The Council is the University’s supreme governing body with ultimate responsibility for the strategic direction and affairs of the University. The primary responsibilities of Council are defined in more detail in the Ordinances.
The membership of Council comprises appointed external members, elected internal members, the President and Principal and the President of the Students’ Union, with the external members forming the majority. The Chair and Vice-Chair of Council and the Treasurer are external members of Council who take on additional responsibilities in relation to the effective conduct of Council business.
Council delegates much of its detailed assurance work to five standing committees as well as a Review Panel which monitors Council’s responsibilities in relation to the Students’ Union. Council also maintains general superintendence and control of the Senate, which is the body responsible for governing the academic activity of the University.
Council appoints the President and Principal to carry out the academic, corporate, financial, estate and human resource management of the University. The wider senior executive team supports the President and Principal in carrying out these responsibilities.
There are five ordinary meetings of Council in each academic year. The dates of ordinary meetings in the 2024–25 academic year are as follows:
The agendas, minutes and papers of Council meetings are published here.