Changes to the Visitor's jurisdiction were made by the Higher Education Act 2004. The Visitor no longer has any jurisdiction to consider complaints from students, or from members of the academic staff in relation to an employment dispute. The Visitor's jurisdiction is limited to adjudicating on the interpretation and application of the institution's Charter, Statutes, Ordinances etc, provided the point at issue is neither a student complaint or an employment dispute.

The Visitor may consider a petition only if the matter has been raised internally within the institution and the petitioner has been informed that a final decision has been taken.

The Visitor's role is to review the application by the University of its own internal procedures in dealing with the petitioner's grievance. The Visitor will not normally intervene unless it can be shown that the University has failed to observe its own rules or procedures; or that, although it has followed the proper procedures, it has reached a decision that no reasonable body (properly directing itself, and taking account of all relevant factors) could have arrived at.

If a preliminary examination indicates that there is a prima facie case the petition will be sent to the institution for its answer, on which the petitioner will have an opportunity to comment.  Cases are normally determined on the papers. 

Petitions should be addressed to

The Clerk of the Council
Privy Council Office
2 Carlton Gardens
London
SW1Y 5AA

and should be clearly marked "Petition to the Visitor".