Regent's University London

Regent's University London is a private university located in the heart of Regent's Park, London. It was established in 1984 as Regent's College and gained university status in 2013. The university is part of Galileo Global Education, Europe’s largest higher education provider, joining a network of over 80 campuses worldwide.

The university’s campus has a rich history, originally built for Bedford College, the first higher education institution for women in the UK, founded in 1849. Bedford College moved to Regent’s Park in 1911 and operated there until its merger with Royal Holloway College in 1985. Following this, Rockford College, Illinois acquired the lease and founded Regent's College to offer British-focused study abroad programmes. Over time, various institutions such as the European Business School London and the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling joined the campus. These merged to form Regent's College London in 2006, which expanded its courses to include business, drama, media, fashion, and design.

Regent’s University London was awarded taught degree awarding powers in 2012 and received university status the following year. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes primarily in business, liberal arts, fashion design, and marketing. The student population is internationally diverse, with students representing over 140 nationalities.

The university received a Silver rating in the UK Teaching Excellence Framework in 2021, reflecting its commitment to quality teaching. Financially, the university reported an income of £47.0 million in 2023, mostly from tuition fees.

Governed by a Board of Directors and led operationally by the Vice-Chancellor, Regent’s University London maintains strong ties to its historical roots while providing a modern, future-oriented education. Its location within Regent’s Park offers students access to one of London’s largest outdoor spaces, complementing the university’s academic environment and community life.

Regent's University London, formerly known as Regent's College, is a private university located in central London. It forms part of Galileo Global Education, which is the largest higher education provider in Europe. The institution was established in 1984 and achieved university status in 2013.

The origins of the campus date back to the early 20th century. The site was originally part of the University of London’s Bedford College, which was founded in 1849 as the first higher education institution for women in the United Kingdom. Bedford College took a Crown lease on the South Villa Estate in Regent's Park in 1908 and moved there in 1911. The new purpose-built campus, designed by architect Basil Champneys in the Queen Anne style, opened in 1913. Bedford College’s initial academic programmes centred on science, arts, humanities, and teacher training. Key features of the campus included the Tate Library, funded by a donation from Lady Amy Tate, and an Astronomical Observatory dome, opened by the Astronomer Royal. During the Second World War, much of the campus suffered damage, but the Observatory dome remained.

In 1984, following Bedford College’s merger with Royal Holloway College and the subsequent relocation of the latter to Surrey in 1985, the Crown lease on the Regent's Park campus was acquired by Rockford College, Illinois (now Rockford University). Rockford College established Regent's College to offer a ‘study abroad’ programme and courses with a British focus. The first students arrived in 1985. Over time, other institutions joined the campus, including the European Business School London in 1985, the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in 1990, and Regent’s Business School in 1997. These entities merged formally in 2006, becoming Regent's College London. From 2010, the college expanded its course offerings to include drama, film, media, fashion, and design, notably through the acquisition of American InterContinental University London (AIU).

In July 2012, Regent's College was awarded taught degree awarding powers (TDAP) by the UK government, enabling it to confer its own degrees. This status was renewed and made permanent in 2024. Subsequently, in 2013, Regent’s College was granted university status and renamed Regent's University London. In the same year, it acquired AIU London. Research degree validation, previously undertaken by the University of Wales, transferred to the University of Northampton in 2016 following changes in the University of Wales’ validation policies.

In September 2020, Regent’s University London became part of Galileo Global Education. This acquisition integrated Regent’s into a network spanning 80 campuses and 42 institutions across 13 countries. This network includes institutions such as the Paris School of Business, Instituto de Estudios Universitarios in Mexico, Macromedia University in Germany, and Istituto Marangoni in Italy and the UK.

The university operates as a company limited by share capital. Its Board of Directors oversees strategic direction, with Nick Whitaker serving as chair. Operational management is led by an executive team headed by the Vice-Chancellor and CEO.

Academically, Regent’s offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, liberal arts, fashion, design, and marketing. As of 2022, the university had 1,865 students representing 140 nationalities. The student body includes domestic UK students, those from the European Union, and a significant proportion from countries outside Europe. The university’s teaching excellence was recognised with a Silver award in the UK Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2021.

Financially, in the year ending June 2023, Regent’s University London reported total income of £47.0 million and total expenditure of £42.4 million. Tuition fees accounted for the majority of income, while staff costs and operational expenses formed the main elements of expenditure. The university held net assets of £28.1 million and maintained cash reserves of £25.7 million.

Situated in the heart of Regent’s Park, the university campus maintains a strong historical connection to the area. Regent’s Park, designed in 1811 by John Nash, is a significant London landmark encompassing residential terraces, gardens, a lake, and several institutions including London Zoo and the Royal Botanic Society. The campus retains buildings from its Bedford College era, including Reid Hall, which still serves as student accommodation.

The university’s student union supports a range of clubs and societies and promotes initiatives such as Students in Free Enterprise.

Regent’s University London offers a diverse range of courses across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, focusing primarily on business, liberal arts, fashion design, and marketing. The university’s academic portfolio is designed to meet the demands of a global student body and evolving industry needs.

At the undergraduate level, courses cover areas such as business management, international business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. These programmes are structured to provide foundational knowledge alongside practical skills, with an emphasis on real-world applications. Additionally, Regent’s offers courses in liberal arts, including subjects like psychology, film and media, and communications, allowing students to develop critical thinking and analytical abilities.

The university has developed a strong focus on fashion and design education. Through its acquisition of American InterContinental University London and partnerships within the Galileo Global Education network, Regent’s provides specialised courses in fashion design, fashion marketing, and related creative industries. These programmes combine theoretical frameworks with hands-on learning opportunities, preparing students for careers in various sectors of the fashion industry.

Postgraduate offerings include master’s degrees in business administration (MBA), marketing, finance, and international relations, among others. These courses are tailored for students seeking to deepen their expertise or advance their professional careers. The university also supports research degrees such as MPhil and PhD, with validation arrangements transferred to the University of Northampton since 2016.

Course fees for undergraduate programmes range approximately from £18,500 to £21,000 per annum as of February 2022. The university maintains an average academic staff of around 150 full-time equivalent members, supported by management and administrative personnel to ensure effective delivery of its academic programmes.

Regent's University London is ranked 4th in London for learning community and 6th in London for student satisfaction, according to the National Student Survey (NSS) 2021. According to Top Universities, it is also ranked 3rd in London for student satisfaction and 9th in England for overall student satisfaction. In addition, Regent's University London is ranked #277 among National Universities by U.S. News. 

Regent's University London graduates show strong job integration rates, with a high percentage securing highly skilled employment and pursuing further education. A recent UK-wide survey of graduates, conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), revealed that 85% of Regent's graduates had positive outcomes, including employment or further education, which is 6% above the national average. 

Among those with known outcomes, 86% were in highly skilled employment, a rate 6% above the national average. Additionally, 22% held positions as Managers, Directors, and Senior Officials, outpacing the national average by 16%. Notably, 28% of early-career alumni were self-employed, a figure 20% higher than the national average .

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