Sir Christopher, the University of Surrey vice-chancellor, will start his two-year term in August 2013, taking over from Eric Thomas, the University of Bristol vice-chancellor.

His appointment was originally announced on 2 November after he was unopposed in nominations.

But UUK was forced to reopen nominations after it emerged that not all vice-chancellors had received an email asking them to put forward candidates.

But after the rerun closed today, UUK confirmed that there was no change to the outcome and Sir Christopher was again unopposed.

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The rerun came after John Craven, the University of Portsmouth vice-chancellor, pointed out the technical error to Nicola Dandridge, the UUK chief executive.

Sir Christopher may have been slightly anxious over Surrey's recent withdrawal from the 1994 Group throwing up problems in the nominations rerun.

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Four days after he was initially announced as president, Surrey announced it was pulling out of the 1994 Group - the seventh member to do so this year.

But in the event, any disgruntlement among 1994 Group vice-chancellors did not provoke them into a challenge for the presidency.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com