The University of London Worldwide (previously called the University of London International Academy) is the central academic body that manages external study programmes
within the
federal University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...
. All courses are branded as simply "University of London", having previously been "University of London International Programmes" and earlier "University of London External Programmes".
It claims to be the world's oldest distance and flexible learning body, established under the University of London's
royal charter
A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, b ...
of 1858,
although academics have disputed whether it offered distance learning at that time.
Several member institutions of the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...
offer degrees through the programme, including
Birkbeck,
Goldsmiths
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold.
In German, the Goldsmith family name is written Goldschmidt.
Goldsmith may also refer to:
Places
* Goldsmith, Indiana, United States
* Goldsmith, New York, United States, a h ...
,
King's College London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...
,
London School of Economics
, mottoeng = To understand the causes of things
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £240.8 million (2021)
, budget = £391.1 milli ...
,
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a public research university in Bloomsbury, central London, and a member institution of the University of London that specialises in public health and tropical medicine.
The inst ...
,
Queen Mary,
Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...
,
Royal Veterinary College
, mottoeng = Confront disease at onset
, established = (became a constituent part of University of London in 1949)
, endowment = £10.5 million (2021)
, budget = £106.0 million (20 ...
,
School of Oriental and African Studies
SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury ...
and
University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
.
The system offers courses of study for
undergraduate
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
and
postgraduate
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree.
The organization and ...
diplomas and degrees to more than 50,000 students around the world.
["About Us", University of London International Programmes Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/about_us/index.shtml] A designated member institution of the University of London acts as the lead institution for each course and is responsible for creating materials to allow students to study at their own pace. Examinations take place at testing centres around the world on specified dates. Hallmarks of the programme are its low cost in comparison to attendance in London, and the possibility of pursuing either full-time or part-time study. As stated in the University of London Statutes,
[''University of London Statutes''](_blank)
14 December 2005. International Programmes students are graded on the same standard as internal students to ensure a uniform credentialing process.
[University of London Parity Standards, Document http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/about_us/related_docs/parity_standards.pdf] A student who completes a course of study under the programme is awarded a University of London degree with a notation specifying which lead institution provided the instruction.
, there are more than 100,000 University of London
distance-learning
Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...
alumni across the world, which include seven
Nobel laureates
The Nobel Prizes ( sv, Nobelpriset, no, Nobelprisen) are awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Karolinska Institutet, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee to individuals and organizations who make ou ...
, numerous presidents or prime ministers, current and former leaders of the
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the C ...
, government ministers and
Members of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
, academicians and notable
judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
s. Currently, the global community of registered students number over 50,000 students in more than 180 countries
including
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest cont ...
.
History
The institution that later became known as
University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
was established in 1826 and opened in 1828 under the name "London University", although without official recognition of university status. The institution – following the Scottish model in curriculum and teaching – was
non-denominational
A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination.
Overview
The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...
and, given the intense religious rivalries at the time, there was an outcry against the "godless" university. The issue soon boiled down to which institutions had
degree-granting powers and which institutions did not.
The compromise solution that emerged in 1836 was that the sole authority to conduct the examinations leading to degrees would be given to a new officially recognised entity called the "University of London", which would act as examining body for the University of London colleges, originally
University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
and
King's College London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...
, and award their students University of London degrees. As
Sheldon Rothblatt Sheldon may refer to:
* Sheldon (name), a given name and a surname, and a list of people with the name
Places Australia
*Sheldon, Queensland
*Sheldon Forest, New South Wales
United Kingdom
*Sheldon, Derbyshire, England
*Sheldon, Devon, England
*S ...
states, "thus arose in nearly archetypal form the famous English distinction between
teaching
Teaching is the practice implemented by a ''teacher'' aimed at transmitting skills (knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills) to a learner, a student, or any other audience in the context of an educational institution. Teaching is closely ...
and
exam
An examination (exam or evaluation) or test is an educational assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs). A test may be administered verba ...
ining, here embodied in separate institutions."
With the state giving examining powers to a separate entity, the groundwork was laid for the creation of a programme within the new university that would both administer examinations and award qualifications to students taking instruction at another institution or pursuing a course of self-directed study.
People's University and larger role
The 1858 charter of the University of London allowed students at any college, whether affiliated or not, self-taught students, students with private tutors and students taking correspondence courses to sit University of London exams on payment of the £5 fee. On this basis, the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...
has claimed to be the first university to offer distance learning degrees,
although its role at that time was limited to that of an examining board.
Thanapal (2015) states that "the original degree by external study of the UOL was not a form of distance education".
In 1858, a British weekly
literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry, and essays, along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and lett ...
named ''
All the Year Round'', founded and owned by
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...
, coined the term "The People's University"
or "The English People's University",
to describe the University of London as it provided access to
higher education
Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after compl ...
to students from less affluent backgrounds.
Several current degree-awarding universities started as colleges presenting candidates for University of London degrees, such as
Owens College Owens may refer to:
Places in the United States
* Owens Station, Delaware
* Owens Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota
* Owens, Missouri
* Owens, Ohio
* Owens, Virginia
People
* Owens (surname), including a list of people with the name
* Ow ...
which later became part of the
Victoria University and eventually the
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The university owns and operates majo ...
. The external system continued to expand from its London base with examinations for non-collegiate students
held in
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = "Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gibr ...
(1867),
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
(1868), Tasmania and West Indies (1869),
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
(1880),
Ceylon
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
(1882),
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
(1888), with 18 centres worldwide by 1899.
With the reform of the University of London from an examining board to a federal university in 1900, the existing examination system became the External System, with the newly federated colleges in London forming the Internal System (with the university taking responsibility for approving courses and teachers). Both external and internal students continued to be awarded the same University of London degrees.
The University of London examination system and the External System were instrumental in the formation of British higher education.
Most English and Welsh university colleges founded between 1849 and 1949 (exceptions include Newcastle, linked with Durham from its foundation in 1871, and Swansea, part of the University of Wales from its foundation in 1920) served what was a form of "apprenticeship" through offering London degrees by external study for a period (which could vary considerably in length), before receiving authorisation to award their own degrees and becoming universities in their own right.
The External System also played a significant role in establishing many Commonwealth universities under a unique scheme of "special relations".
Enrolment increased steadily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and during the Second World War there was a further increase in enrolments from soldiers stationed abroad as well as soldiers imprisoned in German
POW camps.
Because the
Geneva Convention (1929) stipulated that every
prisoner of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of ...
, in addition to being entitled to adequate food and medical care, had the right to exchange correspondence and receive parcels, many British POWs took advantage of this opportunity and enrolled in the University of London External Programme. The soldiers were sent study materials by mail, and at specified intervals sat for proctored exams in the camps. Almost 11,000 exams were taken at 88 camps between 1940 and 1945.
Though the failure rate was high, substantial numbers of soldiers earned degrees while imprisoned.
However, as more universities were established in Britain and the Commonwealth in the decades following the second world war, the demand for the external system dropped. In 1972 it was announced that the external system would stop registering students at public institutions from 1977, and in 1977 overseas registrations were also stopped, although these were reopened in 1982.
In 1985–6, there were 24,500 students
registered for external degrees in six main subject areas.
Law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
was by far the biggest subject, with 75 percent of all enrollments.
In 1985, there were 358 LLBs awarded to internal students; in the same year, 298 graduated with external LLBs.
Reform of the external system in 1987 saw colleges contracted (either individually or, as in the case of Law, as a consortium) by the university to provide academic support for external students. This established the concept of the "lead college" on a course, and led to programme directors in the lead colleges taking on not just examinations but also the delivery of the courses and, in collaboration with academics in the colleges, the development of teaching materials
The University of London International Programmes commemorated its 150th anniversary in 2008. A specially commissioned anniversary book was produced to mark the occasion.
Research programmes and degrees
With the advent of inexpensive airmail services after the war, the number of external students taking University of London courses increased dramatically.
According to relevant Regulations, until 2000 University of London external students could pursue research leading to the award of
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil ...
(MPhil) or
Doctor of Philosophy
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...
(PhD) albeit the completion rate had been rather low.
Current system
The system offers courses of study for
undergraduate
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
and
postgraduate
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree.
The organization and ...
diplomas and degrees to more than 50,000 students around the world.
A designated constituent institution of the University of London, called the "lead college", creates materials to allow students to study at their own pace. Unlike many modern distance learning degrees that are based on coursework alone, assessment was primarily based on examinations that take place at testing centres around the world on specified dates. Since 2019, coursework and forum participation can make up a percentage of the overall assessment in addition to in-person or online examinations, depending on the degree and modules studied. Hallmarks of the programme are its low cost in comparison to attendance in London, and the possibility of pursuing either full-time or part-time study. As stated in the University of London Statutes,
International Programmes students are graded on the same standard as internal students to ensure a uniform credentialing process.
A student who completes a course of study under the program is awarded a University of London degree with a notation specifying which lead college provided the instruction.
Students enrolled in the University of London International Programmes are members of the University of London. International Programmes Students however, have very limited student representation within the university. There are also differences over the status International Programmes Students have with respect to their lead college. Some institutions co-register their International Programmes Students as college members (e.g. SOAS, LSHTM), in addition to their status as University of London member. However, other colleges deny International Programmes Students membership status and privileges when they are present in London (e.g. LSE). Academics at the University of London are responsible for the academic direction of the International Programmes. When the International Programmes was audited in 2005 by the
Quality Assurance Agency
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the independent body that checks on standards and quality in UK higher education. It conducts quality assessment reviews, develops reference points and guidance for providers, and condu ...
(QAA), the auditors concluded that 'broad confidence' could be placed in the university's management and the awards made through the External System ('broad confidence' is "the best verdict any institution can be given by the auditors").
["Vote of confidence in delivering world-wide education for the University of London"](_blank)
University of London Press Release, 10 April 2006. The 'confidence' was once again reiterated in the QAA's 2011 Institutional Audit, attesting to the quality of the program provision.
["University of London International Programs, Institutional Audit"](_blank)
May 2011.
Most International Programmes Students are in former territories of the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
. There are more than 9,000 students enrolled in the programme in
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
notably the
SIM Global Education
The Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) is a provider of private tertiary education and professional training in Singapore. It was established by the Economic Development Board on 28 November 1964. SIM is registered under the Committee for P ...
,
["Study in Singapore for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/sg/] 5,000 in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
,
["Study in Hong Kong for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/hk/] 3,000 in
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
,
["Study in Trinidad and Tobago for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/trinidad/] 2,000 in
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...
,
["Study in Malaysia for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/mly/] 1,900 in Pakistan,
["Study in Pakistan for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/pak/ ] 1,200 in
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mo ...
,
["Study in Bangladesh for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/bn/] 800 in
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
,
["Study in Sri Lanka for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/sri/] 1,000 in Canada,
["Study in Canada for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/canada/] between 1,000 and 1,999 in the United States,
["Study in the United States for a University of London Degree", Website http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/usa/] 300 in
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
,
["Study in Malta for a University of London Degree"](_blank)
University of London , International Programmes. more than 200 in Australia, more than 200 in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
, more than 30 in New Zealand and many hundreds in India,
["Study in India for a University of London Degree"](_blank)
University of London , International Programmes. among other countries. Furthermore, there are around 1,000 students in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
participating in this programme.
Name changes
In November 2007, the University of London External Programme became known as the University of London External System. In August 2010, the name was once again changed to University of London International Programmes in response to feedback that the programme needed a clear, simpler and more inclusive name that described what the University of London offered to almost 50,000 students in 180 countries.
As from February 2018, University of London International Programmes changed its name to just University of London.
The logo has been also changed to University of London, instead having its own logo.
Participating colleges and institutes of the University of London
*
Birkbeck
*
Goldsmiths
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold.
In German, the Goldsmith family name is written Goldschmidt.
Goldsmith may also refer to:
Places
* Goldsmith, Indiana, United States
* Goldsmith, New York, United States, a h ...
*
UCL Institute of Education
IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society (IOE) is the education school of University College London (UCL). It specialises in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and is one of UCL's 11 constituent faculties. Prior to ...
*
King's College London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...
*
London School of Economics
, mottoeng = To understand the causes of things
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £240.8 million (2021)
, budget = £391.1 milli ...
*
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a public research university in Bloomsbury, central London, and a member institution of the University of London that specialises in public health and tropical medicine.
The inst ...
*
Queen Mary
*
Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...
*
Royal Veterinary College
, mottoeng = Confront disease at onset
, established = (became a constituent part of University of London in 1949)
, endowment = £10.5 million (2021)
, budget = £106.0 million (20 ...
*
School of Oriental and African Studies
SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury ...
*
University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
After
Imperial College London
Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...
left the university in July 2007, the
School of Oriental and African Studies
SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury ...
became the lead college for the external degrees previously led by Imperial.. Following the closure of
Heythrop College
Heythrop College, University of London, was a constituent college of the University of London between 1971 and 2018, last located in Kensington Square, London. It comprised the university's specialist faculties of philosophy and theology with soc ...
in January 2019, academic direction on distance learning courses in
divinity
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine< ...](_blank)
is provided by the University of London rather than by one of the colleges.
Independent teaching institutions
In Europe, North America, the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia many students participating in University of London International Programmes seek out tuition at one of the more than 150 private or non-profit institutions that prepare students for University of London examinations.
Such institutions may be audited and, if found to meet quality standards, may become "recognised" by the university for the support offered.
Starting August 2010, the External System programmes were renamed University of London International Programmes. The central academic body of the university, collaborating with the colleges of the University of London, is renamed University of London International Academy, term mainly used internally.
In parallel to this change, the teaching institutions are now categorized into Registered and Affiliate centers (collectively known as recognised centres). Students can either decide to study entirely by themselves, or to enjoy the administrative and academic support of the institutions that are recognised by the University of London for the International Programmes. Registered Centres have demonstrated commitment to developing high standards in respect of teaching, support to students and administrative processes. Affiliate Centres have demonstrated a sustained commitment to developing excellence in respect of quality of teaching, support to students and administrative processes. Affiliate Centre status is the highest level of recognition awarded by the University of London. Recognition applies to specific programmes on named campuses.
New College of the Humanities
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
, a private college founded in London in 2011, though not affiliated with the University of London, also plans to register its students for degrees through the programme.
Academic profile
Programmes and degrees
University of London currently offers 31 undergraduate degrees and 38 postgraduate degrees and also several diplomas. All degrees are created, monitored and examined by the colleges of the University of London.
In 2019, the University of London Worldwide and the LSE announced a partnership with
2U to deliver a fully online bachelor's degree in data science and business analytics through 2U's online platform.
Scholarships and financial support
In 2020,
József Váradi
József János Váradi (born 21 September 1965) is a Hungarian businessman, who co-founded Wizz Air and has served as its chief executive officer (CEO) since 2003.
Early life
Váradi was born in Debrecen, Hungary in 1965. His father took part ...
donated £1 million to the university for support of external scholarship and aid.
Organisations such as
Commonwealth Scholarships, Sir John Cass's Foundation scholarship and individual scholarship like
Guy Goodwin-Gill scholarship,
Sadako Ogata
, was a Japanese academic, diplomat, author, administrator, and professor emerita at the Roman Catholic Sophia University. She was widely known as the head of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 1991 to ...
scholarships are available for external students.
Influence
The University of London external system has played an important role in the development of higher education institutions in Britain. Many leading
research universities
A research university or a research-intensive university is a university that is committed to research as a central part of its mission. They are the most important sites at which knowledge production occurs, along with "intergenerational kno ...
in England started out as "
university college
In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies ...
s" that prepared students for external degrees of the University of London. Some technical colleges in England and Scotland also awarded University of London degrees and certificates prior to becoming polytechnics and then universities. Examples include the
University of Nottingham
, mottoeng = A city is built on wisdom
, established = 1798 – teacher training college1881 – University College Nottingham1948 – university status
, type = Public
, chancellor ...
, the
University of Leicester
, mottoeng = So that they may have life
, established =
, type = public research university
, endowment = £20.0 million
, budget = £326 million
, chancellor = David Willetts
, vice_chancellor = Nishan Canagarajah
, head_lab ...
and the
University of Exeter
, mottoeng = "We Follow the Light"
, established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter)
, type = Public
, ...
in England,
Cardiff University
, latin_name =
, image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University
, motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord
, mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord
, established = 1 ...
and
Bangor University
, former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007)
, image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg
, image_size = 250px
, caption = Arms
...
prior to joining the
University of Wales
, latin_name =
, image =
, caption = Coat of Arms
, motto = cy, Goreu Awen Gwirionedd
, mottoeng = The Best Inspiration is Truth
, established =
,
, type = Confederal, non-member ...
and becoming independent and
Robert Gordon University
, mottoeng = Now by all your mastered arts
, established = 1992 (origins mid-18th century)
, type = Public
, endowment = £1.9 million (2015)
, budget = £103 million (2014)
, chancellor = Dame Evelyn Glennie
, principal = Professor St ...
in Scotland.
This was a common way of establishing new universities in Britain and around the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
during the first half of the twentieth century. Many universities in the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
began as extension institutions or a provider of the programme. Notable examples include
Ceylon University College
Ceylon University College was a public university college in Ceylon. Established in 1921, it was Ceylon's first attempt at university education. The college didn't award degrees under its own name but prepared students to sit the University of Lo ...
in
Ceylon
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
, University College Ibadan (now the
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 19 ...
) in
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
, the former
University of East Africa
The University of East Africa was established on 29 June 1963"Universities: East Africa", ''A Historical Companion To Postcolonial Thought In English'' (Columbia University Press, 2005) Prem Poddar and David Johnson, eds., p. 489. and served Keny ...
's three constituent institutions and the
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the ...
in the
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean ...
.
Online MOOCs
In 2012, University of London International Programmes became the first British higher education institution to join
Coursera
Coursera Inc. () is a U.S.-based massive open online course provider founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. Coursera works with universities and other organizations to offer online courses ...
and offer
mass open online courses through their platform.
By 2016, total enrollments had crossed 1 million.
In 2018 the University of London, its member institution
Goldsmiths, University of London
Goldsmiths, University of London, officially the Goldsmiths' College, is a constituent research university of the University of London in England. It was originally founded in 1891 as The Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute by the ...
, and Coursera announced they were collaborating to offer the first undergraduate Computer Science degree on the platform.
Notable alumni
The degree graduates from the International Programmes are member of the University of London International Programmes Alumni Association and formal alumni of the University of London.
Nobel laureates
At least seven
Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfre ...
have been awarded to alumni of the University of London
distance learning
Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...
students in external mode:
*
Ronald H. Coase
Ronald Harry Coase (; 29 December 1910 – 2 September 2013) was a British economist and author. Coase received a bachelor of commerce degree (1932) and a PhD from the London School of Economics, where he was a member of the faculty until 1951. ...
(
Economic Sciences, 1991)
*
Frederick Gowland Hopkins
Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins (20 June 1861 – 16 May 1947) was an English biochemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1929, with Christiaan Eijkman, for the discovery of vitamins, even though Casimir Funk, a Po ...
(
Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, according ...
, 1929)
*
Charles K. Kao (
Physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...
, 2009)
*
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...
(
Peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
, 1993)
*
Rolph Payet
Rolph Antoine Payet FRGS (born 4 August 1968) is an international policy expert, researcher and speaker on environment, climate and island issues, and was the first President & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Seychelles. He was Minister of ...
, Lead author of
IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations. Its job is to advance scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ...
(
Peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
, 2007);
HonDSc (2016)
*
Wole Soyinka
Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka (Yoruba: ''Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé Ṣóyíinká''; born 13 July 1934), known as Wole Soyinka (), is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded t ...
(
Literature
Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to ...
, 1986)
*
Derek Walcott
Sir Derek Alton Walcott (23 January 1930 – 17 March 2017) was a Saint Lucian poet and playwright. He received the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. His works include the Homeric epic poem '' Omeros'' (1990), which many critics view "as Walcot ...
(
Literature
Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to ...
, 1992)
Presidents, prime ministers, politicians
*
Emeka Anyaoku
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCVO, CFR, CON (born 18 January 1933)"Anyaoku, Eleazar Chukwuemeka", in ''Africa Who's Who'', London: Africa Journal for Africa Books Ltd, 1981, p. 137. is a Nigerian diplomat of Igbo descent. He was the third Commonwea ...
,
3rd Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
*
Luisa Diogo Luisa (Italian and Spanish), Luísa (Portuguese) or Louise ( French) is a feminine given name; it is the feminine form of the given name Louis (Luis), the French form of the Frankish Chlodowig (German Ludwig), from the Germanic elements ''hlo ...
, 3rd Prime Minister of
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
*Sir
Oliver Goonetilleke
Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke ( si, ශ්රිමත් ඔලිවර් ගුණතිලක) (20 October 1892 – 17 December 1978) was a Sri Lankan statesman. Having served as an important figure in the gradual independence of Cey ...
, 3rd
Governor-General of Ceylon
The Governor-General of Ceylon was the representative of the Ceylonese monarch in the Dominion of Ceylon from the country's independence in 1948 until it became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972.
History
There were four governors-general.
S ...
*Sir
Senerat Gunewardene
Sir Senerat Gunewardene (also known as Ratnakirti Senerat Serasinghe Gunewardene or R.S.S. Gunewardene) (3 November 1899 – 10 August 1981) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, statesmen and diplomat. He was the first Minister without Portfolio, member o ...
, cabinet minister and diplomat
*
Varun Gandhi,
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
A Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha ( abbreviated: MP) is the representative of a legislative constituency in the Lok Sabha; the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of parliament of Lok Sabha are chosen by direct elections on ...
from
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
*
Alvan Ikoku
Alvan Azinna Ikoku (August 1, 1900–November 18, 1971) was a Nigerian educationist, statesman, activist and politician.
Life
Born on August 1, 1900, in Amanagwu Arochukwu, present-day Abia State, from 1911 to 1914, he was educated at the Aro ...
, Nigerian politician
*
J. R. Jayewardene
Junius Richard Jayewardene ( si, ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන, ta, ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா; 17 September 1906 – 1 November 1996), commonly abbreviated in Sri Lanka as ...
, 2nd
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Sri Lanka ( si, ශ්රී ලංකා ජනාධිපති ''Śrī Laṃkā Janādhipathi''; ta, இலங்கை சனாதிபதி ''Ilankai janātipati'') is the head of state and head of government of t ...
and 7th
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head and most senior member of parliament in the cabinet of ministers. It is the second-most powerful position in Sri Lanka's executive branch behind the president, w ...
*
Charles Muguta Kajege,
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
[''London Connection'' Alumni Newsletter](_blank)
Spring 2007.
*
David Knox, former
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
for
Leek, Staffordshire
Leek is a market town and civil parish in the county of Staffordshire, England, on the River Churnet. It is situated about north east of Stoke-on-Trent. It is an ancient borough and was granted its royal charter in 1214.
It is the administra ...
*Eleni Mavrou, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus
*Thabo Mbeki, 2nd President (government title), President of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
[Biography of Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, Website http://www.info.gov.za/gol/gcis_profile.jsp?id=509 ]
*Dipu Moni, 1st woman to become Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh), Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
*Fred Mulley, UK Secretary of State for Defence
*Robert Mugabe, 2nd President of Zimbabwe and 1st Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
*Paul Pearce,
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
, Australia
[Connection'' Alumni Newsletter](_blank)
Autumn 2005.
*A. N. R. Robinson, List of Presidents of Trinidad and Tobago, 3rd President of Trinidad and Tobago and List of Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, 3rd Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
*Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General, 6th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
*Gisela Stuart,
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
for Birmingham Edgbaston (UK Parliament constituency), Birmingham Edgbaston
*Maria Tam, Deputy of Hong Kong to National People's Congress
Military, civil servants and diplomats
*Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe, Hamilton Amerasinghe, 31st President of the United Nations General Assembly (1976)
*Patricia Varela Benzo, Human Rights Officer at Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
*Teresa Cheng (politician), Teresa Cheng, 4th Secretary for Justice (Hong Kong), Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong
*Leung Chin-man, Permanent Secretary in the Government of Hong Kong
*Thomas Kelly-Kenny, General (United Kingdom), General of the British Army
*Stephen Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong
*Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, Gunapala Malalasekera, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and Ambassador
*Bernard Peiris, Cabinet Secretary of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
*Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Ambassador of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
to France
*Kazunari Suzuki, Diplomat with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
*Li Tieh-tseng, Ambassador of Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China to Iran and Thailand
Judges and lawyers
*Helena Normanton, First female barrister in the United Kingdom.
* Christopher Weeramantry, Judge and Vice-President of the International Court of Justice
* Bola Ajibola, Judge of the International Court of Justice
* Meir Shamgar, former President/Chief Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court
*Victor Tennekoon, 35th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
*Edward Williams (judge), Edward Williams, Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland , Australia
["Commemorating the Life of Edward Williams"](_blank)
Supreme Court of Queensland Library, 2004.
*Frederic N. Smalkin, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland,
* Choor Singh, Judicial officers of the Republic of Singapore#List of judges of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore
*Babatunji Olowofoyeku, Attorney General of Western Region, Nigeria
*Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan, Former Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
*Oswald Leslie De Kretser III, List of Justices of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ceylon
*Henry Thambiah, List of Justices of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ceylon
* Andrew Chan Hing-wai, Judge of Court of First Instance (Hong Kong)
Business
* Joseph Hotung, 1st Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Recipient of Knight Bachelor
* Khadija Mushtaq, executive director of Roots School System, Pakistan
* Sherin Naiken, chief executive officer, CEO of Seychelles Tourism Board
* Nicola Vogel, Global Senior HR Director at Danfoss
Scientists and academics
* Donald J. Harris, Donald Harris, Professor emeritus at Stanford University and father of Kamala Harris
*Chinua Achebe, David and Marianna Fisher University Professor at Brown University.
*Grace Alele-Williams, Chancellor (education), Chancellor of University of Benin (Nigeria), University of Benin
*Asa Briggs, Chancellor (education), Chancellor of Open University (1978 to 1994)
*Brian Laurence Burtt, English botanist
*Bob Coats - former professor at University of York
*Glyn Davies (economist), Glyn Davies, economist
*Patrick du Val, inventor of the concept of Du Val singularity in algebraic surface
*Geoffrey Elton, Regius Professor of Modern History (Cambridge), Regius Professor of History at University of Cambridge
*Sir Roy Goode, Founder of Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary, University of London.
*A.C. Grayling, Master of the
New College of the Humanities
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
*Alec Issigonis, engineer and designer of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) Mini
*Harold Jeffreys, mathematician, statistician, geophysicist and astronomer
*Israel Kirzner, former professor of economics at New York University
[Israel Kirzner's Curriculum Vitae http://www.econ.nyu.edu/dept/vitae/kirzner.htm]
*Kelvin Lancaster, former professor of economics at Columbia University
[Kelvin Lancaster Obituary, Columbia University, 1999 http://www.columbia.edu/cu/economics/faculty/memoriam/memoriam_klancaster.html]
*D H Lawrence, British author and critic
*Ronald Piper, Professor and Vice-Principal at the University of St Andrews
*Charlotte Scott, former professor of mathematics at Bryn Mawr College
*C. P. Snow, Charles P. Snow, Rector of the University of St Andrews (1961 to 1964)
*Laurence Dudley Stamp, L. Dudley Stamp, Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science
*Barnes Wallis, Inventor of the Bouncing Bomb
*Alan Walters, former Chief Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Acting
*Ramita Mahapreukpong, Thailand, Thai actress
Religion
*Louis Charles Casartelli, fourth Bishop of Salford
*Thomas Cooray, Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
Others
*Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, actor
*Ulli Beier, writer
[Wole Ogundele, "Rereading Beier", ''African Quarterly on the Arts'', vol. 2, no. 3, (date?) http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/glendora%20review/vol2no4/graa002004012.pdf]
*Malcolm Bradbury, British author and academic
*Jim Crace, English novelist
*Louise Creighton, British author and activist
*Segun Toyin Dawodu, Physician and Attorney.
*Nigel de Gruchy, former trade union official
[Nigel de Gruchy: The teachers' leader who spoke in sound bites]
, ''The Independent'', 28 March 2002
*Jack Higgins, English novelist
*David Forbes Martyn, physicist
[Biography of David Forbes Martyn, Website http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150379b.htm]
*C. P. Snow, English physicist and novelist
*Josiah Stamp, 1st Baron Stamp, economist and former Director of the Bank of England
[Biography of Josiah Stamp, Website http://economia.unipv.it/harrod/edition/editionstuff/rfh.528.htm]
*Gordon Taylor (footballer), Gordon Taylor, former professional footballer and current chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association
[A unique network – former students and alumni, University of London External System http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/150/history/students_alumni.shtml ]
*Barbara Thiering, Australian writer and historian
*H. G. Wells, writer
["Biography of H. G. Wells"](_blank)
*Kwasi Wiredu, philosopher
* Frances Yates, historian
Notable faculty
* T. S. Eliot
See also
* List of first women lawyers and judges by nationality
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Official websiteUniversity of London
150 Years - Anniversary Celebrations''University of London, Archived''
Imperial echoes''Times Higher Education, Archived''
{{DEFAULTSORT:London External System, University Of
University of London Worldwide,
University of London, External System
1858 establishments in the United Kingdom
1858 establishments in England
1858 establishments in the British Empire
1858 in London
Distance education institutions based in the United Kingdom