In 1959, he was appointed principal of the University College of Sussex, the first of several new universities termed 'plate glass universities', which became the University of Sussex (and Fulton Vice-Chancellor) when students started in 1961. He left in 1967, and during that time he also played a large part in the formation of the Universities Central Council on Admissions, serving as chairman between 1961 and 1964. He was a member of the Planning Committee of the Open University from 1967 to 1970.
From 1962 to 1965, Fulton was chairman of both the BBC and ITA committees on adult education. He served as a BBC governor from 1966 to 1971, serving twice as Vice-Chairman (1966–1967 and 1968–1971).[1]
Wilson invited him to chair the Committee on the Civil Service in 1964. Reporting in 1968, it found that administrators were not professional enough, and in particular lacked management skills, and included the creation of a Civil Service College as one of its 158 recommendations.
In 1968, Fulton's international work continued as he became chairman of the British Council, serving until 1971.
Fulton's parents were Angus Robertson Fulton, who was principal of University College, Dundee,[4] and his wife, Annie Scott. He married Jacqueline Wilkinson in 1939 and they had three sons and one daughter.