Cambridge University Council


The Council of the University of Cambridge is the principal executive and policy-making body, having responsibility for the administration of the university, for the planning of its work and for the management of its resources. Since the Regent House is the governing body of the university, the council must report and be accountable to the Regents through a variety of checks and balances. It has the right to report to the university and is obliged to advise the Regent House on matters of general concern to the university. It performs both functions by authorising notices to be published in the Cambridge University Reporter, its official journal.
Cambridge University is an exempt charity, under the Charities Act 2011 regulated by the Office for Students. Under charity law its trustees are members of the University Council.

Membership

Membership of the council consists of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, nineteen elected members, and four appointed members, divided into classes as follows:

Current constitution

† Professor Richard Penty currently serves as Master of Sidney Sussex College
Mark Lewisohn also acts as Deputy Chairman of Council

External members

From January 2005, the membership of the council included two external members. The Regent House voted to increase the number of external members from two to four in March 2008, being approved by The Queen in July 2008.

Meetings

The council normally meets once per month, except August, in the Council Room at the Old Schools. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused meetings to be held via Zoom.