University of London

The University of London, established by royal charter in 1836, is a federal public research university based in London, England. Originally founded as an examining body for University College London and King’s College London, it has grown into the largest university in the United Kingdom by student numbers, comprising 17 member institutions and three central academic bodies. It serves over 219,000 internal students and approximately 48,000 distance learning students worldwide.

The university was the first in the UK to admit students without restrictions based on gender, race, or religion, and in 1878, it became the first university to award degrees to women. It pioneered distance learning, enabling students to study and take exams remotely, which has expanded access to higher education globally.

Throughout its history, the University of London has evolved from a degree-awarding examination board to a federal university with autonomous member colleges. Major institutions such as University College London, King’s College London, and the London School of Economics operate within the university but award their own degrees while remaining part of the federation.

The university has played a significant role during both World Wars by supporting students serving in the armed forces and prisoners of war through distance education. Senate House, its central headquarters, was used by the Ministry of Information during WWII.

In recent decades, the university has decentralised powers, allowing member institutions greater independence, including the right to seek university status under the University of London Act 2018. Some colleges, such as Imperial College London, have left the federation to become fully independent.

The University of London owns a substantial estate in Bloomsbury and other properties across London and internationally, including an institute in Paris. It is governed by a board of trustees and a Collegiate Council made up of heads of member institutions. The current Chancellor is The Princess Royal

The University of London was established by royal charter in 1836 as a federal public research university located in London, England. Initially, it functioned as a degree-awarding examination board for students holding certificates from University College London (UCL), King’s College London (KCL), and other institutions created for educational purposes within the United Kingdom. It is recognised as one of the three institutions claiming to be the third-oldest university in England. In 1900, it adopted a federal structure comprising constituent colleges. The university is incorporated under its fourth royal charter of 1863 and governed by the University of London Act 2018.

The university is made up of 17 member institutions and three central academic bodies. It serves approximately 48,000 distance learning external students and around 219,410 campus-based internal students, making it the largest university by student numbers in the UK. Member institutions operate with a significant degree of independence, including awarding their own degrees, while remaining part of the federal university. The 2018 act allowed member institutions to seek university status without leaving the federal structure; twelve colleges have indicated their intention to pursue this status.

The university’s alumni include around two million individuals worldwide, including at least fourteen monarchs or royalty, over sixty presidents or prime ministers (including five UK prime ministers), ninety-eight Nobel laureates, five Fields Medallists, four Turing Award winners, six Grammy winners, two Oscar winners, three Olympic gold medallists, and several figures regarded as "Fathers of the Nation."

University College London was founded in 1826 as London University, though without state recognition, providing a secular alternative to Oxford and Cambridge, which at the time restricted degrees to members of the Church of England. King's College London was established in 1829 as an Anglican college by royal charter. UCL petitioned for a royal charter to award degrees in 1830, which was initially rejected but renewed in 1834.

Due to opposition and restrictions at Oxford and Cambridge, the government issued two charters in 1836: one to UCL as a college without degree-awarding powers, and a second establishing the University of London as a metropolitan university empowered to grant degrees to students of UCL, KCL, and other institutions approved by the Crown.

Following the charter issued on 28 November 1836, regulations for degrees were developed. The death of King William IV in 1837 annulled the charter, but Queen Victoria reissued it that December. The university awarded its first degrees in 1839, all to students from UCL and KCL.

Initially, the university acted primarily as an examining body with authority to award degrees in arts, law, and medicine. It did not grant theology degrees. In medicine, it determined which medical schools met training standards, while in arts and law it examined students from affiliated colleges. The connection between colleges and the university was limited to examination rights.

In 1849, the university held its first graduation ceremony at Somerset House with approximately 250 graduates. The institution expanded the list of colleges whose students could sit University of London exams, including many provincial and international institutions. A new charter in 1858 opened examinations to all students, effectively ending formal affiliations. This reform also established a convocation for graduates and authorised degrees in science, awarding its first BSc in 1860.

Between 1867 and 1870, the university built new headquarters at 6 Burlington Gardens to accommodate its growing operations. The 1863 charter granted the right to award degrees in surgery, remaining the university’s primary legal foundation despite subsequent legislative reforms.

In 1878, the University of London became the first UK university to admit women to degrees through a supplemental charter. The first women graduated with BA degrees in 1880 and BSc degrees in 1881.

In response to criticism that the university was merely an examination centre, and to demands for a teaching university in London, the University of London Act 1898 was passed. This act reformed the university into a federal institution with responsibilities for monitoring courses and academic standards. The reforms were implemented in 1900, bringing many London colleges such as UCL, KCL, Bedford College, Royal Holloway, and the London School of Economics into the university as schools.

Colleges outside London retained the option to offer external degrees. UCL and KCL merged into the university in 1907 and 1910 respectively, although KCL's theological department retained a separate legal status.

Due to growth, the university moved its administration from Burlington Gardens to the Imperial Institute in South Kensington in 1900. By the 1920s, this location was also insufficient, leading to the acquisition of land in Bloomsbury near the British Museum. Architect Charles Holden designed Senate House, completed in 1937, which became the university's headquarters.

The University of London Officers’ Training Corps was formed in 1908 and played a significant role during the First and Second World Wars. During WWII, the colleges evacuated London, and Senate House was used by the Ministry of Information. Despite bombings, Senate House remained largely intact.

Post-war years saw expansion and consolidation, including the incorporation of Heythrop College in 1969. The University of London Act 1978 defined the university as a federation of self-governing colleges, initiating decentralisation of academic and financial powers to the colleges. UCL and KCL regained legal independence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, respectively. From 1993, government funding was allocated directly to colleges rather than the central university.

Smaller colleges were often amalgamated into larger institutions during the late 20th century. Some large colleges occasionally considered leaving the university but did not until the 21st century.

In 2002, a proposed merger between Imperial College and UCL raised questions about the future of the University of London but was rejected. The university continued decentralising powers and closed its alumni Convocation in 2003.

Imperial College formally left the University of London in 2007 to award its own degrees. In 2007, LSE, UCL, and KCL announced plans to award their own degrees while remaining in the federation.

Mergers occurred within the university, such as the School of Pharmacy joining UCL in 2012 and the Institute of Education in 2014.

Since 2010, some university support services have been outsourced, resulting in industrial actions over worker conditions.

City University London joined the University of London in 2016, becoming "City, University of London".

Reforms enacted in 2018 allowed member institutions to seek university status while remaining within the federation. Twelve colleges applied for university status but retained their University of London membership and degree awarding.

Heythrop College closed in 2018, the first major British higher education closure since the medieval University of Northampton.

In 2019, the University of London Press relaunched as an open-access publisher focused on humanities scholarship.

The university owns a central London estate in Bloomsbury with Senate House as headquarters. Many colleges have buildings on this estate and across London. The university also owns properties outside London and an institute in Paris.

The university is governed by a board of trustees and the Collegiate Council, comprising heads of member institutions. The Chancellor, currently The Princess Royal, oversees ceremonial functions.

There are 17 member institutions, including Birkbeck, Brunel, City St George's, Goldsmiths, KCL, LBS, LSE, LSHTM, Queen Mary, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Holloway, Royal Veterinary College, SOAS, UCL, and others. Many have the authority to award their own degrees.

The University of London previously had numerous external degree programmes and "schemes of special relation" with colleges worldwide, many of which later became independent universities.

The University of London offers a broad range of courses across its member institutions and central academic bodies, covering diverse fields of study. As a federal university, each member institution manages its own academic programmes, allowing for specialisation in particular disciplines while maintaining academic standards set by the university.

Among the courses available, the university provides undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in arts, humanities, sciences, law, medicine, social sciences, business, and engineering. Many member institutions offer specialised courses aligned with their expertise. For example, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) focuses on social sciences, economics, and politics, while the Royal Veterinary College offers veterinary medicine and related fields. The Institute of Cancer Research specialises in oncology and biomedical sciences, and the London Business School provides courses in management and finance.

Distance learning is a significant aspect of the University of London’s offerings. Through University of London Worldwide, students globally can access undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in various subjects without attending campus in London. Programmes such as the fully online BSc in Computer Science and law degrees have been developed to accommodate remote study, providing flexibility for students balancing work or other commitments.

The university also supports a range of professional and continuing education courses. These include short courses, diplomas, and certificates designed to update knowledge and skills in areas like education, health sciences, law, and management. Several colleges provide doctoral research programmes across disciplines, facilitating advanced study and research collaboration.

The School of Advanced Study, a central academic body, offers postgraduate courses and research opportunities in specialised humanities subjects including history, law, philosophy, languages, and Commonwealth studies. It supports interdisciplinary study and contributes to the university’s research environment.

The university ensures that course content and academic standards are monitored through its federal structure, with member institutions maintaining autonomy in admissions, teaching, and examinations. This arrangement allows for a diverse academic catalogue while upholding the quality associated with the University of London.

The University of London holds a recognised position as one of the oldest and most established universities in the United Kingdom, with a significant international reputation. 

Member colleges such as University College London (UCL), King's College London (KCL), the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and Queen Mary University of London are consistently placed among the top universities globally. For example, UCL and KCL frequently rank within the top 40 universities worldwide in rankings such as the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings. LSE is often ranked among the leading institutions for social sciences, economics, and politics.

The university’s distance learning programmes extend its academic influence globally, with students in over 190 countries, reflecting its leadership in transnational education.

Through its 2020-2025 strategic plan, the University of London aims to maintain and enhance its role as a world-class university by fostering collaboration among its members, expanding its global reach, and advancing education and research.

As of the 2023–2024 academic year, the University of London has not been included in major global rankings such as the QS Graduate Employability Rankings or the Global University Employability Ranking. However, the university has conducted its own graduate outcomes research for the 2022–2023 period, providing insights into the employment status of its graduates.

According to the University of London's Graduate Outcomes Report 2022–2023, 45% of graduates were engaged in paid employment, with 77% of those in paid roles holding highly skilled positions. Additionally, 13% were self-employed, running their own business, or developing a portfolio. A further 14% were engaged in further study, training, or research. However, 13% of graduates were unemployed and actively seeking work, while 14% were engaged in other activities or retired.

The data also revealed that 46% of graduates were engaged in highly skilled work, with 35% in highly skilled paid employment for an employer, 11% in highly skilled self-employment, and 5% pursuing higher-level study or research. 

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