The College is an independent corporation whose legal status derives from a Royal Charter granted under Letters Patent in 1907. Its objects, powers and framework of governance are set out in its Charter and Statutes, which were governed by Her Majesty The Queen in 1998. On 4 April 2007 a Supplemental Charter and Statutes were granted by Her Majesty. This Supplemental Charter, which came into force on the date of the College's Centenary, 8 July 2007, established the College as a university with the name and style of "The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine".
The College is an exempt charity (not a registered charity) by virtue of the Exempt Charities Order 1962, and the Second Schedule to the Charities Act 1993. This means that the College enjoys all the privileges of charitable status (including exemption from income and corporation tax on its activities to the extent that they are in support of its primary purposes) without the obligation to register with, or submit accounts and annual returns to, the Charity Commission.
In accordance with the Charities Act 2006, the Charity Commission appointed the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) as the principal regulator for all English higher education institutions. Consequently, HEFCE is responsible for ensuring the College complies with charity law.
Further details of the College's legal status and governance (including links to the College's Charter and Statutes) can be found at the College Governance page: .