London University (Detailed Info)

Founded: 1836 bringing together two existing London colleges, King's and University College.

Structural features: A federal university consisting of over 40 institutions in which teaching and research are carried out; students belong both to the college or institute at which they study and to the university. Most courses are offered on a full-time basis but there are many opportunities to study part-time or at home by distance learning. There is also an external programme through which students elsewhere can study for London University degrees.

Location: University site in Bloomsbury, including 35 acres between British Museum and Euston Road, on which University College, Birkbeck and SOAS are located. Almost all London University colleges are within a radius of 3 miles of the Bloomsbury site except for Royal Holloway (Surrey), the Wye College campus of Imperial College (Kent) and the London University Institute in Paris.

Academic features: Colleges, Institutes and London's unique external system offer over 900 undergraduate and 400 Masters' degree courses as well as many diploma and certificate courses via Birkbeck College and other colleges. London University offers the biggest choice of courses in the UK. Most degrees on modular system. All the separate teaching institutions select their students themselves and you apply to them, not to the university.

Look up their profiles:

Barts & The London (part of Queen Mary)
Birkbeck
Courtauld Institute
Goldsmiths College
Heythrop College
Imperial College
King's College London
London University Institute in Paris
LSE (London School of Economics & Political Science) Queen Mary
Royal Academy of Music
Royal Holloway
Royal Veterinary College
St George's (Hospital Medical School)
School of Pharmacy
Slade (part of University College)
SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University College London

There are also many specialist postgraduate institutions.

Awarding body: London University.

Length of courses: 3 or 4 years; medicine/dentistry 5 years.

External students: The University will register and examine eligible students world-wide who are not registered at colleges of London University: first degrees in arts subjects, computing, divinity, economics, law, mathematics, music; Masters' degrees with full distance learning materials include agriculture, economics, environment. Enquiries to the External Programme at Senate House.

Study abroad: A number of degree courses involve a year abroad. Library & information services: Senate House Library has 2 million books and 5500 current periodicals; particularly strong in the humanities. Many distinguished specialist collections. In addition, colleges all have their own libraries.

Summer schools: London University runs annual summer schools to allow sixth formers to sample a subject and the university environment (prospectus from Senate House).

Students' union: University union (ULU) is in Malet Street. All undergraduate colleges have their own unions.

Sporting facilities: Athletic ground in Motspur Park, Surrey; university boathouse at Chiswick; sailing clubhouse at Welsh Harp Reservoir, Brent.

Student advice & services: Central Institutions Health Service for Birkbeck, School of Pharmacy, SOAS; other colleges make their own arrangements.

Accommodation & Financial help: See individual college profiles.