The University of London is a federal University, established by Royal Charter in 1836 and recognised globally as a world leader in Higher Education. It consists of 19 self-governing Colleges of outstanding reputation, together with 10 prestigious Institutes of the School of Advanced Study. The University has a very diverse student population of over 120000 students, with a further 50000 students studying by distance learning on the University's International Programmes.
UoL is dedicated to the prosecution of research across all fields of study at the highest international standards It seeks to represent nationally and internationally the highest standards and enduring values of the university tradition, including academic freedom, intellectual integrity and equality. It makes available, in conjunction with the Colleges, awards of the University of the highest academic standards throughout the UK and overseas through the University of London International Programmes.
Colleges
Birkbeck, Central School of Speech and Drama, Courtauld Institute of Art, Goldsmiths, Heythrop College, Institute of Cancer Research, Institute of Education, King’s College London, London Business School, London School of Economics and Political Science, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Queen Mary, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Holloway, Royal Veterinary College, St George’s University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, School of Pharmacy, UCL.
History
The University of London was granted its first charter in 1836 but, for example, St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School (now part of Queen Mary) and St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School (now part of King’s College London) both have twelfth-century origins.
The University of London has been a pioneering force in higher education from its early years. The London syllabus introduced many new subjects into university education, including modern languages and laboratory science. Its degrees have always been awarded without discrimination on religious, social or sexual grounds. In 1878 London became the first university in the UK to admit women to its degrees.
By 1908, the University of London had over 4000 registered students, exceeding the universities of both Oxford and Cambridge, becoming the largest university in the UK and the fifth largest in the world. After 1858 its degrees were made accessible to any qualified candidate in the United Kingdom and it was the first university to offer opportunities to study for its degrees worldwide, to those who were not able to study on campus in London, by distance learning throughout the world through the University of London International Programmes. The University of London International Programmes is the oldest distance learning programme in the world. Allied prisoners of war studied for University of London qualifications in Prisoner of War camps (1914-1918 ανδ 1939-1945).
Distance Learning: University of London International Programmes is known and respected worldwide. Over the years, many exceptional people who have studied with the University of London have shaped our world. They include over 57 Nobel Prize winners and over 35 past or present Heads of State, like John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. Proven quality The student, and his employer, can rely on the quality of his award. His assessment, whether by unseen written exam or coursework, is set and marked by the same academics who assess students studying courses on campus in London. Morever, the quality has been endorsed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) – the UK’s independent body for safeguarding the quality and standards of Higher Education.
It confirmed that confidence can be placed in the University’s management of the quality of its programmes and of the standards of awards made through the University of London International Programmes. The overall costs of a student will be substantially lower than if he comes to London to study full time on campus. With no travel, relocation or accommodation costs it represents excellent value for money.
