, former rector and
Member of Parliament The rector is elected every three years by the
matriculated students of the university. The current office of
rector, sometimes termed lord rector, was instituted by the
Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, passed by the
Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Universities (Scotland) Acts regulate the governance of the
ancient universities of Scotland, and require the election of a rector for the universities of
Aberdeen,
Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and St Andrews. The newer
University of Dundee also elects a rector due to its historical ties to St Andrews, whereas other modern universities do not.. In 2025 she was reinstated after winning her appeal. In January 2026 she was removed a second time for "repeatedly rejecting her obligations of collective responsibility and refusing to observe court’s ... basic rules of governance". In March 2026 she was reinstated after winning her second appeal. ==List of rectors==