The University of Oxford is set for a female leader for the first time in its history, with Louise Richardson in line for the post.

The institution has nominated Professor Richardson, who is the principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews, to succeed the current vice-chancellor, Andrew Hamilton, at the start of 2016.

Her nomination must now be approved by Congregation, Oxford¡¯s parliament of dons.

She said: ¡°I feel enormously privileged to be given the opportunity to lead this remarkable institution during an exciting time for higher education.¡±

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She added: ¡°I am very much looking forward to working with talented, experienced and dedicated colleagues to advance Oxford¡¯s pre-eminent global position in research, scholarship and teaching."

Professor Richardson hit the headlines last year during the run-up to the Scottish independence referendum when she spoke to?The Times?about the potential effects of cutting the university off from the UK research councils.

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It was later reported that Alex Salmond, then first minister of Scotland, attempted to demand she issue a clarification and a statement praising the Scottish government.

Professor Richardson has led St Andrews for six years and was previously executive dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. In a message to staff and students at St Andrews she said that she had ¡°mixed emotions¡± about leaving the institution, which had provided her with the ¡°most rewarding and enjoyable¡± years of her professional life.

Lord Patten of Barnes, chancellor of Oxford and chair of the nominating committee, said that the panel had been ¡°deeply impressed¡± by Professor Richardson's ¡°strong commitment to the education and scholarly values which Oxford holds dear¡±.

¡°Her distinguished record both as an educational leader and as an outstanding scholar provides an excellent basis for her to lead Oxford in the coming years,¡± he added.

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Professor Hamilton, who is to become president of New York University, said he was delighted by her nomination and wished her every success in the position. ¡°The role of vice-chancellor is both challenging and rewarding and I look forward to making the transition as smooth and straightforward as possible in the coming months,¡± he said. ??

St Andrews said that Professor Richardson has overseen ¡°one of the most successful chapters in the 600-year history of the university¡± and the search for her successor would start immediately.

Professor Richardson, who was born in the Republic of Ireland, is a scholar in the field of terrorism and security studies.

holly.else@tesglobal.com