University of London

University of London

Coat of arms
Latin:Universitas Londiniensis
Type	Public
Established	1836; 188 years ago(1836)
Chancellor	The Princess Royal
Vice-Chancellor	Wendy Thomson
Visitor	The Lord President of the Councilex officio
Academic staff	100 (central academic bodies; 2018/19)[1]
Administrative staff	895 (central academic bodies; 2018/19)[1]
Students	205,400 internal;[2]37,395 inUniversity of London Worldwide[3](2021–22)
Undergraduates	116,585 internal;[2]30,350 University of London Worldwide[3](2021–22)
Postgraduates	88,815 internal;[2]7,045 University of London Worldwide[3](2021–22)
Location	London , England, United Kingdom
Deputy Vice Chancellor	David Latchman[4][5]
Chair of the Board of Trustees	Richard Dearlove[6]
Colours
Affiliations	Association of Commonwealth Universities European University Association Universities UK
Website	london.ac.uk

TheUniversity of London(UoL; abbreviated asLondor more rarelyLondininpost-nominals) is afederal^[a]publicresearch universitylocated inLondon, England, United Kingdom. The university was established byroyal charterin 1836 as a degree-awardingexamination boardfor students holding certificates fromUniversity College London,King's College Londonand "other such institutions, corporate or unincorporated, as shall be established for the purpose of Education, whether within the Metropolis or elsewhere within our United Kingdom".^[8]It is one of three institutions to have advertised themselves as thethird-oldest university in England.^[b][9][10]It moved to a federal structure with constituent colleges in 1900.^[11]It is now incorporated by its fourth (1863) royal charter and governed by the University of London Act 2018 (c. iii).^[12]

The university consists of17 member institutionsand three central academic bodies.^[13][14]The university has around 48,000distance learning external students^[15]and around 219,410campus-based internal students, making it thelargest university by number of studentsin the United Kingdom. For most practical purposes, ranging from admissions to funding, the member institutions operate on an independent basis, with many awarding their own degrees whilst remaining in the federal university.

Under the 2018 act, member institutions ceased to be termed colleges and gained the right to seek university status without having to leave the federal university: Birkbeck, City, Goldsmiths', King's College London, the LSE, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Queen Mary, the Royal Veterinary College, Royal Holloway, SOAS, St George's and UCL have all indicated that they intend to do so.^[16]

As of 2015, there are around 2 millionUniversity of London alumniacross the world,^[17]including at least 14 monarchs or royalty, more than 60 presidents or prime ministers in the world (including 5prime ministers of the United Kingdom),^[c]2Cabinet Secretaries of UK,^[d]98Nobel laureates,^[e]5Fields Medallists, 4 Turing Award winners, 6Grammywinners, 2Oscarwinners, 3Olympic gold medalistsand the "Father of the Nation" of several countries.^[f]The university ownsUniversity of London Press.

All universities are different, but some are more different than others. The University of London is the most different of them all.

—  Negley Harte, Historian^[18]

University College London(UCL) was founded under the name "London University" (but without recognition by the state) in 1826 as a secular alternative to the universities ofOxfordandCambridge, which limited their degrees to members of theestablishedChurch of England.^[19]As a result of the controversy surrounding UCL's establishment,King's College Londonwas founded as anAnglicancollege by royal charter in 1829.^[20][21]

In 1830, UCL applied for a royal charter as a university which would allow it to confer degrees. This was rejected, but renewed in 1834.^[22]In response to this, opposition to "exclusive" rights grew among the London medical schools. The idea of a general degree awarding body for the schools was discussed in the medical press^[23]and in evidence taken by the Select Committee on Medical Education.^[24][25]However, the blocking of a bill to open up Oxford and Cambridge degrees to dissenters led to renewed pressure on the Government to grant degree awarding powers to an institution that would not apply religious tests,^[26][27][28]particularly as the degrees of the newUniversity of Durhamwere also to be closed to non-Anglicans.^[29]

In 1835, the government announced the response to UCL's petition for a charter. Two charters would be issued, one to UCL incorporating it as a college rather than a university, without degree awarding powers, and a second "establishing a Metropolitan University, with power to grant academical degrees to those who should study at the London University College, or at any similar institution which his Majesty might please hereafter to name".^[30]

Following the issuing of its charter on 28 November 1836, the new University of London started drawing up regulations for degrees in March 1837. The death ofWilliam IVin June, however, resulted in a problem – the charter had been granted "during our Royal will and pleasure", meaning it was annulled by the king's death.^[31]Queen Victoria issued a second charter on 5 December 1837, reincorporating the university. The university awarded its first degrees in 1839, all to students from UCL and King's College.

The university established by the charters of 1836 and 1837 was essentially an examining board with the right to award degrees in arts, laws and medicine. However, the university did not have the authority to grant degrees in theology, considered the senior faculty in the other three English universities. In medicine, the university was given the right to determine which medical schools provided sufficient medical training. In arts and law, by contrast, it would examine students from UCL, King's College, or any other institution granted a royal warrant, effectively giving the government control of which institutions could submit students for examination by the university. Beyond this right to submit students for examination, there was no other connection between the colleges and the university.

In 1849 the university held its first graduation ceremony atSomerset Housefollowing a petition to the senate from the graduates, who had previously received their degrees without any ceremony. About 250 students graduated at this ceremony. TheLondon academic robesof this period were distinguished by their "rich velvet facings".^[32]

The list of institutions whose students could enter University of London examinations grew rapidly by 1858, including all other British universities as well as over 30 other schools and colleges outside of London. In that year, a new charter opened up the examinations to everyone, effectively abolishing the weak link between the university and the colleges.^[33][34][35]This led theEarl of Kimberley, a member of the university's senate, to tell the House of Lords in 1888 "that there were no Colleges affiliated to the University of London, though there were some many years ago".^[36]The reforms of 1858 also incorporated the graduates of the university into aconvocation, similar to those of Oxford, Cambridge and Durham, and authorised the granting of degrees in science, the first BSc being awarded in 1860.^[37]

The expanded role meant the university needed more space, particularly with the growing number of students at the provincialuniversity colleges. Between 1867 and 1870 a new headquarters was built at6 Burlington Gardens, providing the university with exam halls and offices.

In 1863, via a fourth charter, the university gained the right to grant degrees in surgery.^[38]This 1863 charter remains the authority under which the university is incorporated, although all its other provisions were abolished under the University of London Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict.c. 62).

In 1878, the university set another first when it became the first university in the UK to admit women to degrees, via the grant of a supplemental charter. Four female students obtained Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1880 and two obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in 1881, again the first in the country.^[39]

University of London Act 1898
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make further provision with respect to the University of London.
Citation	61 & 62 Vict.c. 62
Dates
Royal assent	12 August 1898
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977
Status: Repealed

In the late 19th century, the university came under criticism for merely serving as a centre for the administration of tests, and there were calls for a "teaching university" for London. UCL and KCL considered separating from the university to form a separate university, variously known as the Albert University, Gresham University and Westminster University. Following tworoyal commissionstheUniversity of London Act 1898(61 & 62 Vict.c. 62) was passed, reforming the university and giving it a federal structure with responsibility for monitoring course content and academic standards within its institutions. This was implemented in 1900 with the approval of new statutes for the university.^[40]

• 
  Somerset Housein 1836. The university had its offices here from 1837 to 1870.
• 
  King William IV, who granted the University of London its original royal charter in 1836
• 
  An illustration of 6 Burlington Gardens, home to the university administration from 1870 to 1900

The London University should stand to the British empire as the great technological institution in Berlin, the Charlottenburg, stood to the German empire.

—  Lord Roseberyin 1903^[41]

The reforms initiated by the 1898 act came into force with the approval of the new federal statutes in 1900. Many of the colleges in London became schools of the university, including UCL, King's College,Bedford College,Royal Hollowayand theLondon School of Economics.Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841, became an official divinity school of the university in 1901 (the new statutes having given London the right to award degrees in theology) andRichmond (Theological) Collegefollowed as a divinity school of the university in 1902;Goldsmiths Collegejoined in 1904;Imperial Collegewas founded in 1907;Queen Mary Collegejoined in 1915; theSchool of Oriental and African Studieswas founded in 1916; andBirkbeck College, which was founded in 1823, joined in 1920.

The previous provision for colleges outside London was not abandoned on federation, instead London offered two routes to degrees: "internal" degrees offered by schools of the university and "external" degrees offered at other colleges (now theUniversity of London flexible and distance learning programmes).

UCL and King's College, whose campaign for a teaching university in London had resulted in the university's reconstitution as a federal institution, went even further than becoming schools of the university and were actually merged into it. UCL's merger, under theUniversity College London (Transfer) Act 1905(5 Edw. 7. c. xci), happened in 1907. The charter of 1836 was surrendered and all of UCL's property became the University of London's. King's College followed in 1910 under theKing's College London (Transfer) Act 1908(8 Edw. 7. c. xxxix). This was a slightly more complicated case, as the theological department of the college (founded in 1846) did not merge into the university but maintained a separate legal existence under King's College's 1829 charter.^[42]

The expansion of the university's role meant that the Burlington Garden premises were insufficient, and in March 1900 it moved to the Imperial Institute in South Kensington.^[43]However, its continued rapid expansion meant that it had outgrown its new premises by the 1920s, requiring yet another move. A large parcel of land inBloomsburynear theBritish Museumwas acquired fromthe Duke of BedfordandCharles Holdenwas appointed architect with the instruction to create a building "not to suggest a passing fashion inappropriate to buildings which will house an institution of so permanent a character as a University." This unusual remit may have been inspired by the fact thatWilliam Beveridge, having just become director of LSE, upon asking a taxi driver to take him to the University of London was met with the response "Oh, you mean the place near theRoyal School of Needlework".^[44]Holden responded by designingSenate House, the current headquarters of the university, and at the time of completion the second largest building in London.^[45]

The University of London contingent of theOfficers' Training Corps(OTC) was formed in 1908 and had enrolled 950 students by autumn 1914.^[46]During the First World War, the OTC supplied 500 officers to theBritish Armybetween August 1914 and March 1915.^[47]Some 665 officers associated with the university died during the First World War^[48]and 245 officers in the Second World War.^[49]As of 2004^[update]the London University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC), drawn from 52 universities and colleges in the London area (not just the University of London), was the largest UOTC in the country, with about 400 officer cadets.^[50]It has been based atYeomanry Housein Handel Street, London since 1992. In 2011, Canterbury Company was founded to recruit officer cadets from universities in Kent.^[51]

During theSecond World War, the colleges of the university (with the exception of Birkbeck) and their students left London for safer parts of the UK, while Senate House was used by theMinistry of Information, with its roof becoming an observation point for theRoyal Observer Corps. Though the building was hit by bombs several times, it emerged from the war largely unscathed; rumour at the time had it that the reason the building had fared so well was thatAdolf Hitlerhad planned to use it as his headquarters in London.^[52]

The latter half of the last century was less eventful. In 1948, Athlone Press was founded as the publishing house for the university, and sold to the Bemrose Corporation in 1979,^[53]subsequent to which it was acquired byContinuum publishing.^[54]However, the post-WWII period was mostly characterised by expansion and consolidation within the university, such as the acquisition as a constituent body of the Jesuit theological institution Heythrop College on its move from Oxfordshire in 1969.

University of London Act 1978
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make new provision for the University of London and to repeal the University of London Act 1926.
Citation	1978c. ii
Dates
Royal assent	23 March 1978
Other legislation
Repealed by	University of London Act 1994
Status: Repealed

The University of London Act 1978 (c. ii) saw the university defined as a federation of self-governing colleges, starting the process of decentralisation that would lead to a marked transference of academic and financial power in this period from the central authorities in Senate House to the individual colleges. In the same period, UCL and King's College regained their legal independence via acts of parliament and the issuing of new royal charters. UCL was reincorporated in 1977, while King's College's new charter in 1980 reunited the main body of the college with the corporation formed in 1829. In 1992 centralised graduation ceremonies at theRoyal Albert Hallwere replaced by individual ceremonies at the colleges.^[55]One of the largest shifts in power of this period came in 1993, whenHEFCE(now the Office for Students, OfS^[56]) switched from funding the University of London, which then allocated money to the colleges, to funding the colleges directly and them paying a contribution to the university.^[40]

There was also a tendency in the late 20th century for smaller colleges to be amalgamated into larger "super-colleges". Some of the larger colleges (most notably UCL, King's College, LSE and Imperial) periodically put forward the possibility of their departure from the university, although no steps were taken to actually putting this into action until the early 21st century.

In 2002,Imperial CollegeandUCLmooted the possibility of a merger, raising the question of the future of the University of London and the smaller colleges within it. Subsequently, considerable opposition from academic staff of both UCL and Imperial led to a rejection of the merger.^[57]

Despite this failure, the trend of decentralising power continued. A significant development in this process was the closing down of theConvocationof all the university's alumni in October 2003; this recognised that individual college alumni associations were now increasingly the centre of focus for alumni.^[58]However, the university continued to grow even as it moved to a looser federation, and, in 2005, admitted theCentral School of Speech and Drama.

On 9 December 2005, Imperial College became the second constituent body (after Regent's Park College) to make a formal decision to leave the university. Its council announced that it was beginning negotiations to withdraw from the university in time for its own centenary celebrations, and in order to be able to award its own degrees. On 5 October 2006, the University of London accepted Imperial's formal request to withdraw from it.^[59]Imperial became fully independent on 9 July 2007, as part of the celebrations of the college's centenary.

TheTimes Higher Education Supplementannounced in February 2007 that the London School of Economics, University College London and King's College London all planned to start awarding their own degrees, rather than degrees from the federal University of London as they had done previously, from the start of the academic year starting in Autumn 2007. Although this plan to award their own degrees did not amount to a decision to leave the University of London, theTHESsuggested that this "rais[ed] new doubts about the future of the federal University of London".^[60]

TheSchool of Pharmacy, University of London, merged with UCL on 1 January 2012, becoming the UCL School of Pharmacy within the Faculty of Life Sciences.^[61]This was followed on 2 December 2014 by theInstitute of Educationalso merging with UCL, becoming the UCL Institute of Education.^[62]

Since 2010, the university has been outsourcing support services such as cleaning and portering. This has prompted industrial action by the largelyLatin Americanworkforce under the "3Cosas" campaign (the 3Cosas –3 things– beingsick pay,holiday pay, and pensions for outsourced workers on parity with staff employed directly by the university). The 3Cosas campaigners were members of theUNISONtrade union. However, documents leaked in 2014 revealed that UNISON representatives tried to counter the 3Cosas campaign in meetings with university management.^[63]The 3Cosas workers subsequently transferred to the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain.

Following good results in theResearch Excellence Frameworkin December 2014,City University Londonsaid that they were exploring the possibility of joining the University of London.^[64]It was subsequently announced in July 2015 that City would join the University of London in August 2016.^[65]It will cease to be an independent university and become a college as "City, University of London".^[66]

University of London Act 2018
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make new provision for the making of statutes for the University of London; and for related purposes.
Citation	2018c. iii
Dates
Royal assent	20 December 2018
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes	University of London Act 1994
Text of statute as originally enacted

In 2016 reforms were proposed that would see the colleges become member institutions and be allowed to legally become universities in their own right. A bill to amend the university's statutes was introduced into the House of Lords in late 2016. The bill was held up by procedural matters in the House of Commons, with MPChristopher Chopeobjecting to it receiving a secondreadingwithout debate and no time having been scheduled for such debate. Twelve of the colleges, including UCL and King's, said that they would seek university status once the bill was passed.^[67][68]The bill was debated and passed its second reading on 16 October 2018.^[69]It received royal assent on 20 December 2018, becoming the University of London Act 2018 (c. iii)^[70]The twelve colleges (namely, all except The Courtauld, ICR, LBS, RAM and RCSSD) subsequently applied for university status, although stating they did not intend to change their names, with notice being given in theLondon Gazetteon 4 February 2019.^[71]

In 2018,Heythrop Collegebecame the first major British higher education institution to close since the medievalUniversity of Northamptonin 1265.^[72]Its library of over 250,000 volumes was moved to theSenate House Library.^[73]

In 2019, theUniversity of London Press, founded in 1910, was relaunched as a fullyopen-accesspublisher specializing in "distinctive scholarship at the forefront of theHumanities".^[74]

The university owns a considerablecentral Londonestate of 12 hectares of freehold land inBloomsbury, nearRussell Square tube station.^[75]

Some of the university's colleges have their main buildings on the estate. The Bloomsbury Campus also contains eight Halls of Residence andSenate House, which housesSenate House Library, the chancellor's official residence and previously housed theSchool of Slavonic and East European Studies, now part ofUniversity College London(UCL) and housed in its own new building. Almost all of theSchool of Advanced Studyis housed in Senate House and neighbouring Stewart House.^[76]

The university also owns many of the squares that formed part of the Bedford Estate, includingGordon Square,Tavistock Square,Torrington SquareandWoburn Square, as well as several properties outside Bloomsbury, with many of the university's colleges and institutes occupying their own estates across London:

• Clare Market,
• TheAldwych, where theLondon School of Economics and Political Scienceand part ofKing's College Londonare based
• The North and East Wings ofSomerset House, the location for theCourtauld Institute of ArtandKing's College London, respectively
• St Bartholomew's Hospital,
• theUniversity of London Boat ClubinChiswick, and
• The campus ofRoyal Holloway and Bedford New Collegeincluding the historicFounder's Building.

The university also has several properties outside London, including a number of residential and catering units further afield and the premises of theUniversity of London Institute in Paris, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in French and historical studies.

The university's board of trustees, the governing and executive body of the university, comprises eleven appointed independent persons – all of whom are non-executive; the vice-chancellor, the deputy vice chancellor and four heads of member institutions, appointed by the Collegiate Council.

The board of trustees is supported by the Collegiate Council, which comprises the heads of the member institutions of the university, the deputy vice-chancellor, the dean and chief executive of the School of Advanced Study, the chief executive of the University of London Worldwide and the Collegiate Council's chair, the vice-chancellor.

The chancellors of the University of London since its founding are as follows:

• William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Burlington, 1836–1856
• Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, 1856–1891
• Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby, 1891–1893
• Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell, 1893–1899
• John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, 1899–1902
• Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, 1902–1929
• William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp, 1929–1931
• Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, 1932–1955
• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, 1955–1981
• Princess Anne(The Princess Royalfrom 1987),1981–present

For most practical purposes, ranging from admission of students to negotiating funding from the government, the 17 member institutions are treated as individual universities. Legally speaking they are known asRecognised Bodies, with the authority to examine students and award them degrees of the university. Some member institutions also have the power to award their own degrees instead of those of the university; those which exercise that power include:^[77]

• Birkbeck, University of London
• City, University of London
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• King's College London
• London Business School
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Queen Mary University of London
• Royal Academy of Music
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• Royal Holloway, University of London
• Royal Veterinary College
• SOAS, University of London
• St George's, University of London
• University College London

Most decisions affecting the member institutions and institutes of the University of London are made at the level of the member institutions or institutes themselves. The University of London does retain its own decision-making structure, however, with the Collegiate Council and board of trustees, responsible for matters of academic policy. The Collegiate Council is made up of the heads of member institutions of the university.^[7]

The 12 institutes, orListed Bodies, within the University of London offer courses leading to degrees that are both examined and awarded by the University of London. Additionally, twelve universities in England, several in Canada and many in otherCommonwealthcountries (notably in East Africa) began life as associate colleges of the university offering such degrees. By the 1970s, almost all of these colleges had achieved independence from the University of London. An increasing number of overseas and UK-based academic institutes offer courses to support students registered for theUniversity of Londonflexible and distance learning diplomas and degrees and the Teaching Institutions Recognition Framework enables the recognition of these institutions.

Under the University of London Act 2018 (c. iii), a member institution is defined as "an educational, academic or research institution which is a constituent member of the University and has for the time being―(a) the status of a college under the statutes; or (b) the status of a university". As of February 2019, 12 of the colleges of the university have said they are seeking university status. This does not affect their status as member institution of the university or the degrees they award.^[16]The member institutions of the University of London (as of September 2018) are:^[78]

College name	Year entered	Photograph	Students	Has power to award degrees?[77]
Birkbeck, University of London(BBK)	1920		11,425	Yes
City, University of London(CUL)[65]	2016		19,975	Yes
Courtauld Institute of Art(CIA)	1932		545	No
Goldsmiths, University of London(GUL)	1904		10,090	Yes
Institute of Cancer Research(ICR)	2003		280	No
King's College London(KCL)	1836 (Founding college)		33,110	Yes
London Business School(LBS)	1964		2,305	Yes
London School of Economics and Political Science(LSE)	1900		12,050	Yes
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine(LSHTM)	1924		1,090	Yes
Queen Mary University of London(QMUL)	1915		21,665	Yes
Royal Academy of Music(RAM)	2003		860	Yes
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama(RCSSD)	2005		1,100	Yes
Royal Holloway, University of London(RHUL)	1900		11,530	Yes
Royal Veterinary College(RVC)	1915		2,510	Yes
SOAS, University of London(SOAS)	1916		5,795	Yes
St George's, University of London(SGUL)	1838		4,330	Yes
University College London(UCL)	1836 (Founding college)		41,095	Yes

• University of London (Worldwide)
• University of London Institute in Paris, formerly known as the British Institute in Paris
• School of Advanced Studycomprising the following institutes:
  • theInstitute of Advanced Legal Studies
  • theInstitute of Classical Studies
  • theInstitute of Commonwealth Studies
  • theInstitute of English Studies
  • theInstitute of Historical Research
  • theInstitute of Latin American Studies
  • theInstitute of Modern Languages Research
  • theInstitute of Philosophy
  • theWarburg Institute

Some colleges and schools of the University of London have been amalgamated into larger colleges, closed or left the University of London. Those amalgamated with larger colleges include (listed by current parent institution):

King's College London

• Chelsea College–Manresa Road,Chelsea
• Queen Elizabeth College–Campden Hill Road,Kensington
• Institute of Psychiatry– split fromMaudsley Hospital, merged with King's College London in 1997^[79]
• United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals– merged with King's College London in 1998, now part ofKing's College School of Medicine and Dentistry

Queen Mary, University of London

• Westfield College– Kidderpore Avenue,Hampstead; now part of Queen Mary and Westfield College (the registered royal charter title of Queen Mary, University of London)
• St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College- Merged 1995
• London Hospital Medical College- Merged 1995

Royal Holloway, University of London

• Bedford College– Inner CircleRegent's Park; now part of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (the legal title of Royal Holloway, University of London, under its establishing act of parliament)
• Institute of Musical Research– moved fromSchool of Advanced Studyin 2015

UCL

• The School of Pharmacy, University of London; merged with UCL on 1 January 2012
• School of Slavonic and East European Studies
• Institute of Education; merged with UCL on 2 December 2014
• Middlesex Hospital Medical School; merged with UCL in 1987
• Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine: merged with UCL in 1998

Institutions that have closed or left the university include:

• Heythrop College– closed 2018
• University Marine Biological Station, Millport, closed in 2013, now run byField Studies Council
• Imperial College London– became independent in July 2007^[80]This had previously absorbed:
  • Wye CollegeinWye, Kent; now closed
  • Royal Postgraduate Medical School; now part of theImperial College School of Medicine
  • St. Mary's Hospital Medical School; merged 1998
  • Charing Cross Hospital Medical School: merged 1997
  • Westminster Hospital Medical School: merged 1997
• New College London, closed in 1980.
• The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine,Chelsea, London, founded 1891. In 1978 became ascience funding body
• Richmond (Theological) Collegewas closed as a theological college in 1972 with the campus being transferred toThe American International University in London
• Regent's Park Collegemoved to Oxford in 1927, becoming apermanent private hallof theUniversity of Oxfordfrom 1957

A number of major universities originated as university colleges teaching external degrees of the University of London. These include:

• Mason College, Birmingham, awarded a royal charter in 1900 as theUniversity of Birmingham.
• Owen's College Manchester, became part of theVictoria Universityin 1880, awarded a royal charter in 1903 as theVictoria University of Manchester.
• University College Liverpool, became part of theVictoria Universityin 1884, awarded a royal charter in 1903 as theUniversity of Liverpool.
• Yorkshire College, Leeds, became part of theVictoria Universityin 1887, awarded a royal charter in 1904 as theUniversity of Leeds.
• Firth College, Sheffield, awarded a royal charter in 1905 as theUniversity of Sheffield.
• Bristol University College, awarded a royal charter in 1909 as theUniversity of Bristol.
• University College Reading, awarded a royal charter in 1926 as theUniversity of Reading.
• Ceylon University College, established by theCeylon University Ordinance Actin 1942 as theUniversity of Ceylon.
• University College Nottingham, awarded a royal charter in 1948 as theUniversity of Nottingham.
• Hartley University College, Southampton, awarded a royal charter in 1952 as theUniversity of Southampton.
• University College Hull, awarded a royal charter in 1954 as theUniversity of Hull.^[81]
• University College of the South West of England, Exeter, awarded a royal charter in 1955 as theUniversity of Exeter.
• University College Leicester, awarded a royal charter in 1957 as theUniversity of Leicester.
• University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Cardiff, joined theUniversity of Walesin 1893 and becameCardiff Universityin 2005.
• University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, joined theUniversity of Walesin 1893 and becameAberystwyth Universityin 2007.
• University College of North Wales, Bangor, joined theUniversity of Walesin 1893 and becameBangor Universityin 2007.

A number of other colleges had degrees validated and awarded by the University of London.^[82]

• St. Patrick's, Carlow College, Ireland – from 1840 to 1892 students studied for primary degrees in Arts (BA) and Law (BLL).^[83]
• St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Ireland – from 1849 the University of London, allowed Thurles to offer degrees.^[84]
• Huddersfield College
• Queen's College, Birmingham^[85]
• Stonyhurst College, a Catholic college in Lancashire.
• Wesleyan Collegiate Institution, Taunton, which became Queen's College, Taunton.
• Ceylon Technical College, 1933 – 1950 students studied for engineering degrees in BSc in engineering.
• University College Lahore
• Singapore Institute of Management
• Northwest College for Advanced Learning, India

Between 1946 and 1970, the university entered into 'schemes of special relation' with university colleges in theCommonwealth of Nations. These schemes encouraged the development of independent universities by offering a relationship with the University of London. University colleges in these countries were granted aroyal charter. An academic board of the university college negotiated with the University of London over the entrance requirements for the admission of students, syllabuses, examination procedures and other academic matters. During the period of the special relationship, graduates of the colleges were awarded University of London degrees.

Some of the colleges which were in special relation are listed below, along with the year in which their special relation was established.

• 1946 – The University College of the West Indies, until 1961. (Now theUniversity of the West Indies)^[86]
• 1948 – University College of the Gold Coast, (nowUniversity of Ghana)
• 1948 – University College, Ibadan, until 1967. (Now theUniversity of Ibadan)^[87]
• 1956 – University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now theUniversity of Zimbabwe).
• 1961 – Royal College Nairobi (now theUniversity of Nairobi).
• 1963 –University of East Africa(In 1970, it was split into three independent universities, which are now:University of Nairobi,Makerere University, andUniversity of Dar es Salaam)

In 1970, the 'Schemes of Special Relation' were phased out.

The University of London received a grant of arms in April 1838.^[9]The arms depict across of St Georgeupon which there is aTudor rosesurrounded by detailing and surmounted by a crown. Above all of this there is a blue field with an open book upon it.

The arms are described in the grant as:

Coat of arms of the University of London

Granted 1838 Escutcheon Argent, the Cross of St George, thereon the Union Rose irradiated and ensigned with the Imperial Crown proper, a Chief Azure, thereon an open Book also proper, Clasps gold [9]

The University of London had established a rudimentary code foracademic dressby 1844. The university was the first to devise a system of academic dress based on faculty colours, an innovation that was subsequently followed by many other universities.

Colleges that award their own degrees have their own academic dress for those degrees.

In 2019/20, approximately 5% of all UK students attended one of the University of London'saffiliated schools.^[2]Additionally, over 50,000 students are part ofUniversity of London Worldwide.^[15]

The ULU building onMalet Street(close to Senate House) was home to theUniversity of London Union, which acted as thestudent unionfor all University of London students alongside the individual college and institution unions. The building is now rebranded as "Student Central, London", offering full membership to current University of London students, and associate membership to students at other universities, and other groups. The union previously ownedLondon Student,the largest student newspaper in Europe, which now runs as a digital news organisation^[88][89]

Though most sports teams are organised at the college level,ULUran several sports clubs of its own, some of which (for example the rowing team) compete inBUCSleagues. The union also organised leagues for college teams to participate in. These leagues and sports clubs are supported by Friends of University of London Sport which aims to promote them.

In addition to these, ULU catered for sports not covered by the individual colleges through clubs such as theUniversity of London Union Lifesaving Club, which helps students gain awards and learn new skills inlifesavingas well as sending teams to compete throughout the country in theBULSCAleague.

ULU also organised several societies, ranging from Ballroom and Latin American Dance toShaolin Kung Fu, and from theUniversity of London Big Bandto theBreakdancingSociety. Affiliated to the university is theUniversity of London Society of Change Ringers, a society for bellringers at all London universities.

The university runs theUniversity of London Boat Club.

The university operates eight intercollegiatehalls of residence, which accommodate students from most of its colleges and member institutions:^[90]

• Bonham Carter and Warwickshire House, Gower Street, WC1E^[91]
• College Hall,Malet Street, WC1E^[92]
• Connaught Hall,Tavistock Square, WC1H^[93]
• Eleanor Rosa House, Lett Road, E15^[94]
• Garden Halls,Cartwright Gardens, WC1H^[95]
• Handel Mansions, Handel Street, WC1N^[96]
• International Hall, Lansdown Terrace, WC1N^[97]
• Nutford House, Brown Street, W1H^[98]

• Notable University of London alumni include:
• 
  Mahatma Gandhi, ^[g] Father of the Nationfor India
• 
  Nelson Mandela(LLB; Hon. DSc Econ 1996), Father of the Nationfor South Africa
• 
  John Snow(MB, MD), founder of epidemiology
• 
  Tom Wolf(MPhil 1978), 47th Governor of Pennsylvania
• 
  Achim Steiner(MA 1985), Administrator of the UNDP
• 
  Tedros Adhanom(MSc 1992), 8th Director-General of the World Health Organization
• 
  Shankar Sharma(DPA) ^[h], 9th President of India ^{[99] [100]}
• 
  Jeremy Heywood(MSc 1986), 11th Cabinet Secretary
• 
  Margrethe II(Hon. LLD), Queen of Denmark
• 
  Aung San Suu Kyi(MPhil 1988), 1st State Counsellor of Myanmar
• 
  Field Marshal John Harding, Chief of the Imperial General Staff
• 
  Fred Mulley(BSc), former British Secretary of State for Defence
• 
  Leszek Borysiewicz(PhD 1986), ^[i]345th Vice-Chancellorof the University of Cambridge
• 
  Timothy L. Killeen(BSc, MSc, PhD), 20th President of the University of Illinois System
• 
  Peter Mathieson(MBBS 1983), Vice-Chancellor and Principalof the University of Edinburgh
• 
  Mick Jagger, English singer and composer.
• 
  George Soros(BSc 1951, MSc 1954), billionaire investor and philanthropist.
• 
  Camilla, Queen of the United Kingdom
  and other Commonwealth realms. ^[j]
• 
  Meir Shamgar(LLB), 7th Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Israel.
• 
  Emmerson Mnangagwa(LLB 1972), 3rd President of Zimbabwe.

A large number of famous individuals have passed through the University of London, either as staff or students, including at least 12 monarchs or royalty, 52 presidents or prime ministers, 84Nobel laureates, 6Grammywinners, 2Oscarwinners, 1Ekushey Padakwinner and 3Olympic gold medalists. Thecollegiateresearch universityhas also producedFather of the Nationfor several countries, including several members ofColonial ServiceandImperial Civil Serviceduring theBritish Rajand theBritish Empire.

Staff and students of the university, past and present, have contributed to a number of important scientific advances, including the discovery ofvaccinesbyEdward JennerandHenry Gray(author ofGray's Anatomy). Additional vital progress was made by University of London people in the following fields: the discovery of the structure ofDNA(Francis Crick,Maurice WilkinsandRosalind Franklin); the invention of modern electronic computers (Tommy Flowers); the discovery ofpenicillin(Alexander FlemingandErnest Chain); the development ofX-raytechnology (William Henry BraggandCharles Glover Barkla); discoveries on the mechanism of action ofInterleukin 10(Anne O'Garra); the formulation of the theory ofelectromagnetism(James Clerk Maxwell); the determination of thespeed of light(Louis Essen); the development ofantiseptics(Joseph Lister); the development offibre optics(Charles K. Kao); and the invention of the telephone (Alexander Graham Bell).

Notable political figures who have passed through the university includeBilly Strachan,Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal,Romano Prodi,Junichiro Koizumi,Aung San Suu Kyi,Ramsay MacDonald,Desmond Tutu,Basdeo Panday,Taro Aso,Walter Rodney,Nelson Mandela,B. R. AmbedkarandMahatma Gandhi.35th President of the United StatesJohn F. Kennedyfiled an application and paid fees^[101]for a year's study at the LSE, but later fell ill and left the university without taking a single class.^[101]

• Notable University of London academic staff include:
• 
  Victoria Coleman, 37th Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force
• 
  T. S. Eliot, poet and editor
• 
  Alexander Fleming, physician and microbiologist
• 
  John Kay, 1st Dean of Saïd Business School

In the arts, culture and literature the university has produced many notable figures. Writers include novelistsMalcolm Bradbury,G. K. Chesterton,H. G. Wells,Thomas Hardy,Arthur C. ClarkeandJ. G. Ballard.FuturologistDonald Prell. Artists associated with the university includeJonathan Myles-Lea, and several of the leading figures in theYoung British Artistsmovement (includingIan Davenport,Tracey EminandDamien Hirst). Outstanding musicians across a wide range include the conductorSir Simon Rattle, the sopranoFelicity Lottand both members ofGilbert and Sullivan, toMick Jagger,Elton John,Dido, Pakistani singerNazia Hassan(known in South Asia as the "Queen of Pop"), and Hong Kong singerKaren Mok, composerFlorence Margaret Spencer Palmer, and members of the bandsColdplay,Keane,Suede,the Velvet Underground,Blur,Iron Maiden,Placebo,the Libertines, andQueen.

The university has also played host to film directors (Christopher Nolan,Derek Jarman), philosophers (Karl Popper,Roger Scruton), explorers (David Livingstone), international academics (Sam Karunaratne), Riccarton High School Head of Commerce, Tom Neumann and leading businessmen (Michael Cowpland,George Soros).

The University of Londonpresented its first honorary degreesin June 1903.^[102][103]This accolade has been bestowed on severalmonarchs of the United Kingdom, many members ofBritish royal familyand a wide range of distinguished individuals from both the academic and non-academic worlds.^[103]Honorary degrees are approved by the Collegiate Council, part of the university's governance structure.^[103]

• 
  George V(LLD 1903), King of the United Kingdomand the British Dominionsand Emperor of India ^{[9] [104]}
• 
  Edward VIII(MCom 1921, DSc 1921), King of the United Kingdomand the British Dominionsand Emperor of India ^[9]
• 
  Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother(DLitt 1937), Queen consort of the United Kingdom
  and the British Dominions ^[k]
• 
  Queen Elizabeth II(BMus 1946, LLD 1951), Queen of the United Kingdomand
  the other Commonwealth realms ^{[105] [l]}
• 
  Princess Margaret(DMus 1957), ^[106]Member of British royal family
• 
  Winston Churchill(LLD 1948), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ^[m]
• 
  Albert Einstein(1936), Theoretical physicistand Recipient of Nobel Prize in Physicsin 1921
• 
  Alexander Fleming(1948), Recipient of Nobel Prizein Medicinein 1945
• 
  René Cassin(1969), Recipient of Nobel Peace Prizein 1968
• 
  Amartya Sen(DSc Econ 2000), Recipient of Nobel Prizein Economics1998
• 
  Lars Ahlfors(1978), Finnish mathematicianRecipient of Fields Medalin 1936. ^{[107] [108]}
• 
  Franklin D. Roosevelt(1941), 32nd President of the United States
• 
  John Sentamu(2010), Archbishop of Yorkand Primate of England

In recent years the University of London has seen much controversy surrounding its treatment of staff and students.

In 2012, outsourced cleaning staff ran the "3 Cosas" campaign, fighting for improvements in three areas – sick pay, holiday and pensions. After over a year of high-profile strikes, protests and occupations, concessions were made by the university in terms of sick pay and holidays, however these improvements were nowhere near to the extent of what was being demanded by the campaign.^[109]

In 2013, after a student occupation in favour of ten demands, including fair pay for workers, a halt to privatisation of the university and an end to plans to shut down the university's student unionULU, police were called, resulting in the violent eviction and arrests of over 60 students, as well as police violence towards students outside supporting the occupation.^[110]After these events, a high-profile "Cops Off Campus" demonstration was held against the university's security policies, with thousands in attendance.^[111]

In 2018, an article was published byVicethat reported on concerns over the university's security arrangements at Senate House, where over 25 extra private security staff had been brought in. Students who had been involved in an occupation of Senate House were barred from using university facilities, and there were numerous allegations of students being verbally, physically and sexually assaulted by the temporary security staff.^[112]

In December 2018, theIndependent Workers' Union of Great Britaincalled for a boycott of events at the university's central administration buildings, including Senate House, with the aim of putting pressure on the University of London to bring outsourced cleaning, catering and security staff in-house by targeting a revenue stream worth around £40 million per year.^{[113][114][115]}

In May 2019, the congress of theUniversity and College Union, voted to boycott the University of London's central administration buildings including Senate House, raising the pressure on the University of London.^[116]Dion Georgiou, an academic supporting the boycott and a member of UCU, wrote a comment piece forThe Guardianshortly before the vote, urging the congress to approve the motion and claiming that "[outsourced workers] face an intransigent university management, whose response has frequently blended short-termism with heavy-handedness".^[117]The motion was passed two days later.

In 1850,Queen's University of Ireland^[9]was created as a federal university to provide degrees for students from the colleges established at Belfast, Cork and Galway. This was succeeded in 1879 by theRoyal University of Ireland, an examining university along the model of the University of London, which was in turn succeeded by the federalNational University of Irelandin 1908. When theUniversity of New Zealandwas constituted in 1874,^[118]it was a federal university modelled on the University of London, functioning principally as an examining body.^[118]University of the Cape of Good Hope, when it was constituted in 1875 and authorised to be responsible for examinations throughoutSouth Africa.^[118]InCanada, similar structures were adopted, but on a regional basis.^[118]TheUniversity of Torontoacted as an examining and degree awarding body for the province ofOntariofrom 1853 to 1887, by utilising an operating model based on that of University of London.^[118]

InIndia, to satisfy the urge for higher education and learning,^[119]three universities were set up at three presidency towns in 1857 on the model of University of London^[119]as affiliating universities, viz.,University of Calcutta,University of MumbaiandUniversity of Madras.^[119][120]

TheUniversity of Waleswas established in 1893 on a federal model incorporating (originally) colleges in Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff.^[121]A decision to dissolve the University of Wales was made in 2017.^[122]

Dr. Watson, a fictional character in theSherlock Holmesstories bySir Arthur Conan Doyle, received his medical degree^{[123][124][125]}fromBarts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry(now part of QMUL) and met Sherlock Holmes in the chemical laboratory there.^[123][126]Jim Hacker, a fictional character in the 1980sBritish sitcomYes Ministerand its sequelYes, Prime Minister, received his degree, a third, from the university (LSE).^[127]

During theSecond World War, theSenate House, Londonuse by theMinistry of Informationinspired two noted English writers:Graham Greene's novelThe Ministry of Fear(1943) and its film adaptationMinistry of FearbyFritz Lang(1944) set in Bloomsbury.^[128]George Orwell's wife Eileen worked in Senate House for the Censorship Department of the Ministry of Information,^[129]and her experiences inspired the description of theMinistry of Truthin Orwell's 1949 novelNineteen Eighty-Four.

A lecturer at the university (SOAS) namedWilliam McGovernwas one of thereal-life inspirationsof the film characterIndiana Jones.^[130]

Senate House and the constituent colleges of the University of London have been featured in Hollywood and British films.^{[131][132][133][134]}

In year 1916,Alfred Hitchcockenrolled at the University of London^{[135][136][137][138]}and took evening courses and drawing and design classes, and later in 1920 helped land him a spot designing title cards.

• Armorial of UK universities
• Golden triangle (universities)
• List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)
• List of universities in the UK
• Third-oldest university in England debate
• United Hospitals

• Harte, Negley (2000).University of London: An Illustrated History: 1836–1986. London: A&C Black.ISBN9780567564498.
• Thompson, F. M. L.(1990).The University of London and the World of Learning, 1836–1986. London: A&C Black.ISBN9781852850326.
• Willson, F. M. G. (1995).Our Minerva: The Men and Politics of the University of London, 1836–58. London: Athlone Press.ISBN9780485114799.
• Willson, F. M. G. (2004).The University of London, 1858–1900: The Politics of Senate and Convocation. London: Boydell Press.ISBN9781843830658.
• Rothblatt, Sheldon (2006).The Modern University and Its Discontents: The Fate of Newman's Legacies in Britain and America. Cambridge University Press.ISBN9780521025010.

• Official website
• University of London Archives
• University of London student lists
• The University of London Act 1994
• University of London military service,1914–1945