Queen Mary University of London

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is a public research university located in East London, part of the University of London federation. Established in 1785 as the London Hospital Medical College, it has grown through mergers with institutions such as Westfield College and St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College. Today, QMUL has around 32,000 students from more than 170 nationalities, organised across three faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and Medicine and Dentistry.
 

QMUL is a member of the Russell Group, representing the UK’s leading research universities. Its research quality ranks highly in the UK, with significant funding from research grants and contracts. The university is known for combining research and teaching, offering over 240 degree programmes, many shaped by cutting-edge research.
 

The main campus is at Mile End, with other sites in Whitechapel, Charterhouse Square, Ilford, and West Smithfield. QMUL also has international campuses in Malta, China, Paris, and other locations. It provides a wide range of facilities, including multiple libraries, student accommodation, and dedicated research centres.

The university has a history of social engagement, with roots in providing education to women and working-class communities in East London. It continues this mission with a diverse student body, including a high proportion from state schools and ethnic minorities. Queen Mary supports inclusive education, student employability, and offers extensive personal support.

Research at QMUL covers areas such as medicine, law, science, and the arts. It has produced nine Nobel laureates, including Ronald Ross and Sir Peter Mansfield. The university is committed to public engagement, innovation, and international collaboration.
 

Queen Mary aims to be the most inclusive research-intensive university globally by 2030. Its strategic priorities focus on education quality, research excellence, global partnerships, and financial sustainability. The university fosters a strong community of students, staff, and alumni, supporting creativity, resilience, and leadership for the future.

Queen Mary University of London’s origins date back to 1785 with the establishment of the London Hospital Medical College, the first official medical school in England. It was founded to provide formal medical education linked to the London Hospital, which had been serving London’s East End since 1740. Another significant early medical institution was St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, founded in 1843, which had earlier origins as a hospital dating to 1123 and provided medical teaching and training.
 

In 1850, Elizabeth Blackwell, who studied at St Bartholomew’s, became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and became an advocate for women’s medical education. Westfield College was founded in 1882 as a residential college dedicated to women’s higher education in London. It was one of the first such institutions in the UK, aimed at overcoming barriers faced by women in accessing university education.

The People’s Palace, opened in 1887 in London’s East End, aimed to provide education and cultural opportunities to working-class people. It included the People’s Palace Technical Schools, which offered evening classes in a variety of subjects. This technical school evolved into East London Technical College by 1896 and then East London College, admitted as a school of the University of London in 1907. East London College was focused on widening access to higher education for East London’s working population.
 

In 1934, East London College was granted a Royal Charter and renamed Queen Mary College, in honour of Queen Mary, wife of King George V. This marked its formal recognition as a degree-awarding institution within the University of London. The college continued to expand its academic departments, adding science, engineering, and medical faculties.
 

Throughout the 20th century, Queen Mary College developed its physical campus, especially at Mile End in East London. The institution absorbed various medical schools, including the London Hospital Medical College and St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, leading to the formation of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
 

In 1989, Queen Mary College merged with Westfield College to form Queen Mary and Westfield College. This merger consolidated academic activities mostly at the Mile End campus, with Westfield’s original site eventually sold.
 

The medical colleges merged with Queen Mary and Westfield College in 1995, establishing the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. This created a large multi-faculty institution combining humanities, sciences, and medical education.
 

The institution formally changed its public name to Queen Mary, University of London in 2000, reflecting its wider academic scope. Queen Mary University continued to expand its facilities, including the opening of the Westfield Student Village in 2004, providing modern student accommodation, and the Blizard Building in 2005, housing advanced research facilities for cell and molecular science.

In 2012, Queen Mary was admitted into the Russell Group, the UK’s association of leading research-intensive universities, marking its status as one of the country’s top research universities. The university strengthened its global reach with campuses and partnerships in China, Malta, Paris, and other locations, including a joint degree programme with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.
 

Queen Mary became the first Russell Group university to offer Degree Apprenticeships in 2014 and launched innovative degrees such as the social change degree apprenticeship.

Research at Queen Mary expanded with the establishment of interdisciplinary institutes focused on global health, digital environments, ethics, and creative industries. The university gained recognition for its high-quality research outputs, substantial research income, and contributions to public engagement and innovation.
 

By the mid-2010s, Queen Mary awarded its own degrees rather than University of London degrees, increasing autonomy in academic governance. The university’s student body became highly diverse, with over 170 nationalities represented and a high percentage of students from state schools and ethnic minorities.
 

Queen Mary’s financial resources grew steadily, with an income exceeding £700 million by 2023-24, largely from tuition fees and research grants.
 

In recent years, Queen Mary has invested in digital and physical infrastructure to support education and research. Its Strategy 2030 outlines goals to be the most inclusive research-intensive university globally, focusing on high-quality education, research excellence, student support, and global engagement.
 

As of 2025, Queen Mary University of London is a major institution with over 32,000 students and nearly 6,700 staff members. It operates across multiple London campuses and international sites. It maintains strong ties to its East London community and has produced nine Nobel laureates. The university continues to develop interdisciplinary research centres, foster inclusion and diversity, and expand global partnerships.

Queen Mary University of London offers a wide range of courses across its three main faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and Medicine and Dentistry. These courses cover more than 240 degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, designed to combine academic theory with practical experience.
 

In the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, students can study subjects such as Business and Management, Economics and Finance, English and Drama, Languages, Linguistics and Film, Geography, History, Law, and Politics and International Relations. The university’s School of Business and Management provides degrees in business studies, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship, often integrating real-world business projects and placements to enhance employability. The School of Law is well-regarded nationally and internationally, offering LLB degrees, postgraduate law courses, and specialised programmes such as commercial law and human rights law. Students in the humanities benefit from research-led teaching, often collaborating with global institutions.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering offers courses in Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Engineering and Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy. These programmes cover foundational and advanced topics in areas such as biomedical sciences, software engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, materials research, and astrophysics. The university also has dedicated research centres and institutes in bioengineering, sustainable engineering, intelligent transport, and computational biology. Many science and engineering degrees include opportunities for internships, industrial placements, and research projects, helping students gain practical skills and industry connections.
 

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry comprises Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides undergraduate degrees in Medicine (MBBS), Dentistry (BDS), and related health sciences. This faculty also offers postgraduate taught and research degrees in areas such as public health, clinical sciences, and medical research. The medical and dental programmes are closely linked to NHS hospitals in London, giving students practical clinical experience. Queen Mary is also home to specialised research institutes such as the Barts Cancer Institute, the Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, and the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine. These institutes support cutting-edge research and contribute to teaching in medical and health subjects.

In addition to the core faculties, Queen Mary offers a range of interdisciplinary and joint degree programmes. For example, it has a joint Bachelor of Science degree with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, offering degrees in Telecommunications and Management, as well as E-commerce Engineering and Law. The university also provides flexible learning option,s including part-time study, distance learning, and executive education, aimed at working professionals and lifelong learners.
 

Queen Mary places emphasis on inclusivity in education, actively recruiting students from under-represented backgrounds and offering support such as bursaries and scholarships. The university’s curriculum is regularly reviewed with input from students and employers to ensure relevance to the job market and society’s needs. Assessment methods include a combination of exams, coursework, projects, and presentations to support different learning styles.
 

The university also fosters student engagement outside the classroom through research internships, volunteering, and skills development programmes. Many courses incorporate opportunities for international study or exchanges, helping students gain global perspectives.

• QS World University Rankings 2025: 120th globally
• Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025: 39th nationally
• Complete University Guide 2025: 50th nationally
• Guardian University Guide 2025: 74th nationally
• Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2024: 201–300 globally
• Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025: 141st globally
• U.S. News & World Report 2022-23: 100th globally
• Ranked 13th in the UK by U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities
• Faculty of Medicine ranked in the UK top 15 by The Guardian

Approximately 90% of graduates secure jobs or further study within six months of completing their courses. The university’s Careers and Employability Service assists students with placements, internships, and job applications. Annually, thousands of students take part in work placements or internships linked to their degrees, helping them gain practical experience and improve their career prospects. Queen Mary’s connections with industry and local businesses provide many opportunities for students to enter the job market successfully.

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