List of principals of Somerville College, Oxford

[7] The first female tutor at the hall was appointed in 1882, and in 1884 women were permitted to sit university examinations for the first time.

[7] Upon Shaw Lefevre's retirement, she was succeeded by Agnes Catherine Maitland, under whom Somerville was the first of the five women's halls which now formed part of the university to formally adopt the title of college.

[10] In 1927, Margery Fry, who had been appointed principal the previous year, spoke out publicly against the introduction of a limit on the numbers of students which the women's colleges could admit, but without success.

[16] In February 2025, it was announced by the College that Catherine Royle will succeed Royall as Principal in October 2025.

The college's current statute states that the principal is normally appointed for a fixed term of seven years.