The Principal of the University of Aberdeen is the working administrative head of the university, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the overall running of the university, presiding over the main academic body of the university, the Senatus Academicus.^[1] The principal is normally also created Vice-Chancellor of the university, enabling him to perform the functions reserved to the Chancellor in the latter's absence, such as the awarding of degrees.

Professor George Boyne succeeded Sir Ian Diamond as principal on 1 August 2018.^[2]

The current office of principal dates to 1858 with the passage of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858.^[3] The position was created with the amalgamation of the two existing ancient universities in Aberdeen, King's College (est. 1495) and Marischal College (est. 1593) in 1860.^[4]

• 1865—76 The Very Reverend Peter Colin Campbell
• 1876—85 The Very Reverend William Robinson Pirie
• 1885—1900 Sir William Duguid Geddes
• 1900—09 The Very Reverend John Marshall Lang
• 1909—35 Sir George Adam Smith
• 1936—48 Sir William Hamilton Fyfe
• 1948—62 Sir Thomas Murray Taylor
• 1962—76 Sir Edward Maitland Wright
• 1976—81 Sir Fraser Noble
• 1981—91 George Paul McNicol
• 1991—96 Maxwell Irvine
• 1996—2010 Sir Duncan Rice
• 2010—18 Sir Ian Diamond
• 2018—present George Boyne

• Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
• Rector of the University of Aberdeen
• Ancient university governance in Scotland