Election

In February 2024, Chris Patten, Lord Patten of Barnes, announced that he will retire as Chancellor at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. The incoming Chancellor will serve a 10-year term, in accordance with the Statute IX amendments enacted earlier this year. To make this election accessible, the University of Oxford has decided to hold it online, enabling more than 250,000 eligible colleagues and alumni to participate. The list of candidates will be made public in early October and voting will take place in the third week of Michaelmas term (week starting 28 October). 

The election will use the Alternative Vote system, allowing voters to rank as many candidates as they wish. If fewer than 10 candidates stand, only one voting round will occur, eliminating lower-ranked candidates until one achieves 50%. If 10 or more candidates participate, a second round will take place in the sixth week of Michaelmas term (week starting 18 November), narrowing the field to five. The new Chancellor will be announced in the seventh week. Registered voters will receive voting links via email for both rounds, if two are required.

For more information on the election, please visit the University of Oxford website.