Skip to main content
Directorate of Governance and Legal Services

The history and governance of Queen Mary

Queen Mary's origins are rooted firmly in East London as early as 1885 when the Drapers' Company undertook to provide funds for the technical schools as part of the People's Palace Project. through to the development of East London College which was first admitted as a School of the University of London in 1907.

Given the multiple institutions in which lay the origins of Queen Mary it is difficult to determine a starting point for the governance of the College. The Charter of Incorporation of Queen Mary was granted in 1934, although the Council of East London College was established as a governing body distinct from the People's Palace in 1913.

There was originally some debate about the name of the College as a chartered incorporation. The proposed name of Queen's College was set aside as it was already in use, and following the Academic Board's non-acceptance of Victoria College as a recommendation, Queen Mary was finally agreed upon.

The Charter and Ordinances of the College constitute the governing instruments and principles on which the conduct of College affairs are based.

Charters were originally granted to Westfield College in 1933 and to Queen Mary College in 1934. The College is currently governed by the Charter of 1989 which has been amended on three occasions in recent years:

  • in 1995 to reflect the merger of the College with the Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • in 2008, following the College's successful application to the Privy Council for Degree Awarding Powers.
  • in July 2010, following a governance review process and resultant revocation of the Statutes.
  • in 2013, to legally change the name of Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London to Queen Mary University of London.

The Statutes build upon the core principles of the Charter and these are amplified by the Ordinances as the procedural rules for the conduct of College business. Subsidiary to the top-tier framework is a suite of strategies, regulations and policies. These are accessible through the Policy zone.

As a member of the University of London, the College also operates within the Federal statutory framework of the University of London's Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations  which were revised in 2008, following a review of the central University.

Back to top