By 2028 he will have completed ten distinguished years in the role.
Speaking at a meeting of University Court – the institution’s governing body – Peter shared his decision, underlining his enduring commitment to Edinburgh with a pledge to remain fully engaged in his work as Principal until the last day of his tenure, which is expected to be in early 2028.
In a personal speech, he reflected on the challenges the University has navigated, as well as the many significant successes and improvements made since he joined in February 2018.
Massive and sustained investment in teaching and student wellbeing were among the achievements noted as a source of pride, alongside ongoing success in research and innovation, securing the UK’s next national supercomputer in Edinburgh, an unwavering commitment to social mobility, and major personal contributions to breaking all previous records for philanthropic fundraising during his term.
Under Sir Peter’s leadership, a student support model was introduced that has set a new standard across the sector. Edinburgh’s progress on sustainability initiatives had been recognised by our current ranking of fourth in the world (QS Sustainability Rankings).
Distinguished career
Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Sir Peter was President of the University of Hong Kong, having previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Bristol.
Educated at a state school in Cornwall, he was the first in his family to attend university, where he trained as a doctor. He has been open about how his own experience has shaped his commitment to widening participation and ensuring that education is accessible to people from all backgrounds.
As part of the speech delivered today (Monday, 5 October), Professor Sir Peter stated: “It has been my immense privilege to lead two of the world’s great universities. Every decision that I have made, and those of the executive teams I have led, have always kept the University’s best interests uppermost. We have always acted in good faith, believing we were doing the right things, which are very rarely the easiest things.”
He received a knighthood in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to higher education. Among numerous prestigious positions, for the past five years he has been the lead on international security for Universities UK and the Russell Group.
Commitment to teaching
Teaching has remained an important aspect of Sir Peter’s career. One of his first acts as Principal was to teach medical students on kidney physiology. Despite the demands of leading a major global institution, he has continued to commit to this and another teaching commitment every year.
Throughout his time at Edinburgh, Sir Peter has been outspoken about the funding challenges facing higher education, while consistently championing the vital role universities play in creating opportunity, transforming lives, driving economic growth and contributing to cultural and civic life.
He said: “I am keenly aware that higher education is at a pivotal moment. At Edinburgh, we are making the tough decisions necessary to restore our University to financial sustainability and resilience for the years ahead. There will be plenty of time for me to thank colleagues and reflect on my time here in due course. For now, I am fully focussed on our task at hand, giving it my full attention until the last day of my tenure in around 16 months’ time.”
Next steps
Following today’s announcement, the University will set out plans for a recruitment campaign to appoint a successor.
The agreed timeframe will allow the University to identify a new leader and ensure a smooth and orderly transition.