The University of London has abandoned its threat to expel any college that uses its own degree-awarding powers. The move, made at a council meeting last week, aimed to head off any future rift. Imperial College London and the London Business School already have the power to award their own degrees. King's College London and the London School of Economics have applied to the Privy Council for the powers, and University College London has previously said that it would apply to gain them. The University of London also admitted the Institute of Cancer Research to full membership. It was previously an associate institution of the university.