University of London Facts for Kids

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 International Programmes.

The constituent colleges are responsible for the teaching, the research or the individual students and staff of the constituent colleges; the university is not. The university is an administrative body responsible for standards, degree examinations and certification.

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).

Graduates of the University of London may use the post-nominal letters 'Lond.' or 'Londin.' (both from Londiniensis) after their degree abbreviations.

The university's biggest colleges are Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, King's College London, the London Business School, Queen Mary, Royal Holloway, SOAS, LSE and UCL.

History

The London University as drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd and published in 1827/28. This was the original name of University College London, which still occupies the site.

Founded in 1836, the University at first comprised just two colleges. They were University College London (founded in 1826), which did not apply religious tests to its students, and King's College (founded in 1829), which admitted only members of the Church of England. Therefore, both University College and King's 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 International Programmes to candidates outside 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 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.

Images for kids

General Examination for Women certificate from 1878. These were issued 1869–1878, before women were admitted to degrees of the university.
Yeomanry House in Handel Street is the home of London UOTC. The flag seen flying is the University of London coat of arms.
The Imperial Institute Building in South Kensington, home to the university from 1900 to 1937
Senate House, constructed 1932–1937: the headquarters of the University of London
The main building of the University of London Union (now rebranded as 'Student Central, London')
Connaught Hall, located in Tavistock Square
Somerset House in 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.
Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation for India
Nelson Mandela (LLB), Father of the Nation for South Africa
John Snow (MB, MD), founder of epidemiology
John Hunter, founder of modern surgery
Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing
Achim Steiner (MA), Administrator of the UNDP
Tedros Adhanom (MSc), 8th Director-General of the World Health Organization
Jeremy Heywood (Msc), 11th Cabinet Secretary
Margrethe II (Hon. LLD), Queen of Denmark
Aung San Suu Kyi (MPhil), 1st State Counsellor of Myanmar
V. K. Krishna Menon (MSc, MA), 3rd Defence Minister of India
Fred Mulley (BSc), Former British Secretary of State for Defence
Elton John, English singer and composer.
Mick Jagger, English singer and composer.

University of London facts for kids

History

Images for kids

See also