University of London

University of London

Latin:Universitas Londiniensis
Type	Public
Established	1836
Chancellor	HRH The Princess Royal
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Geoffrey Crossick
Visitor	The Rt HonNick Clegg AsLord President of the Council
Students	135,090 internal (2005-2006) 50,000 International Programmes
Location	London , England,UK
Colours
Website	london.ac.uk

TheUniversity of Londonis auniversityinLondon,England.It is afederal universitymade up of 31 affiliates. There are nineteen university institutions and twelveresearchinstitutes.

Theheadquartersof the university, Senate House, is in Malet Street in theBloomsburyarea ofCamden.This is nearUniversity College Londonand theBritish Museum.

The University of London is the largest university in theUKby 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 aRoyal Charterin 1836, which brought together in federationLondon University(nowUniversity College London) andKing's College(nowKing's College London).

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

The university's biggest colleges areBirkbeck,Goldsmiths,King's College London,theLondon Business School,Queen Mary,Royal Holloway,SOAS,LSEandUCL.

History

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

Founded in 1836, the University at first comprised just two colleges. They wereUniversity College London(founded in 1826), which did not apply religious tests to its students, andKing's College(founded in 1829), which admitted only members of theChurch 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 obtainedBachelor of Artsdegrees in 1880 and two obtainedBachelor of Sciencedegrees in 1881, again the first in the country.