| Principals of University College |
| 1882-1895 | (Sir) William Peterson, Professor of Classics |
| 1895-1930 | John Yule Mackay, Professor of Anatomy |
| 1930-1939 | Sir James Colquhoun Irvine, Principal of St Andrews University and Acting Principal of the College |
| 1939-1946 | Angus Robertson Fulton, Professor of Engineering and Drawing |
| 1946-1954 | Major-General Douglas Neil Wimberley |
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| Masters of Queen's College |
| 1954-1958 | David Rutherford Dow, Professor of Anatomy |
| 1958-1966 | Arthur Alexander Matheson, Professor of Scots Law |
| 1966-1967 | James Drever, Principal-elect of the University |
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| Chancellors of the University |
| 1967-1977 | Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother |
| 1977-1992 | The Rt Hon The Earl of Dalhousie |
| 1992-2006 | Sir James Whyte Black |
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| Principals of the University |
| 1967-1978 | James Drever |
| 1978-1987 | Adam Matthew Neville |
| 1987-1994 | Michael John Hamlin |
| 1994-2000 | Ian James Graham-Bryce |
| 2000-2009 | Sir Alan Langlands |
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| Rectors of the University |
| 1968-1974 | Peter Ustinov |
| 1974-1980 | Clement Freud |
| 1980-1983 | Lord Mackie of Benshie |
| 1983-1986 | Gordon Wilson |
| 1986-1989 | Malcolm Gray Bruce |
| 1989-1992 | Paul Henderson Scott |
| 1992-1998 | Stephen Fry |
| 1998-2001 | Tony Slattery |
| 2001-2004 | Frederick MacAulay |
| 2004-2007 | Lorraine Kelly |
| 2007-2010 | Craig Murray |
