University constituencies

In British politics, University constituencies existed until 1948. These were a means whereby a university would elect members of Parliament. This meant in effect that graduates of certain universities were entitled to two votes, one for the electorate in which they lived and another for the university from which they graduated.

University constituencies, for Oxford and Cambridge in the House of Commons were abolished in 1948.

In Northern Ireland, the Queens University of Belfast was a constituency until the entry into force of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (1968 c. 20, Act of the Stormont Parliament).

In the Republic of Ireland, university constitutencies were abolished by the ELECTORAL (UNIVERSITY CONSTITUENCIES) ACT, 1936 of the 29th June, 1936.

Some other former countries of the British Empire, such as India, had university constituencies. The Indian Constitution, however, provided that these University Constituencies no longer have a force in law. Nonetheless, the President of India has the authority to appoint not more than twelve scientists, artists, or other persons who have special knowledge in similar fields, to the Rajya Sabha.