One candidate is an Anglican clergyman positioning himself as the “anti-woke candidate.” Another is a left-wing activist who proudly claims never to have “invaded any Middle Eastern countries.” There’s also a Zumba instructor who believes her cardio training equips her to handle the job’s demands.

These individuals are among the 38 contenders vying to become the next chancellor of the University of Oxford, a largely ceremonial but highly esteemed role as the titular leader of one of the world’s oldest universities.

For the past 21 years, Chris Patten, a former Conservative Party chair and the last colonial governor of Hong Kong, has held this position. His retirement in July sparked a lively selection process that has attracted a mix of high-profile public figures and a range of down-to-earth candidates aiming for a prestigious post within Oxford’s esteemed institutions.

“We’ve shifted from a traditional, insider-driven approach to a much more transparent selection process,” explained Jonathan Black, a fellow at New College, Oxford, and director of the university’s career services. He noted that this shift is necessary given the different challenges facing the university today compared to when Chris Patten took office.

This election marks the first time that voting will occur online. Approximately 26,000 Oxford alumni are registered to participate, alongside another 5,000 faculty and senior staff members, in contrast to around 8,000 who voted in Patten’s election back in 2003. The initial round of voting will narrow the candidate list to five, with a final selection made in late November.

Moving the election online has broadened the pool of candidates and made it more diverse, with several candidates of Indian or Pakistani descent. However, Oxford opted to exclude a candidacy from Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and an Oxford alumnus who gained fame as a cricket player.

The university has not disclosed the reasons behind Mr. Khan’s exclusion, but it cited its criteria, stating that the chancellor must be deemed “fit and proper” as a trustee under the UK’s Charities Act, particularly in light of Mr. Khan’s controversial legal challenges since his ousting in 2022.

Oxford, with roots tracing back to 1224, has seen its share of contentious chancellors, including Oliver Cromwell. Nevertheless, the position has remained largely ceremonial, characterized by leading formal processions with limited authority over the university’s notoriously independent colleges and departments. As former chancellor Roy Jenkins put it, the role is defined by “impotence assuaged by magnificence.”

Nonetheless, akin to Britain’s constitutional monarch, Charles III, the chancellor serves as a lasting emblem of Oxford’s academic integrity. Some attribute Mr. Patten with maintaining Oxford’s esteemed status in global academic rankings, despite its smaller endowment compared to American institutions like Harvard or Stanford.

“The king may represent a billionaire or two, but a chancellor embodies the potential of a major American fundraising campaign,” noted British historian Timothy Garton Ash, who holds positions at both Oxford and Stanford.

The splendor of the chancellor’s role has attracted an eclectic group of aspirants.

Tanya Tajik, the Zumba instructor, mentioned in her candidate statement that she manages a business with over 200 employees. However, she emphasized her interests in Indian classical music, art, and outdoor activities as key qualifications. “These are just a few of the things that I believe make me a suitable candidate,” she stated.

Harry Stratton, the left-wing activist, expressed his commitment to standing alongside staff members on picket lines advocating for better wages and with students opposing tuition hikes. He pledged to advocate for a minimum wage of £15, or approximately $19.60, for all university employees.

Matthew Firth, the clergyman, cited his background in astrophysics as a source of inspiration for seeking “transcendental values of truth, unity, beauty, and goodness.” He promised to issue a “strong public rebuke” to any efforts to undermine free speech and academic inquiry or to lead Oxford toward “wokery.”

These issues resonate with university leaders across the West, particularly in the U.S., where the push for diversity, equity, and inclusion has often created divisions on campuses. Protests concerning the war in Gaza have sparked significant unrest at institutions from Columbia University to the University of Southern California.

While pro-Palestinian demonstrations emerged at Oxford last spring, the university avoided the violence and arrests that occurred at some American campuses, partly due to a more restrained police response. Regardless, as chancellor, Mr. Patten would have lacked the authority typical of an American university president to impose order.

This does not imply that the chancellor cannot engage in public discourse on matters like academic freedom or higher education funding. The last Conservative government in Britain enacted a controversial law aimed at promoting free speech at universities, which critics argued could protect hate speech; the new Labour government has since halted it. Several candidates have vowed to uphold free speech, though none have done so as explicitly as Mr. Firth.

Despite the quirky nature of some candidates, the chancellorship is likely to be awarded to one of a select group of politically connected individuals from Oxford, akin to Mr. Patten and his many predecessors.

Notable candidates include Peter Mandelson, a former Labour minister also in contention for the British ambassadorship in Washington; William Hague, a former Conservative foreign secretary; and Elish Angiolini, a lawyer and principal of St. Hugh’s College, who leads a public inquiry into the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard, a London woman killed by a police officer.

Jan Royall, a Labour figure who previously led the House of Lords before becoming principal of Somerville College, Margaret Thatcher’s alma mater, is also in the mix. Mr. Black highlighted that political affiliations can sometimes work against candidates, given Oxford’s historic reluctance to honor Thatcher with a degree.

Nonetheless, Ms. Royall’s strong connections to Oxford position her as a leading contender, and along with Ms. Angiolini, they present the opportunity to elect the university’s first female chancellor. “There’s a compelling case for appointing a woman as chancellor for the first time,” stated Professor Garton Ash.

Mr. Patten, who chose not to comment on the election, combined dignity with political savvy during his tenure. He recounted that upon becoming chancellor, Oxford offered him a house, but he opted for an apartment to avoid the potential for sensational headlines in London tabloids.

“You need a touch of magic, too,” emphasized Professor Garton Ash. “But that doesn’t mean you have to be a grandee. Magic can take many forms.”