University of West London

The University of West London (UWL) is a public research university in the United Kingdom, with campuses located in Ealing, Brentford, and Reading, Berkshire. It traces its origins back to 1860 when the Lady Byron School was founded, later becoming Ealing College of Higher Education. The university took its current name in 2010, having previously been known as Thames Valley University since 1992.

UWL serves around 18,410 higher education students in 2023/24, including 14,050 undergraduates and 4,360 postgraduates. The university also supports further education students, totalling around 28,290. It has several campuses and sites, including the main campus at St Mary’s Road, Ealing, Paragon House in Brentford, and a site in Reading. Additionally, UWL operates an overseas branch in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
 

The university is organised into nine schools, covering areas such as business, hospitality and tourism, computing and engineering, music, nursing and healthcare, law, social sciences, biomedical sciences, and film and media design. UWL offers a wide range of courses from undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to PhDs and professional doctorates. It is also known for career-focused teaching, work placements, and connections with industry.
 

In recent years, UWL has invested significantly in campus facilities, including a $120 million expansion of the Ealing campus, which improved libraries, student union spaces, and teaching facilities. It holds national recognition for student satisfaction, ranking highly in the National Student Survey and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. The university also performs well in research, with 80% of its work rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework.
 

UWL supports a diverse student population, with nearly half from ethnic minority backgrounds and over half being female. The university commits to equality, social inclusion, and support services for student welfare. Its leadership is headed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter John. UWL aims to be a leading university in the UK to improve its research profile, sustainability performance, and student outcomes over the coming years.

The University of West London (UWL) traces its origins to 1860 with the founding of the Lady Byron School, located at what is now the university’s Ealing campus. This institution later became Ealing College of Higher Education. In January 1912, a selective secondary school was established in Slough on William Street, which evolved into Slough College of Further Education by the 1960s. Around the same period, the St Mary’s Road site was known as Ealing Technical College, offering CNAA degrees in law and other subjects. During the 1980s, this became Thames Valley College of Higher Education, which closed in 2011.
 

In 1991, four institutions – Ealing College of Higher Education, Thames Valley College of Higher Education, Queen Charlotte's College of Health Care Studies, and the London College of Music – merged to form the Polytechnic of West London. Two years later, under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, this polytechnic gained university status and was renamed Thames Valley University (TVU). TVU expanded in 1994 with the merger of Northwick Park School of Nursing, Riverside College of Nursing, and the North West Thames Regional Authority's AIDS unit. The following year, it incorporated the Berkshire College of Nursing and Midwifery.
 

In 2004, Thames Valley University merged with Reading College and the School of Arts and Design, which had origins dating back to 1947 as Reading Technical College. Its Reading campuses became part of TVU. In 2009, the university divested its further education courses and Kings Road site, transferring them to a relaunched Reading College. That same year, the university announced the closure of its Slough campus, relocating nursing courses to Reading and other courses to London campuses.

In August 2010, the institution officially changed its name to the University of West London, reflecting its focus on its Brentford and Ealing campuses. The university underwent a $120 million redevelopment of its Ealing campus, completed in 2015, which included new facilities such as a library and student union. In 2017, a $1.2 million investment upgraded the Paragon campus in Brentford, and a nursing simulation centre was added at the Reading campus.
 

The university continued to grow by merging with Drama Studio London in 2019 and Ruskin College, Oxford, in 2021. It also launched an overseas branch campus in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, in 2017. 

Currently, UWL is a public research university serving approximately 18,410 higher education students. It comprises nine schools covering a range of disciplines including business, music, healthcare, law, and film. The university maintains its commitment to career-focused education, research productivity, and student support services. Its leadership, headed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter John, continues to develop the university’s infrastructure and academic offerings to meet the demands of students and the wider community.

The University of West London (UWL) offers a wide range of courses across various fields of study. These courses are designed to provide practical knowledge and skills that prepare students for their chosen careers. The university’s courses are available at undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and professional levels.
 

At the undergraduate level, UWL provides degrees in business, computing and engineering, law, nursing and healthcare, music, hospitality and tourism, film, media and design, human and social sciences, and biomedical sciences. These courses often include opportunities for work placements, internships, and industry projects to enhance practical experience.
 

The Claude Littner Business School offers degrees in areas such as business management, marketing, accounting, and finance. Students can choose specialisations to focus on specific industries or skills. The School of Computing and Engineering covers subjects like software development, computer networks, cybersecurity, and electronic engineering.

UWL’s College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare offers nursing degrees, midwifery, healthcare practice, and other health-related courses. These programmes include clinical placements in hospitals and community settings. The School of Law provides courses in law, criminology, and policing studies, with practical training opportunities to prepare for legal careers.
 

For creative fields, the London College of Music delivers courses in music performance, music technology, composition, and music business. The London School of Film, Media and Design offers degrees in film production, media studies, animation, and graphic design. The London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism specialises in hospitality management, tourism, and event management.
 

At postgraduate level, the university offers master’s degrees, including taught and research programmes, in most of the same disciplines. These courses allow students to deepen their knowledge and develop research skills. The university also offers professional doctorates and PhD opportunities, supporting advanced study and academic research.

UWL supports degree apprenticeships, which combine work and study, allowing students to earn while they learn. It also provides professional development courses in areas like project management, nursing, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
 

The university’s courses emphasise career readiness, often including industry engagement, guest lectures, and access to modern facilities such as simulation centres for healthcare students, music studios, and film production equipment. Flexible study options, including part-time and distance learning, are available to accommodate different student needs.

• Ranked 30th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2025.
• Positioned 57th (equal) in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
• Placed 58th (equal) in the Complete University Guide 2025 for UK universities.
• Ranked between 1001 and 1200 globally by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
• Achieved 801-1000 ranking in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 based on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Ranked 101-200 for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Ranked 301-400 for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Awarded number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2024.
• Best modern London university (non-specialist) in the Complete University Guide 2025.

Approximately 85% of graduates secure jobs or further study within six months of finishing their courses. The university works closely with employers to offer work placements, internships, and career advice to support this outcome. In recent years, thousands of students have been placed in industries such as healthcare, business, law, media, and hospitality. UWL’s Careers and Employment Service provides guidance, workshops, and events to prepare students for the job market.

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