Universities Tests Act

The Universities Tests Act of 1871 in the United Kingdom was part of a broader movement to abolish religious tests for public office and university degrees. Historically, laws known as "Test Acts" required individuals to profess the established religion to be eligible for public positions or university roles.1

In England, this often meant receiving Holy Communion according to the Church of England's rites. While these tests were less strictly applied over time, they continued to exclude Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters from public life and higher education. The Universities Tests Act specifically removed these religious barriers in universities, except for divinity degrees and professorships. Similar provisions in Ireland were abolished in the same year, 1871. The Toleration Act of 1689 had previously granted freedom of worship to dissenting Protestants but did not remove social and political disabilities, including denial of political office.12