The vice-chancellors listed below have served in that capacity for 15 years or more at a British university, a constituent institution of a federal university, or an institution that achieved that status during their period in office. Italics indicate people currently in office .
47 Years:
George Baird (Edinburgh 1793–1840).
43 Years: Sir
Henry Reichel (Bangor 1884–1927).
36 Years:
George Campbell (Aberdeen 1759–95).
35 Years:
Duncan Macfarlan(Glasgow 1823–58),
John Mackay (Dundee 1895–1930).
34 Years:
Hector Boece (Aberdeen 1500–34),
Thomas Hamilton (Queens Belfast 1889–1923), Sir
Hector Hetherington (Liverpool 1927–36, Glasgow 1936–61).
33 Years:
Neil Campbell (Glasgow 1728–61).
31 Years: Sir
Emrys Evans (Bangor 1927–58), Sir
James Irvine (St Andrews 1921–52),
Charles Thorp (Durham 1831–62).
30 Years:
William Robertson (Edinburgh 1762–92), John Murray (Exeter 1926-51), Sir
Albert Sloman (Essex 1962–87),
John Strang (Glasgow 1626–51), Sir
Aubrey Trotman-Dickenson (Cardiff 1968–93).
24 Years: Sir
William Halliday (KCL 1928–52),
William Leechman (Glasgow 1761–85).
23 Years:
James Duff (Durham Colleges 1937–60),
22 Years: Sir
David Brewster (St Andrews 1837–59), Sir
Thomas Holland (Imperial 1922–29, Edinburgh 1929–44),
Lord Stopford (Manchester 1934–56), Dame
Margaret Tuke (Bedford 1907–29),
Edward Wright (Glasgow 1662–84).
21 Years:
Bill Bevan (Cardiff 1966–87),
Henry Charteris (Edinburgh 1599–1620),
Geraldine Jebb (Bedford 1930–51), Sir
Edward Ross (SOAS 1916–37),
Tim Wheeler (Chester 1998–2019),
David Green (Worcester 2003–present),
David Latchman (Birkbeck 2003–present).
20 Years:
Lord Butterworth (Warwick 1965–85), Sir
Colin Campbell (Nottingham 1988–2008), Sir
Alexander Carr-Saunders (London 1937–57), Sir
Graeme Davies (Liverpool 1986–91, Glasgow 1995–2003, London 2003-10), Sir
John LeFevre (London 1842–62), Sir
Donald MacAlister (Glasgow 1909–29), Sir Philip Morris (Bristol 1946–66),
Sir Timothy O'Shea (Birkbeck 1998–2002, Edinburgh 2002–18), Sir
Cyril Philips (SOAS 1956–76), Sir
Frederick Rees (Cardiff 1929–49),
William Taylor (Glasgow 1803–23),
John Watson (St Andrews 1966–86).
19 Years:
Lord Chilver (Cranfield 1970–89),
Michael Driscoll (Middlesex 1996–2015), Thomas Edmonds (Aberystwyth 1872–91),
Anthony Kelly (Surrey 1975–94),
John Lee (Edinburgh 1840–59), Sir
Oliver Lodge (Birmingham 1900–19), Sir
Fraser Noble (Leicester 1962–76, Aberdeen 1976–81),
Gerald Pillay (Liverpool Hope 2003–22), Sir
Michael Sterling (Brunel 1990–2001, Birmingham 2001–09),
Frank Thistlethwaite (East Anglia 1961–80), Sir
Ralph Turner (SOAS 1937–56), Raymond Rickett (Middlesex 1972–91),
George Holmes (Bolton 2005–present).
18 Years:
William Beveridge (LSE 1919–37), Sir
Derman Christopherson (Durham Colleges 1960–63, Durham 1961-78),
Archibald Davidson (Glasgow 1785–1803),
Ifor Evans (Aberystwyth 1934–52),
John Viriamu Jones (Cardiff 1883–1901), Sir James Mountford (Liverpool 1945–63), Sir
William Muir (Edinburgh 1885–1903), Sir
Steve Smith (Exeter 2002–20),
William Wishart (Edinburgh 1736–54),
John Cater (Edge Hill 2006–present) 17 Years: Sir
Edward Appleton (Edinburgh 1948–65), Sir
Michael Arthur (Leeds 2004–13, UCL 2013–21),
Edith Batho (Royal Holloway 1945–62),
Baroness Blackstone (Birkbeck 1987–97, Greenwich 2004–11), Dame
Glynis Breakwell (Bath 2001–18), John Brooks (Wolverhampton 1998–2005, Manchester Met 2005–15),
Brian Cantor (York 2002–13, Bradford 2013–19), Sir
Samuel Curran (Strathclyde 1964–81),
Lord Flowers (Imperial 1973–85, London 1985–90), Sir
Alexander Grant (Edinburgh 1868–85), Sir
Peter Gregson (Queens Belfast 2004–13, Cranfield 2013–21),
Ernest Griffiths (Cardiff 1901–18),
Bertrand Hallward (Nottingham 1948–65), Sir
Martin Harris (Essex 1987–92, Manchester 1992–04),
Frank Hartley (Cranfield 1989–2006),
Hugh Nisbet (Heriot-Watt 1950–67), Sir
Franklin Sibly (Reading 1929–46),
Anthony Steel (Cardiff 1949–66), Geoffrey Sim (Sheffield 1974–91),
Lord Sutherland (KCL 1985–90, London 1990–94, Edinburgh 1994–2002),
Geoffrey Templeman (Kent 1963–80).
16 Years:
Charles Bosanquet (King's College, Newcastle 1952–63, Newcastle 1963–68), Sir Charles Carter (Lancaster 1964–80),
John Craven (Portsmouth 1997–2003), Frederick Crawford (Aston 1980-96), Sir Alfred Dale (Liverpool 1903–1919), Richard Davies (Swansea 2003–19), Sir
David Eastwood (East Anglia 2002–06, Birmingham 2009–21), Sir
John Kingman (Bristol 1985–2001), Sir
Alan Langlands (Dundee 2000–09, Leeds 2013–20), Sir
Jim McDonald (Strathclyde 2009-25), Sir
Peter Noble (KCL 1952–68),
Colin Riordan (Essex 2007–12, Cardiff 2012–23), Sir
Adrian Smith (QMC 1998–2008, London 2012–18), Sir
Michael Thompson (East Anglia 1980–86, Birmingham 1987–96).
15 Years: Sir
Robert Aitken (Birmingham 1953–68), Thomas Barley (Glasgow 1858–73),
Alfred Barry (KCL 1868–83), Dame
Janet Beer (Oxford Brooks 2007–15, Liverpool 2015–22), Duncan Bunch (Glasgow 1460–75), Sir Bob Burgess (Leicester 1999–2014), Dame
Janet Finch (Keele 1995–2010), Sir
David Harrison (Keele 1979–84, Exeter 1984–94), Richard Jeff (KCL 1843–68), Sir
Irvine Masson (Sheffield 1938–53), Malcolm McVicar (UCLan 1998–13), Sir
Alec Merrison (Bristol 1969–84),
Frank Morgan (Bath Spa 1997–2012),
Lord Morris (Leeds 1948–63), Sir
Howard Newby (Southampton 1994-2001, West England 2006–08, Liverpool 2008–14),
Paul O'Prey (Roehampton 2004–19),
Elizabeth Reid (Bedford 1849–64), Sir
Charles Robertson (Birmingham 1923–38),
David VandeLinde (Bath 1992–2001, Warwick 2001–06), Sir
Charles Wilson (Glasgow 1961–76), ==See also==