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About us

Breadcrumb

  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. About us
  3. Sustainability
  4. Sustainable development goals
  5. Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  6. Operations

Operations

University governance

Queen Mary has elected representation on its highest governing body, the Council. Council is the University’s supreme governing body and has ultimate responsibility for Queen Mary’s strategic direction and affairs.

The Council membership includes elected members of academic and Professional Services staff, alongside the President of Queen Mary Students’ Union. Five staff members are elected to Council by staff across the University and have the same status and responsibilities as external Council members. The 2025 Council election information publishes the election process, results and supporting documents.

Students are represented through the President of Queen Mary Students’ Union, who sits on Council as an ex officio member. The Students’ Union President is elected by students through the Union’s own democratic elections.

Our Students’ Union

Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU) is an independent, student-led organisation formally recognised by the University through Ordinance 13. It plays an active role in University governance through elected student representatives, including the Students’ Union President’s membership of Council, ensuring students have a voice in institutional decision-making. Alongside providing independent academic advice, representation and welfare support, QMSU enriches student life through societies, sports clubs, volunteering, student media and events. The Union is democratically governed, with students electing six full-time Executive Officers each year to represent student interests and help shape the Union’s priorities, activities and budget.

Preventing bribery and corruption

Queen Mary's Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy sets out the University's zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and applies to all staff and individuals acting on its behalf. The policy defines responsibilities for identifying, preventing and reporting potential misconduct, requires staff to complete anti-bribery training, and establishes formal procedures for investigating concerns and referring serious cases to external authorities where appropriate. Approved by Council and updated in 2024, the policy reinforces Queen Mary's commitment to integrity, accountability and ethical conduct across all areas of its work.

Protecting academic freedom

Academic freedom and freedom of speech are protected through Queen Mary's Royal Charter, Ordinances and Code of Practice on Free Speech. The Code applies across teaching, research and wider university activities, protecting the right to question accepted ideas and express lawful views without fear of detriment. In 2025, the Code was updated to align with the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 following extensive staff and student consultation.

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