General Council

The 318th Statutory Meeting of the General Council was held on Thursday 24 August 2023. A recording of the 318th Statutory Meeting can be viewed here. 

The 319th Statutory Meeting of the General Council will be held in winter 2024. This will be a hybrid meeting.

A recording of the 317th Statutory Meeting can be viewed here.

The 2023 elections are now closed. The next round of appointments will most likely be in Summer 2024. New members are always welcome. To express an interest in standing for election, please email alumni@abdn.ac.uk. Notification of forthcoming elections is given at the summer statutory meeting of the General Council and will be posted here.

To find out more about the committee please click here.

The Chancellor is the titular Head of the University and President of the General Council.

Duties of the Chancellor include:

• Ceremonial – for example at graduations, receptions and events
• Pastoral- a concern for the interests of students and staff and the wider University community
• Scholarly – a commitment to learning, teaching and culture
• Ambassadorial – representing the University in the UK and overseas

The Chancellor’s most public role is conferring degrees at University ceremonies. Degree ceremonies are held twice a year, in July and November. Chancellors are appointed by the General Council under Ordinance No. 143 and the office may be held for life.

The Chancellor is an ex officio member of the University of Aberdeen Development Trust.

The Chancellor appoints a Vice-Chancellor, a position which by convention, is held by the same person who is the University Principal. The Chancellor also appoints a Chancellor’s Assessor to represent him or her on the University Court.

See People for information about the University Chancellor and other officers.

What is the General Council?
The General Council is part of the governance of the University, alongside Court and Senate.

Who are the members of the General Council?
According to Ordinance No 110 of the University’s Court, the membership of the General Council of the University of Aberdeen shall consist of:

1. all persons on whom the University has conferred an academic degree and whose names have been duly recorded;
2. during their tenure of office:
   1. the Chancellor of the University;
   2. the members of the University Court;
   3. the Professors of the University;
   4. all Readers and Lecturers in the University, who have held any such office in the University for a period of one year;
3. former Professors and former members of the University Court;
4. former Readers and Lecturers who were members during their tenure of office as such, and who remained on the staff of the University, as Readers or Lecturers, until retirement.

When does the General Council meet?
There are two statutory meetings of the General Council each year, in summer and in winter.

How can I get involved?
If you would like to take a more active role in the General Council, you can stand for election to the Business Committee.

What does the Business Committee do?
The Business Committee meets four times a year and considers any matter of importance to the members of the General Council. The Committee has a duty of dialogue with the University Court on all matters relating to the well-being of the University.

If you would like to become a member of the Business Committee, email alumni@abdn.ac.uk.

Who is on the Business Committee?
The Committee comprises 21 elected General Council members, four Independent Members of Court and four ex-officio members. A list of current members is available here.

How do I get elected to the Business Committee?
Members of General Council can stand for nomination and election to the Committee as and when vacancies arise. Notices of vacancies are given in at the Statutory Meeting of the General Council, in the E-Zine and on these pages. Nomination forms are available by contacting alumni@abdn.ac.uk.

What is the University Court?
The main functions of the Court can be broadly summarised as follows:

• to administer the whole property and revenues of the University
• to make appointments
• to fix fees charged by the University
• to receive representations and reports from the Senate and the General Council
• on the recommendation of the Senate, to prescribe regulations for degree courses
• to review on appeal any decision of the Senate

Further information on the University Court is available here.

If you have a question about the General Council and the Business Committee, or would like further information, please use our get in touch form.

The General Council
c/o Alumni Relations Office
University of Aberdeen
Powis Gate
College Bounds
Aberdeen, AB24 3UG
Scotland

Tel: +44 (0)1224-273234
Fax: +44 (0)1224-272271

Email: alumni@abdn.ac.uk