Charter and Ordinances

The University is established by a Royal Charter which:

• defines the University’s objects and powers, and enshrines our commitment to equality, academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law;
• establishes the Council as the University’s supreme governing body and defines how Council must exercise its powers and responsibilities;
• establishes the Senate as the body responsible for governing the academic activity of the University, subject to the general superintendence and control of Council;
• establishes the role of the President and Principal, who is appointed by Council as our chief academic and accounting officer;
• makes provisions in relation to the Students’ Union.

Queen Mary has the status of a university and its own powers to award degrees as well as being a member institution of the University of London. The Charter therefore enshrines a commitment not to do anything in conflict with the University of London Statutes.

The Ordinances are the regulatory framework through which Council defines in greater detail how the requirements and provisions of the Charter are put into effect.

Preamble and definitions

Ordinance 1: Powers of the University

Ordinance 2: Powers and Responsibilities of the Council

Ordinance 3: Senior Officers of the University

Ordinance 4: Members of Council

Ordinance 5: Officers of the Council

Ordinance 6: Committees of the Council

Ordinance 7: Meetings of the Council and its Standing Committees

Ordinance 8: Execution of Documents and Use of the Common Seal

Ordinance 9: The Academic Organisation of the University

Ordinance 10: The Senate

Ordinance 11: Fellowships, Honorary Degrees and the Queen Mary Medal

Ordinance 12: Staff of the University

Ordinance 13: The Students’ Union

A printer-friendly version of the Ordinances is published here [PDF 250KB].

For further information about the Charter and Ordinances, please contact the Secretary to Council at councilsecretariat@qmul.ac.uk. The Chair of Council, on the advice of the Secretary to Council, is responsible for the final ruling on any question of interpretation of the Ordinances.