The legal status of universities and colleges is defined in their own instruments of governance, and varies between pre-1992 universities and post-1992 universities and colleges.
The CUC Guide contains more detailed summaries of the position in the four UK jurisdictions. Choose from one of the four below:
England CUC Guide pages 36-40
Scotland CUC Guide pages 75-80
Wales CUC Guide page 97
Northern Ireland CUC Guide page 71