ordinance No 129)
- Draft Ordinance No [137] – Election of the Rector (revoking Ordinance No 82)
- Draft Ordinance No [138] – Amendment of the Ordinance of the University of St Andrews No 90 (Readers, Senior Lecturers and Assistant Lecturers)
- Draft Ordinance No [139] – General Council Membership Registration and Meetings. Replacing Ordinance No 96 (and others as listed)
The text of the draft Ordinances accompanied by an explanatory note can be viewed below. Copies of the relevant existing Ordinances have also been included for reference.
Draft Ordinances Promulgated 17 October 2025 (PDF)
Q and A relating to the draft Ordinances (PDF)
Any comments on any of the draft Ordinances should be directed to me within eight weeks of the date of this notification, by Tuesday 6 January 2026 and will, as appropriate, be taken into consideration by the University Court. Subject to any comments received, the Court is expected to give final approval to the draft Ordinances at its meeting on Friday 16 January 2026, following which the approval of the Privy Council will be sought.
Copies of the draft Ordinances are available to be inspected in-person at College Gate, North Street, within office hours.
Margaret Sinclair
Executive Officer to the University Court and Senate
If you require the document in an accessible format, please email the Court Office at courtoffice@st-andrews.ac.uk.
The General Council of the University of St Andrews is the body of all graduates and senior academics of the University.
Section 6 of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858 states that the General Council is empowered to "...take into their consideration all questions affecting the wellbeing and prosperity of the University, and to make representations from time to time on such questions to the University Court, who shall consider the same, and return to the Council their deliverance thereon".
The General Council elects the Chancellor of the University, who also holds the role of President of the General Council, and nominates two Assessors to the University Court. It is consulted on draft Resolutions and Ordinances, and may appoint committees to support it and define their powers, membership and quorum.
The General Council has particular responsibility for commenting on draft Resolutions and Ordinances referred to it by the University Court. Ordinances and Resolutions that are out for consultation are made available on the Ordinances and Resolutions webpage, and are also sent directly to the General Council Business Committee.
The General Council meets twice yearly in Parliament Hall in St Andrews, on the last Saturday of June and November, where updates and briefings are provided on the activities of the University, and members can meet and exchange news over tea and coffee.
The General Council is supported by its Business Committee and by the Alumni Relations Office. The current Registrar and Clerk to the General Council is Alastair Merrill, the University’s Vice-Principal (Governance).
You can contact the General Council by:
- Email: generalcouncil@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 7194
- Post:
Convener of the Business Committee of the General Council
General Council Office
91 North Street
St Andrews
KY16 9AJ