Congregation is the supreme governing body of the University, consisting of all Oxford academic staff, and more senior academic-related staff. Its overall membership is made up of several categories:
- the members of the faculties;
- the principal officers of the University (Chancellor, High Steward, Vice-Chancellor, the Proctors);
- the heads of all colleges, societies and Permanent Private Halls (PPHs);
- members of the governing bodies (plus principal bursar/treasurer if not a member of the governing body) of all colleges and societies (but not of the PPHs);
- staff working in any University department or institution (i.e. not including colleges) who hold posts on, or assessed as equivalent to, grades 8 and above;
- other postholders as defined by regulation (currently the Deputy Steward, Public Orator, Keeper of the Archives, Warden of Rhodes House, Director of the Maison Francaise, the Secretary to the Delegates, the Chief Executive and the Finance Director of the University Press, Tutors in Fine Art at the Ruskin School, and Emeritus Professors under the age of 75);
- anyone who was a member of Congregation under the statutes as they stood on 1 June 1977 so long as they possess the qualification or post which then entitled them to membership; and
- such other persons as Council shall determine (see further Council’s Standing Orders, paragraph 32 of Annex E).
Holding an MA is not a requirement for membership, but an MA (by resolution) may still offered to those members of Congregation in categories 2, 3 and 4 above who do not already hold, and are not qualified for, an MA. There are some other criteria listed in paragraph 33 of Annex E to Council's Standing Orders. The Congregation membership team are happy to help with queries on eligibility.
Procedure for registering membership
Since ordinary membership of a faculty/sub-faculty carries with it the eligibility to membership of Congregation, application to membership of the two types of body can be combined into one process; detailed procedures vary according to the basis on which an individual qualifies for membership.
The list below sets out who should submit the application form depending on the category of applicant.
| Post holder |
Who should submit the application |
| Holders of University academic appointments |
The relevant University appointing body |
| Holders of posts at Grade 8 or above, and of any departmental or faculty (as opposed to University) academic appointments (i.e. which are not published in the Gazette). |
The relevant department or faculty |
| Holders of qualifying college posts. |
The relevant college |
| Persons whom a Divisional or Faculty Board has decided at its discretion to make a member of a faculty or sub-faculty. |
The relevant Divisional or Faculty Board |
The Congregation Application Form should be submitted to the Congregation Membership Administrator.
