Subject to subsection (2) below, the governing body of a designated institution may, with the consent of the Privy Council, change the name of the institution or of its governing body.

Where, as regards a designated institution, there is in any enactment (including an enactment contained in a subordinate instrument) or any other document having legal effect any express prohibition or restriction on the power of the governing body to change the name of the institution or governing body, nothing in subsection (1) above shall empower a governing body to change the name of an institution or its governing body without complying with any requirement of such enactment or other document as to such change of name.

Where any power is exercised under this section to change the name of a designated institution or of its governing body, the Privy Council shall have regard to the need to avoid any name which would be capable of causing confusion with the name of any other institution in the higher education sector.

This section is without prejudice to any other power to change the name of a designated institution or its governing body.

Nothing in this section or in any other power to change the name of a designated institution or of its governing body shall authorise the inclusion of the word “university” in the name of the institution or its governing body unless the consent of the Privy Council is given to such inclusion.