Member institutions of the University of London are colleges and universities that are members of the federal University of London.
The University of London was initially configured as an examining board for affiliated colleges, but was reconfigured as a teaching university for London, with many London colleges becoming schools of the university, in 1900. Since the 1990s it has trended towards much greater autonomy for its colleges. Common assessment standards by subject no longer exist across the university nor is shared teaching or cross-registration commonplace.
List of member institutions The member institutions of the University of London are currently divided as follows, in alphabetical order:
Colleges
Arms University Established JoinedUniversityof London Totalstudents ()Notes Birkbeck, University of London 1823 1920 A university in its own right since 2023, with degree awarding powers since 2012. Brunel University of London 1798 2024 A university since 1966, became a member institution of the University of London in 2024.City St George's, University of London 1834 2016 Formed in 2024 by merger of City, University of London and St George's, University of London. City became a member institution of the University of London in 2016, and became a university in its own right again in 2023. None Royal Central School of Speech and Drama 1906 2005 Degree awarding powers since 2005. None Courtauld Institute of Art 1932 2002 Goldsmiths, University of London 1891 1905 Became an institution owned by the university in 1905 and a school of the university in 1988.
A university in its own right since 2024, with degree awarding powers since 2013. None Institute of Cancer Research 1909 2003 King's College London 1829 1900 Along with University College London, one of the two colleges named in the 1836 charter as having the right to submit students for examination and an original school of the university in 1900. Since 2023 a university in its own right. None London Business School 1964 1964 London School of Economics 1895 1900 Original school of the university in 1900. Since 2023 a university in its own right.NoneLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine 1899 1900 Original school of the university in 1900. Degree awarding powers since 2013. Approved for university status and applying for supplemental charter in 2024/5. Queen Mary University of London 1785 1907 A university in its own right since 2023, which awarded its own degrees since 2014. Royal Academy of Music 1822 1999 Degree awarding powers since 2012.Royal Holloway, University of London 1879 1900 Original school of the university in 1900. Since 2022 a university in its own right. Royal Veterinary College 1791 1949 A university in its own right since 2023, with degree awarding powers since 2009. SOAS University of London 1916 1916 A university in its own right since 2023, with degree awarding powers since 2013. None University College London 1826 1900 Along with King's College London, one of the two colleges named in the 1836 charter as having the right to submit students for examination and an original school of the university in 1900. A university in its own right since 2023, with degree awarding powers since 2005.
Former colleges Bedford College Chelsea College City, University of London Hackney College Heythrop College, University of London Imperial College London Institute of Archaeology Institute of Education London School of Medicine for Women New College London Queen Elizabeth College Regent's Park College Richmond Theological College St George's, University of London School of Pharmacy, University of London School of Slavonic and East European Studies Westfield College Wye College
History The institutions that make up the university of London have been referred to by a number of different terms historically. From federation in 1900 until the passing of the University of London Act 1994 they were formally "schools of the university" or (until 1978) "colleges incorporated into the university", from 1994 until the passing of the University of London Act 2018 they were "colleges", and from 2018 they have been "member institutions". A member institution is defined in the 2018 act 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". This had the effect of allowing institutions to change their status from colleges to universities in their own right while still remaining part of the University of London. These institutions, including the London School of Economics and University College London, achieved university status in their own right within the University of London in 2022 and 2023.
Students from University of London colleges who wish to take a course at another college within the collegiate public university as part of their degree can register as intercollegiate students.
Until the year 2008, all colleges within the federal collegiate system solely awarded a University of London degree. From 2003 onwards some colleges received their own degree-awarding powers. However, these were held in abeyance until 2008, when a number of colleges began to award their own degrees.
Gallery
References