London has one of the largest concentrations of universities and higher education institutions in the world. It has 40 higher education institutionsHEFCE : Universities and Colleges : Higher Education institutions funded by the Council (not counting foreign Universities with London branches) and has a student population of more than 400,000. Among the institutions in London are some of the old colleges that today make up the federal University of London, modern universities, as well as a number of smaller and often highly specialised universities and colleges. Additionally, over 45,000 students in over 180 countries follow the University of London External System, established in 1858.

Universities

Universities are those institutions which hold university status.

Key (lower numbers are better): GUG: Guardian University Guide 2025 (published 2024) TUG: Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 (published 2017) CUG: Complete University Guide 2018 (published 2017) UoL: Part of the University of London QS: ranking in QS World University Rankings 2018 THE: ranking in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2017/2018 Mission: University mission group (CG: Cathedrals Group, GHE: GuildHE, IHE: Independent Higher Education, MP: MillionPlus, RP: ResearchPlus, RG: Russell Group, UA: University Alliance) ARWU: ranking in Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017

University GUG TUG CUG UoL QS THE ARWU Mission BIMM University Birkbeck, University of London -350 BPP University Brunel University of London 120 a -400 -500 RP City St George's, University of Londonb 38 -400 RP Goldsmiths, University of London 109 -350 Imperial College London 5 c RG King's College London 28 RG Kingston University 60 -550 -800 UA London Metropolitan University 93 -750 MP London School of Economics 4 -200 RG London South Bank University 59 -1000 -1000 Middlesex University 113 -750 -500 UA Northeastern University – London Queen Mary University of London 74 -200 RG Ravensbourne Regent's University London Richmond, The American International University in London IHE SOAS, University of London 90 -500 RP St Mary's University, Twickenham 75 CG, GHE University College London 9 RG University of East London 56 -1000 -800 MP University of Greenwich 117 -1000 -800 UA University of Law University of Roehampton 110 -800 CG University of the Arts London 13 GHE University of West London 30 UA University of Westminster 119 -600 -800 UA

Notes: a Member institution of the University of London from October 2024. b Formed by merger of City, University of London and St George's, University of London in 2024; historical rankings given for City. c College of the University of London until 2007.

In addition to the institutions in London, Royal Holloway, University of London in Surrey, and the University of Reading in Berkshire are members of the London Higher membership organisation for London universities. Royal Holloway is also a member institution of the University of London

Branches of UK universities in London Many universities based outside of London maintain a satellite campus in the capital. Anglia Ruskin University: ARU London Bath Spa University: Bath Spa University London (Hackney and Canary Wharf) Coventry University: Coventry University London and CU London (Dagenham and Greenwich) University of Cumbria: University of Cumbria London Campus Glasgow Caledonian University: GCU London Health Sciences University: UCO School of Osteopathy University of Central Lancashire: UCLan London Loughborough University: Loughborough University London Northumbria University: Northumbria University London Nottingham Trent University: Confetti London University of Portsmouth: University of Portsmouth London Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield Hallam University in London Staffordshire University: Staffordshire University London University of Sunderland: University of Sunderland in London Teesside University: Teesside University London Ulster University: Ulster University London Campus University of Wales Trinity Saint David: UWTSD London University of Warwick: Warwick Business School London (The Shard) University of the West of Scotland: UWS London Campus York St John University: York St John University London Campus

Other notable higher education colleges and institutions The following institutions are registered as higher education providers with the Office for Students but do not hold university status. They are usually specialised in one or two academic fields.

Colleges and central bodies of the University of London (all can award University of London degrees; some also have their own degree awarding powers): Courtauld Institute of Art (History of Art) - Aldwych Institute of Cancer Research (Oncology) - South Kensington Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Drama) - Swiss Cottage - taught degree awarding powers London Business School (Postgraduate Business School) - Regent's Park – research degree awarding powers London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (Medicine) - Fitzrovia - research degree awarding powers Royal Academy of Music (Music) - Marylebone – taught degree awarding powers Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Drama and theatre) - Hampstead - taught degree awarding powers Royal Veterinary College (Veterinary) - King's Cross – research degree awarding powers University of London School of Advanced Study (Research-led postgraduate specialisms) - Fitzrovia Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Institute of Classical Studies Institute of Commonwealth Studies Institute of English Studies Institute of Modern Languages Research Institute of Historical Research Institute of Latin American Studies Institute of Philosophy Warburg Institute Registered providers with degree awarding powers: Architectural Association School of Architecture – taught degree awarding powers ESCP Europe (Business School) London Campus - Finchley Road – taught degree awarding powers Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Music/Drama) - City of London - taught degree awarding powers Hult International Business School - taught degree awarding powers London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art - Barons Court - taught degree awarding powers London Interdisciplinary School - Whitechapel – taught degree awarding powers Rose Bruford College (Drama) - Sidcup - taught degree awarding powers Royal College of Art (Art/Design) - Kensington – research degree awarding powers Royal College of Music (Music) - Kensington – research degree awarding powers SAE Institute (Technology) - Haggerston/Dalston - taught degree awarding powers Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Music/Dance) made up of Trinity College of Music and Laban Dance Centre - Greenwich/Deptford/New Cross - taught degree awarding powers

Registered higher education providers without their own degree-awarding powers: Bird College (Dance) - Sidcup Bloomsbury Institute (Business/IT/Postgraduate) - Fitzrovia British College of Osteopathic Medicine (Medicine) - Finchley Road Central School of Ballet - Clerkenwell Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College - Acton/Ealing/Hammersmith/Southall Istituto Marangoni (Fashion/Design) - Spitalfields London Contemporary Dance School - Bloomsbury London School of Commerce & IT (Postgraduate Business School) - Borough London School of Theology (Theology) - Northwood London Studio Centre (Dance and theatre) - North Finchley Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Drama) - Wood Green National Centre for Circus Arts - Shoreditch Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance - St Margarets Royal Academy of Dance (Dance) - Battersea Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - Fitzrovia

Unregistered higher education providers that have validation arrangements with UK universities include: London School of Osteopathy

Foreign universities A number of foreign university institutions operate in London without being recognised as British universities. Some are bona fide universities with their degrees validated by recognised accreditation bodies abroad or in the UK, while others are not validated at all or are validated by unrecognised accreditation agencies. Many foreign universities run study-abroad programmes based in London, but these are often restricted to students who spend the majority of their degree studying at the university campus in their own country, and are not independent university campuses. Some of the institutions offering foreign degrees or substantial study-abroad bases in London are listed below. Amity University [IN] London: Bedford Square campus (UK degrees validated by University of Greater Manchester) Arizona State University: ASU London (Clerkenwell and Canada Water) Booth School of Business, University of Chicago: London Conference Centre (Basinghall Street) Boston University: Boston University London Programmes (South Kensington) Brigham Young University: BYU London Centre (Bayswater) Center for Transnational Legal Studies, Georgetown University Dauphine University London: Paris Dauphine University - PSL (Islington campus) Fordham University: Fordham London (Clerkenwell campus) Hult International Business School: Global campus (Aldgate and Bloomsbury) Polish University Abroad (PUNO) New York University: NYU London (Bloomsbury) University of Notre Dame: Notre Dame London (Fisher Hall) Syracuse University: Syracuse London (Farringdon)

See also Armorial of UK universities Education in London Education in England List of universities in the United Kingdom United Hospitals

References

External links London Higher – membership organisation for universities and higher education colleges in London