College (of a university)

FOIA Schedule 1 Part IV includes:

• 53 - (1) The governing body of—

• (b) a university receiving financial support under section 65 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992,
• (e) any college, school, hall or other institution of a university which falls within paragraph (b).

• (2) In sub-paragraph (1)—

• (a) “governing body” is to be interpreted in accordance with subsection (1) of section 90 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 but without regard to subsection (2) of that section,
• (d) in paragraph (e) “college” includes any institution in the nature of a college.

The Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Durham have independent colleges. Other universities may use the term college in relation to a part of the university that is not a separate legal entity (for example the University of York⁽¹⁾).

Cambridge

The University's Statute K, 3(a) defines:

3. In any Statute or Ordinance

(a) the term College shall include each of the Colleges severally known as Peterhouse, Clare College, Pembroke College, Gonville and Caius College, Trinity Hall, Corpus Christi College, King's College, Queens’ College, St Catharine's College, Jesus College, Christ's College, St John's College, Magdalene College, Trinity College, Emmanuel College, Sidney Sussex College, Downing College, Girton College, Newnham College, Selwyn College, Fitzwilliam College, Churchill College, [New Hall,] 〈Murray Edwards College,〉1 Darwin College, Wolfson College, Clare Hall, Robinson College, Lucy Cavendish College, St Edmund's College, Hughes Hall, Homerton College, and shall include Approved Foundations so far as is provided in the Statute relating thereto;

There are currently no Approved Foundations.

Theological Colleges

The Cambridge Theological Federation[1] consists of a number of theological colleges in Cambridge. They are not Colleges of the University, but the regulations for the B.Th. degree and for the Certificate in Theology for Ministry do require candidates to undertake a course of study at one of them. It is generally considered that the theological colleges are not close enough to the University to come within the scope of FOIA.

Durham

In Durham University's statutes, Statute 14(1) states that several Colleges are maintained "as part of the University". These are probably not public authorities in their own right.

Statute 14(2) states that the Council:

shall, subject to the provisions of these Statutes, continue to recognise as Colleges of the University, St Chad's College and St John's College and may recognise other Colleges in the County of Durham as recognised Colleges in the University. The Council shall have no property in or financial responsibility for the recognised Colleges;

Statute 14(3) states that the Council:

shall, subject to the provisions of these Statutes, continue to recognise as Licensed Halls of Residence Ushaw College, and may recognise other Colleges in the County of Durham as Licensed Halls of Residence. The Council shall have no property in or financial responsibility for the Licensed Halls of Residence;

St Chad’s College claims not to be a public authority.