The Salford University in the United Kingdom has appointed a professor of the University of Cape Town as its new vice chancellor, it said on Friday.

Professor Martin Hall, an archaeologist who was until recently the deputy vice chancellor at UCT, will start in the new position in May.

Hall (56), who holds dual British and South African citizenship, graduated from Cambridge in 1974 before he moved to South Africa as the head of department in archaeology.

In his 25 years at UCT, he was director of the Centre for African Studies, dean of Higher Education Development and deputy vice chancellor.

Sapa