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Ancient universities of Scotland 1

Ancient universities of Scotland

The ancient universities of Scotland are medieval and renaissance universities which continue to exist until the

present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a

number of distinctive features in common, being governed by a series of measures laid down in the Universities

(Scotland) Acts 1858-1966. The Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 uses the term 'older universities' to refer to St

Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.[1]

The same act provided for the independence from St Andrews of

Dundee, which was then granted a similar form of governance under its royal charter.

In common with the other ancient universities of the United Kingdom, the Scottish ancients find themselves

administered in a quite different fashion from these new universities (of which there are now ten in Scotland) and are

granted a number of privileges as a result of their status.

Order of foundation

The currently existing ancient universities of Scotland are, in order of foundation:

University of St Andrewsfounded 1413 (incorporating the University of Dundee for most of its history until

1967)

University of Glasgowfounded 1451

University of Aberdeenfounded 1495 (see below)

University of Edinburghfounded 1583

Following the creation of the ancient universities before the end of the 16th century, no other universities were

formed in Scotland until the 20th century. The first 'new university' of the era (see: plate glass university) was the

University of Strathclyde, chartered in 1964 but having existed in various forms as an academic institution since

1796.[2]

Former and created universities and colleges

Marischal College, a former ancient university

now part of the University of Aberdeen.

Despite being held as an ancient university, the University of Aberdeen

was only created in 1860. The university was formed by the

amalgamation of two existing ancient universities within Aberdeen,

which were:

University and Kings College of Aberdeen; founded 1495

Marischal College and University of Aberdeen; founded 1593

The two universities, generally known simply as King's College and

Marischal College, were united into the modern University of

Aberdeen by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858. The Act of

Parliament uniting the two universities specified that the date of the

foundation of the new united university would be taken to be that of

the older King's College, viz 1495. Another, short lived, university

existed in the Aberdeenshire town of Fraserburgh from 1595 to

1605.[3]

[4]

All of the ancient universities, with the exception of St Andrews, were

both simultaneously universities and colleges, with both titles being

used.[5]

The University of St Andrews was, however, a traditional

collegiate university with a number of colleges. Today, only two statutory colleges exist: United College and the

much smaller St Mary's College for students of theology - a third non-statutory college, St Leonard's College was

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Mary%27s_College%2C_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Mary%27s_College%2C_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Leonard%27s_College_%28University_of_St_Andrews%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Leonard%27s_College_%28University_of_St_Andrews%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Mary%27s_College%2C_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_College%2C_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collegiate_universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fraserburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aberdeenshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Act_of_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Act_of_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universities_%28Scotland%29_Act_1858http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marischal_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King%27s_College%2C_Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AMarischalcollege1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marischal_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Strathclydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plate_glass_universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Glasgowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Dundeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_universitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_charterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universities_%28Scotland%29_Actshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universities_%28Scotland%29_Actshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universities_%28Scotland%29_Actshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Isleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_universitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medieval_universities

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Ancient universities of Scotland 2

founded in 1972 using the name of an earlier institution as a formal grouping of postgraduate students. Queen's

College at St Andrews (incorporated into the university from an earlier institution in 1897) became an independent

university, the University of Dundee, in 1967.

In modern times, former college names may refer to specific university buildings, such as the King's College and

Marischal College buildings in Aberdeen, the Old College and New College at Edinburgh and the 'Old College' to

refer to the former buildings of the University of Glasgow before its move in the 19th century to Gilmorehill.

[6]

Members

St Andrews

St Salvator's Chapel, St Andrews

The University of St Andrews owed its origin to a

society formed in 1410 by Laurence of Lindores,

archdeacon Richard Cornwall, bishop William

Stephenson and others. Bishop Henry Wardlaw (died

1440) issued a charter in 1411 and attracted the most

learned men in Scotland as professors. In 1413

Avignon Pope Benedict XIII issued six bulls

confirming the charter and constituting the society a

university.

University College Dundee (founded in 1891) was

absorbed into St Andrews University (1897),

subsequently metamorphosing into Queen's College

(1954). The University of Dundee separated off from

the University of St Andrews in 1967.

Today St Andrew's University has around 8,500 students and just over 800 academic staff. The independent

IpsosMORI National Student Survey 2006 commissioned by HEFCE placed it third among the UK universities.[7]

St

Andrews reported the highest student satisfaction overall in Scotland for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.[8]

Nearly eight

in ten graduates obtain a First Class or an Upper Second Class Honours degree. Entry to the University is highly

competitive; the latest UCAS figures show that there are generally twelve applications for every place available, and

the University has not entered Clearing since 2003.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HEFCEhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Student_Surveyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Papal_bullhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Avignon_Pope_Benedict_XIIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Henry_Wardlawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Stephanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Stephanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Cornwallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laurence_of_Lindoreshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ASt_Salvator%27s_Chapel.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hillheadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_College%2C_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_College%2C_University_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Dundeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Postgraduate

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Glasgow

The Main Building of the University of Glasgow, from Kelvingrove Park

The University of Glasgow was founded in

1451 by a papal bull of Pope Nicholas V, at

the request of King James II, giving Bishop

William Turnbull permission to add the

university to the city's cathedral.[9] Its

founding came about as a result of King

James II's wish that Scotland have two

Universities, to equal Oxford and

Cambridge of England.

Today Glasgow University now boasts

almost 24,000 students with 40% coming

from the West of Scotland. Both the

University's teaching quality and income

from annual research contracts are assessed

to be among the top 10 in the United

Kingdom. The Times University ranking list

places Glasgow third amongst Scottish universites after St. Andews and Edinburgh.[10]

There are currently over eight

applications for every one place, (194,000 applications 2002-2007. 37,700 in 2007 alone) making it one of the most

competitive Universities in the UK to obtain entry.

Aberdeen

King's College, Aberdeen

No college is mentioned in the foundation bull, only a

university and it was the "University of Aberdeen" by

that name which was established in 1495.

Subsequently a single college, originally known as St.

Mary of the Nativity, was established (it was founded

by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, who

drafted a request on behalf of King James IV to Pope

Alexander VI which resulted in a papal bull being

issued). Soon the entity came to be called King's

College, after its royal founder James IV.

A separate university (Marischal College) was founded

in 1593. In 1860, King's merged with Marischal

College, which itself had been founded in 1593. While both institutions were universities, and would be considered

ancient, the Act of Parliament uniting the two specified that the date of the foundation of the new united university

would be taken to be that of the older King's College.

Aberdeen was highly unusual at the time for having two universities in one city. As late-20th century University of

Aberdeen prospectuses wryly observed, this was the same number as existed in all of England at the time.

Today Aberdeen University has almost 14,000 students and over 700 staff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Act_of_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marischal_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marischal_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King%27s_College%2C_Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King%27s_College%2C_Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Papal_bullhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Alexander_VIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Alexander_VIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_IV_of_Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bishop_of_Aberdeenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Elphinstonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AOldkingsaberdeen.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Cambridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Oxfordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Turnbull_%28bishop%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_II_of_Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Nicholas_Vhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Papal_bullhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AUniversity_of_Glasgow_Gilbert_Scott_Building_-_Feb_2008.jpg

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Ancient universities of Scotland 4

Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh's Robert

Adam-designed Old College building, home of its

Law School

The founding of the University is attributed to Bishop Robert Reid of

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney, who left the funds on his

death in 1558 that ultimately provided the University's endowment.

The University was established by a Royal Charter granted by James

VI in 1582. As the first to be founded by Royal Charter at the urging

of the "town council and burges of Edinburgh" some student groups

at the other Scottish Ancient Universities deny Edinburgh is worthy

of that title, usually stating the reasoning of "post reformation"

Today Edinburgh University has over 25,000 students, more than any

other in Scotland. In 2006 The Times Higher Education Supplement

ranked the University of Edinburgh 5th in the UK, 5th in Europe and

23rd in the world.[11]

Dundee

The University of Dundee's Harris Building andGeddes Quadrangle

The University of Dundee was established as an independent

institution by Royal Charter in 1967, but has a long history going

back well into the 19th century. For most of its existence, Dundee

formed a fully incorporated college of the University of St Andrews,

known as University College Dundee and Queen's College at various

periods.

By virtue of its descent through St Andrews, Dundee shares all

organisational features in common with the other ancient universities

of Scotland, such as awarding the undergraduate MA degree and

electing a Rector. Upon attaining its independence from St Andrews,

Dundee also gained a number of significant schools from its parent

university, including law, dentistry and the main medical school.

As a result, the University of Dundee is usually considered alongside the ancient universities, particularly those in a

Scottish context.

In 2008 the University of Dundee had almost 18,000 students.[12]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_university_governance_in_Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_university_governance_in_Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_St_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collegiate_universitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Charterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ADundee_University.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Times_Higher_Education_Supplementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_VIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_VIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Charterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orkneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kirkwallhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Magnus_Cathedralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Reid_%28bishop%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AUniversity_of_Edinburgh%2C_Old_College.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Edinburgh_School_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_College%2C_University_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Adamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Adam

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Undergraduate Master of Arts degree

The ancient universities are distinctive in offering the Magister Artium/Master of Arts (M.A.) as an undergraduate

academic degree. This is sometimes known as the Scottish MA, despite being offered by fewer than a third of

Scotland's Universities.

Universities (Scotland) Acts

The Universities (Scotland) Acts created a distinctive system of governance for the ancient universities in Scotland,

the process beginning with the 1858 Act and ending with the 1966 Act. Despite not being founded until after the first

in these series of Acts, the University of Dundee shares all the features contained therein.

As a result of these Acts, each of these universities is governed by a tripartite system of General Council, University

Court, and Academic Senate.

The chief executive and chief academic is the University Principal who also holds the title of Vice-Chancellor as an

honorific. The Chancellor is a titular non-resident head to each university and is elected for life by the respective

General Council, although in actuality a good number of Chancellors resign before the end of their "term of office".

Each also has a Students' Representative Council (SRC) as required by statute, although at the University of

Aberdeen this has recently been renamed, the Students' Association Council (the Students' Association having been

the parent body of the SRC).[13]

References

[1] s.16

[2] The History Of Strathclyde - University of Strathclyde (http://www.strath.ac. uk/about/thehistoryofstrathclyde/)

[3] http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails173.html

[4] http://www.archive.org/stream/fastiacademiaema01univuoft/fastiacademiaema01univuoft_djvu.txt

[5] http://www.philosophy.ed. ac. uk/about/; http://www.nls.uk/slezer/engraving. cfm?sl=18

[6] http:/

/

www.

scran.

ac.

uk/

database/

record.

php?usi=000-000-516-519-C[7] The Guardian (London). http://education.guardian.co. uk/students/table/0,,1857547,00. html.

[8] "Student satisfaction rate stalls at 82%, survey finds" (http://www.bbc. co. uk/news/education-11001891). BBC News. 2010-08-18. .

[9] University of Glasgow - Who, Where and When (http://www.archives.gla.ac. uk/about/publish/histcon.pdf), retrieved 22nd April 2006

[10] Frean, Alexandra (2008-06-18). "Official the best universities in the UK" (http://www.timesonline.co. uk/tol/life_and_style/education/

good_university_guide/article4165690.ece). The Times (London). . Retrieved 2010-04-23.

[11] http://www.paked.net/higher_education/rankings/times_rankings.htm

[12] (http://www.somis.dundee.ac. uk/registry/main/statistics/20089/stnos. html)

[13] "University of Aberdeen Students' Association Constitution" (http://www.ausa.org. uk/about/constitution). . Retrieved 2007-04-21.

http://www.ausa.org.uk/about/constitutionhttp://www.somis.dundee.ac.uk/registry/main/statistics/20089/stnos.htmlhttp://www.paked.net/higher_education/rankings/times_rankings.htmhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article4165690.ecehttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article4165690.ecehttp://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/about/publish/histcon.pdfhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11001891http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/table/0,,1857547,00.html.http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-516-519-Chttp://www.nls.uk/slezer/engraving.cfm?sl=18http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk/about/http://www.archive.org/stream/fastiacademiaema01univuoft/fastiacademiaema01univuoft_djvu.txthttp://www.scottish-places.info/towns/towndetails173.htmlhttp://www.strath.ac.uk/about/thehistoryofstrathclyde/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Statutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Students%27_Representative_Council%23Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Titular_rulerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chancellor_%28education%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Honorifichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vice-Chancellorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_Principalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Academichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chief_executivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Academic_Senatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=General_Council_%28Scottish_university%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Governancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Dundeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Academic_degreehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magister_Artium

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Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and ContributorsAncient universities of Scotland Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=451199810 Contributors: Andrew Yong, Anterior1, Avenue, Bact, Belovedfreak, Breadandcheese,

BrownHairedGirl, Bunnyhop11, Davidkinnen, Dominics Fire, Doops, Dwilke, Eliotwilson, Ettrig, Evenfiel, Fig wright, Finavon, Fishiehelper2, Giraffedata, Green Giant, Hugo999, Invocante,

Johnhousefriday, Kierant, LilHelpa, Logain2006, ML5, MacRusgail, Maccoinnich, Mais oui!, Mboverload, Ndyguy, Nikkimaria, Op. Deo, Oxymoron83, Pcpcpc, Rangoon11, Rnt20, Robertgreer,

Scottfree92, Steff, Stitchill, Susvolans, Tassedethe, Timrollpickering, Usermare, Utcursch, Vierutasd, Wongm, Ydam, 56 a nonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Marischalcollege1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Marischalcollege1.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Detroit Publishing Co

Image:St Salvator's Chapel.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:St_Salvator's_Chapel.JPG License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Davidkinnen,

Malcolm.mcfadyen

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File:Oldkingsaberdeen.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Oldkingsaberdeen.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was Anilocra at en.wikipedia

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