Based
primarily in London
, England
, United Kingdom
, the University of London is a
federal mega university made up of
31 affiliates: 19 separate university institutions, and 12 research
institutes. As such, the University of London is the
largest university in the UK
by number of full-time students, with 135,090
campus-based students and over 45,000 in the University of London
External System.
The
university was first established by a Royal Charter in 1836, which brought together
in federation London University (now University
College London
) and King's College (now King's College
London
), to establish today's federally-structured
University of London.
Graduates of the University of London may use the post-nominal
letters 'Lond.' (
Londiniensis) after their degree
abbreviations.
Overview
The nine
largest institutions of the federal university, usually termed
the colleges, are Birkbeck
, Goldsmiths, King's College
London, the London Business School
, the London School of Economics and Political
Science
, Queen Mary
, Royal Holloway, the
School of Oriental and African
Studies
, and University College London (UCL). It should be noted that Imperial
College London
left the University of London during celebrations
of its own centenary on 9 July 2007.
For most practical purposes, ranging from admission of students to
negotiating funding from the government, the 19 constituent
colleges are treated as individual universities. Legally
speaking they are known as
Recognised Bodies, with the
authority to examine students and have the university award them
degrees. Some colleges have recently obtained the power to award
their own degrees and the University has amended its statutes to
allow them to do so and yet remain in the university federation.
For
instance, beginning in the 2007/08 academic year, King's College
London, the London School of Economics
and the University College London began awarding their own degree certificates while
retaining their constituent-college status within the University of
London.
The twelve institutes, or
Listed 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 other Commonwealth countries (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 academic
institutes offer courses to support students registered for the
University of
London External System's diplomas and degrees although no
accredidation from London for these schools exists other than the
final examinations administered by the University of London which
all pupils take.
Location
The
University of London owns a considerable central London estate of
180 buildings in Bloomsbury
, near Russell Square tube station
.
Some of the University's colleges have their main buildings on the
estate.
The Bloomsbury Campus also contains eight
Halls of Residence and Senate
House
, which houses the Senate House
Library, the chancellor's official residence and previously
housed the School of Slavonic
and East European Studies, now part of University
College London (UCL) and housed in its own new building.
Almost all of the
School of
Advanced Study is housed in Senate House and neighbouring
Stewart House.
The
University also owns many of the squares which formed part of the
Bedford Estate, including Gordon Square
, Tavistock
Square
, Torrington Square
and Woburn
Square
.
The estate includes several properties outside Bloomsbury also,
with many of the University's colleges and institutes occupying
their own estates across London.
Clare Market
and part of Aldwych
where the London School of Economics and Political
Science is based, as well as the West Wing of Somerset
House
, the location for the Courtauld
Institute of Art
and King's College London, St Bart's Hospital, the University of London Boat
Club in Chiswick
and the Egham campus of Royal Holloway with its historic Founder's
Building
are also examples of properties which form part of
the University's estate.
In
addition, there are several properties outside London, including
the University Marine
Biological Station, Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae
, a number of residential and catering units further
afield and the premises of the University of London
Institute in Paris which offers undergraduate and postgraduate
degrees in French and Historical Studies.
History
Founded
in 1836, the University at first comprised just two colleges:
University
College London, which previously had no official chartered status
and did not apply religious tests to its students, and King's College
London, which had been chartered since 1829 and which
admitted only members of the Church of
England. Both King's (founded 1829) and University
College London (founded 1826) pre-date the University of London,
which initially served solely as an examining body for the
constituent colleges.
In 1858 the University expanded its role by offering the
University of London
External System to candidates outside of the colleges, the
first of its kind in the country.
A new headquarters at 6 Burlington
Gardens
, providing the university with exam halls and
offices, was built to accommodate the new role. In 1878 the
University set another first when it became the first university in
the UK to admit women on equal terms with men. 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.
In 1898, in part as a response to criticisms of universities which
merely served as centres for the administration of tests, and calls
for research and education to be more central functions of
universities, the first University of London Act was passed,
reforming the University and giving it responsibility for
monitoring course content and academic standards within its
institutions. The monitoring was conducted through newly formed
centralised faculties and Boards of Studies, and King's and UCL now
became constituent parts of the University of London. A symbolic
element to the new centralisation of the University was the fact
that UCL property became property of the University of
London.
This significant expansion of role meant the University again
needed more space, and so 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated in 1899.
Shortly after the 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated the University
went through a period of rapid expansion.
Bedford College, Royal
Holloway
and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's
Park College
, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official
divinity school of the university in 1901, Goldsmiths College
joined in 1904, Imperial College was founded in 1907, Queen Mary
College joined in 1915, the School of
Oriental and African Studies was founded in 1916 and Birkbeck joined in 1920. This rapid expansion meant
that the University's new premises would prove insufficient by the
1920s, requiring yet another move.
A large parcel of land in Bloomsbury near the British Museum
was acquired from the Duke of Bedford
and Charles Holden was 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 that
William 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 the
Royal School
of Needlework". Holden responded by designing Senate House, the
current headquarters of the university, and at the time of
completion the second largest building in London.
During the
Second World War the
colleges of the university (with the exception of Birkbeck) and
their students left London in favour of safer parts of the UK,
while Senate House was used by the
Ministry of
Information, with its roof becoming an observation point for
the
Royal 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 that
Adolf Hitler had planned to use it as his
headquarters in London.
The latter half of the last century was less eventful, mostly
characterised by expansion and consolidation within the university,
with the most significant risk within the university being some of
the larger colleges (most notably UCL, King's, LSE and Imperial)
periodically putting forward the possibility of their departure
from the university, though this usually only happened when the
colleges were negotiating for more powers.
There was however a
marked transference of academic and financial power in this period
from the central authorities in Senate
House to the individual colleges. There was also a
tendency for smaller colleges to be amalgamated into larger
"super-colleges". A significant development in this process was the
closing down of the
Convocation of all
University of London alumni in October 2003; this recognised that
individual college alumni associations were now increasingly the
centre of focus for alumni.
In 2002,
Imperial
College
and UCL mooted the possibility
of a merger. This raised a question mark over the future of
the University of London and the autonomy of smaller colleges
within it. Subsequently considerable opposition from academic staff
of both UCL and Imperial led to a rejection of the merger.
On
9 December 2005,
Imperial College became the first 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 the federation. Imperial became
fully independent on
9 July 2007, as part of the celebrations of the college's
centenary.
The
Times Higher
Education Supplement announced in February 2007 that the
London
School of Economics, University College London and King's College London all plan to start awarding their own degrees,
rather than degrees from the federal University of London as they
have done previously, from the start of the new academic year
(starting in Autumn 2007). Although this plan to award their
own degrees does not amount to a decision to formally leave the
University of London, the THES suggests that this 'rais[es] new
doubts about the future of the federal University of London'.
However, the University continues to grow and, in 2005, admitted
the
Central School of
Speech and Drama.
Coat of Arms
The University of London first received a grant of arms in April of
1838. The arms depict a cross of St George upon which there is a
tudor rose surrounded by detailing and surmounted by a crown. Above
all of this there is a blue field with an open book upon it.
In terms of heraldry the arms would be described as:
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
Organization
Most decisions affecting the constituent colleges and institutions
of the University of London are made at the level of the colleges
or institutions themselves. The University of London does retain
its own decision-making structure, however, with a senate,
responsible for matters of academic policy, and an estates
committee, responsible for managing University of London property,
underneath a council, which act as the primary executive body of
the university. The council is made up of the chancellor (who does
not attend meetings), the vice-chancellor, the heads of all the
colleges and institutes of the University, 18 academics elected
from the senate, five student representatives, various lay members
(appointed by the council or the government) and various
vice-chancellors of different departments.
Colleges of the University of London
The constituent colleges of the University of London are divided as
follows:
Central Academic Bodies of the University of London
Former colleges
Some colleges of the University of London have been amalgamated
into larger colleges or left the University of London. These
include:
University colleges in the external degree programme
A number of major universities originated as university colleges
teaching the degrees of the
University of London
External System. After developing the ability to function
fully, these colleges became able to award their own degrees.
A number of other colleges had degees validated and awarded by the
University of London.
- St. Patrick's, Carlow
College, Ireland - from 1840-1892 students studied for primary
degrees in Arts (BA) and Law(BLL)
- St. Patrick's
College, Thurles, Ireland - from 1849 the University of London,
allowed Thurles to offer degrees.
- Huddersfield College
- Queen's College, Birmingham
- Stoneyhurst College
, the Catholic Seminary in Lancashire
- Wesleyan Collegiate Institution,
Taunton
, which became Queen's College,
Taunton.
Colleges in special relation
Between 1946 and 1970, the University entered into 'schemes of
special relation' with university colleges in the
Commonwealth 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 a
Royal 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.
In 1970 the 'Schemes of Special Relation' were phased out.
Academic dress
Student life
Some 135,090 students (approximately 5% of all UK students) attend
one of the University of London's
affiliated schools. Additionally, over
45,000 students follow the
University of London
External System.
The ULU
building on Malet
Street
(adjacent to Senate House) is home to the University of London Union, which
acts as the student union for all
University of London students alongside the individual college and
institution unions. As well as representing students, the
union plays host to a number of shops and bars (including a
nightclub and live music venue), owns
London Student (the largest student
newspaper in
Europe) and offers its own gym
and swimming pool for student use.
Intercollegiate halls
The University also runs eight intercollegiate
halls of residence, accommodating
students from most of the colleges and institutions of the
University:
- Canterbury Hall,
Cartwright Gardens, WC1 (paired with Hughes Parry Hall for
administration purposes)
- College
Hall, Malet
Street, WC1 (was female-only until refurbishment in 2005,
and re-opened in 2007 for both male and female
students)
- Commonwealth Hall,
Cartwright Gardens, WC1
- Connaught Hall
, Tavistock Square, WC1
- Hughes Parry Hall,
Cartwright Gardens, WC1 (paired with Canterbury Hall for
administration purposes)
- International Hall, Brunswick
Square
, WC1
- Lillian Penson Hall,
Talbot Square, W2 (postgraduate students only)
- Nutford House
, Brown Street, W1
Sports, clubs and traditions
Though most sports teams are organised at the college level,
ULU does run a number of sports clubs of its
own, some of which (for example the
basketball team) compete in
BUCS leagues. The
union also organises its own 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 caters for sports not covered by the
individual colleges through clubs such as the
University of London
Union Lifesaving Club, which helps students gain awards and
learn new skills in
lifesaving as well as
sending teams to compete throughout the country in the
BULSCA league.
ULU also organises a number of societies, ranging from Ballroom and
Latin American Dance to
Shaolin Kung
Fu, and from the
University of London Big Band
to the
Breakdancing Society. Affiliated
to the University is the
University of
London Society of Change Ringers, a society for bellringers at
all London universities.
The
University runs the famous University
of London Boat Club
, which is considered along with the Oxford University Boat Club and
the Cambridge University
Boat Club to be one of the three best university rowing clubs
in the country.
The University also has a representative football team, which dates
back to 1913 and is a collection of the best players from the
various colleges. The team plays games against sides such as
Cambridge's and Oxford's 'Blues' sides as well as the R.A.F, Navy
and Army. Currently the team has use of both Motspur Park Athletics
Stadium (
Fulham F.C.'s training ground,
and a former University of London property) and the
Honourable Artillery Company's
grounds for training and home match purposes. Former players and
managers of the team include
Bobby
Robson and
Jimmy Hill.
University of London Orienteering Club is an umbrella club for all
University of London orienteering groups. Members participate in
orienteering events across the UK, and occasionally further afield.
In 1997 the club sent a team to participate in the US championships
in Colorado.
University of London people
A large number of famous individuals have passed through the
University of London, either as staff or students, including at
least 4
monarchs, 52
presidents or
prime
ministers, 59
Nobel laureates, 6
Grammy winners, 2
Oscar winners and 3
Olympic gold medalists.
Staff and students of the university, past and present, have
contributed to a number of important scientific advances, including
the discovery of
vaccines by
Edward Jenner and
Henry
Gray (author of
Gray's Anatomy).
Additional vital progress was made by University of London people
in the following fields: the discovery of the structure of
DNA (
Francis Crick,
Maurice Wilkins and
Rosalind Franklin); the discovery of
penicillin (
Alexander Flemming and
Ernest Chain); the development of
X-Ray technology (
William Henry Bragg and
Charles Glover Barkla); the
formulation of the theory of
electromagnetism (
James Clerk Maxwell); the determination
of the
speed of light (
Louis Essen); the development of
antiseptics (
Joseph Lister); the
development of
fibre optics (
Charles K. Kao); and the invention of the
telephone (
Alexander Graham Bell).
Notable political figures who have passed through the University of
London include
Muhammad Haji
Ibrahim Egal,
Romano Prodi,
Junichiro Koizumi,
Aung San Suu Kyi, Archbishop
Desmond Tutu,
Taro Aso,
Mohsen Sazegara,
Nelson Mandela,
John F. Kennedy and
Mahatma Gandhi.
In the arts field the university has produced the
novelists Malcolm
Bradbury,
G. K. Chesterton,
H.
G. Wells,
Thomas Hardy,
Arthur C. Clarke,
J.G.
Ballard and the poet
John Keats. Many
artists
have been associated with the university, including
Jonathan Myles-Lea, and several of the
leading figures in the
Young
British Artists movement (including
Ian Davenport,
Tracy
Emin and
Damien Hirst). Outstanding
musicians across a wide range include the
conductor
Sir Simon Rattle, the soprano
Felicity Lott and both members of
Gilbert and Sullivan to
Mick Jagger,
Elton
John and members of the bands
Coldplay,
Suede,
The Velvet Underground,
Blur,
Iron Maiden,
Placebo,
The Libertines and
Queen.
The University of London has also played host to
film directors (
Christopher Nolan,
Derek Jarman),
philosophers (
Karl
Popper,
Roger Scruton),
explorers (
David
Livingstone), international academics (
Sam Karunaratne), and leading businessmen
(
Michael Cowpland,
George Soros).
Among the more controversial alumni and professors can be included
the pornographer
David
Sullivan, the international terrorist
Carlos the Jackal, and the Soviet double
agent
Anthony Blunt.
Chancellors
See also
References
- University of London: Colleges/Institutes
- An example usage with Dr. Patsy Stoneman
- Error
- Research students
- UCL Degree Awarding Powers
- University of London: Brief history
- Japanese Students at Cambridge University in the Meiji Era,
1868-1912: Pioneers for the Modernization of Japan, Noboru Koyama.
Lulu Press, September 2004.
- http://www.cityofsound.com/blog/2003/11/senate_house_un.html
City of Sound
- http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=110747 Emporis
Buildings
- http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/building/senate.html The
Twentieth Century Society
- The Guardian. 18 November 2002 Opposition ends Imperial and UCL merger
dream
-
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_5-10-2006-13-17-17?newsid=2736
-
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_iE0JVcUDogC&pg=PA90&dq=coat+of+arms+university+of+london#v=onepage&q=coat%20of%20arms%20university%20of%20london&f=false
- http://www.kent.ac.uk/studying/where/wye/
-
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1B3GGGL_en___GB220&q=%22University+College+Southampton%22+external+%22University+of+London%22&btnG=Search&meta=
- The University of London, 1836-1986 By N. B. Harte
- Carlow College Report HETAC
- University of London - The Illustrated London News,
May 11, 1850
- A History of Birmingham, Chris Upton, 1993, ISBN
0-85033-870-0
- http://www.uwi.edu/aboutuwi/briefhistory.aspx
- http://www.ui.edu.ng/deptmedicine.htm
- http://www.ulu.co.uk/content/index.php?page=9 London
Student
- University of London - Intercollegiate Halls
External links
(IoE)
(RAM)
(RVC)
; now part of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
(the registered Royal Charter title of Royal Holloway, University
of London)
- Hortensia Road, Chelsea
; now part of King's College
; now part of King's College
; now part of Queen Mary and Westfield College (the
registered Royal Charter title of Queen Mary, University of
London)
; Wye courses are now run by the University
of Kent
in partnership with Imperial
College London
; now part of King's College
School of Medicine and Dentistry
from 1957.
.
.
.
).
).
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