University College London

Overview

University College of London (UCL) is among the constituent colleges that comprise the University of London. The institution is known as one of the top universities in the United Kingdom, the oldest university in London, and one of the first institutions for higher education in the country to admit women. Excluding the University of London, it has the largest number of enrolled post-graduate students and one of the largest populations of undergraduates in the United Kingdom.

UCL is a member of the League of European Research Universities and the Russell Group. It is also a founding member of UCL Partners, the biggest center for academic health science in the world. Moreover, the university has among the highest research outputs in Europe and boasts one of the highest research incomes in the country.

Education in UCL is divided into 11 faculties, under which are over 100 academic departments that offer more than 440 undergraduate and 650 postgraduate programs. Its most highly regarded subjects and courses include Architecture, Education, Anatomy, Geography, Medicine, Anthropology, and Pharmacology.

UCL’s main campus is located in Bloomsbury while its second campus, UCL East, is at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It also has several satellite branches throughout Central London. The institution is home to a library network of two million volumes stored in its 17 libraries, several museums, and a vast collection of manuscripts, rare publications, and archives. The most prized items in the collection include the first editions of works from Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and James Joyce, on top of a dedicated collection to George Orwell.

Founded in 1826, UCL’s earliest incarnation came in the form of the London University, positioned as an alternative to Oxford and Cambridge. In 1836, it became one of the founding institutions of the federal University of London. Through strategic mergers, the university went on to increase its research faculties and academic offerings before becoming one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the country.

As of 2020, UCL welcomes more than 20,000 undergraduates and over 21,000 postgraduate students, taught by more than 7,000 educators. The school’s research has made significant contributions internationally in numerous fields, including Neuroscience, Immunology, Pharmacology, Psychology, Social Sciences, Clinical Medicine, and General Knowledge. Moreover, UCL is affiliated with over 30 Nobel laureates and three Fields medalists.

UCL has produced numerous luminaries in their respective fields. The list of notable alumni includes Mahatma Gandhi (Indian nationalist), Alexander Graham Bell (telephone inventor), Francis Crick (DNA structure discoverer), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenyan president), and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana founder).

Aiming to further its impact on the global community, UCL is committed to upholding its strong integration between research and integration to increase its diverse intellectual community. It also hosts over 150 student organizations, more than 70 sports clubs, and means for student housing to foster growth outside academics.