Professor Hamilton will leave Oxford at the end of December and take over at NYU in January 2016.

Oxford had already announced last year that Professor Hamilton would be leaving, but previously said that he was planning on completing his seven-year term of office, which ends in September 2016.

Professor Hamilton, 62, is a former provost and professor of chemistry at Yale University.

He said of Oxford: ¡°It is a huge privilege to serve this great university and will remain so for the rest of my time here. It is premature to talk of achievements and legacies ¨C there is still much to be done on my watch ¨C but I am delighted to have been part of a very exciting, dynamic and successful time in Oxford¡¯s long and illustrious history.¡±

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Lord Patten, Oxford chancellor, said: ¡°Andy has shared his departure plans with me, and I know he will continue to serve Oxford for his remaining period in office with the same remarkable energy and commitment that have made his tenure as vice-chancellor such a success. When the time comes, he will leave Oxford with our best wishes and sincere thanks.¡±

Oxford said that the ¡°process of choosing a successor to Professor Hamilton in Oxford is well advanced. A committee charged with nominating the next vice-chancellor is expected to bring forward a name for approval by early June.¡±

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At NYU, Professor Hamilton will replace John Sexton, who is retiring.

William Berkley, chair of the search committee and chair-designate of the board of trustees at NYU, said: ¡°What focused us on Andrew Hamilton and set him apart from a formidable field of candidates was the unusual combination of his outstanding scholarship in his field, his record of achievement in leadership posts at top universities, his commitment to academic excellence and support for the faculty, his commitment to teaching and undergraduate education, his accomplishments in fundraising at Oxford, and his global background and outlook.

¡°We were also struck by his great intelligence, personal warmth, energy and entrepreneurial spirit, and natural feel for complex institutions.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com