London Universities

Londonhas one of the largest concentrations ofuniversitiesin the world. It has 40 Higher Education institutions (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 and world-famous colleges that today make up the federalUniversity of London, modern universities, as well as a number of smaller and often highly specialised universities and colleges. Additionally, over 34 000 students in over 180 countries follow theUniversity of London External System, established in 1858. The System offersundergraduateandpostgraduatediplomas and degrees to students worldwide. A designated constituent institution of the University of London called the“lead college”(e.g.Royal Holloway) creates materials to allow students to study at their own pace. Examinations take place at testing centers around the world on specified dates.

In the heart of London is University College London (UCL). Just 180 years ago, the benefits of a university education in England were restricted to men who were members of the Church of England; UCL was founded to challenge that discrimination. UCL was the first university to be established in England after Oxford and Cambridge, providing a progressive alternative to those institutions’ social exclusivity, religious restrictions and academic constraints.

UCL was the first university in England to admit students of any race, class or religion, and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. A teaching programme was established in which religious beliefs would not constrain the dissemination of knowledge and exploration of ideas. It was the first English university to offer the systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine.

Red Brick Universities

Red brick(or“redbrick”) is a term used to refer to thesix civic British universitiesfounded in the major industrial cities ofEnglandin the Victorian era which achieved university status beforeWorld War II.

The term “red brick”was first coined by a professor of Spanish (Edgar Allison Peers) at theUniversity of Liverpoolto describe these civic universities.His reference was inspired by the fact thatThe Victoria Buildingat the University of Liverpool is built from a distinctive red pressedbrick, withterracottadecorative dressings.

The six civic^* universities were:

• University of Birmingham; Royal Charter granted in 1900.

• University of Bristol; Royal Charter granted in 1909.

• University of Leeds; Royal Charter granted in 1904.

• University of Liverpool; Royal Charter granted in 1903.

• University of Manchester; formed in 2004 by the dissolution ofVictoria UniversityandUMIST.

• University of Sheffield; Royal charter granted in 1905.

These universities were distinguished by being non-collegiateinstitutions that admitted men without reference to religion or background and concentrated on imparting to their students“real-world”skills, often linked to engineering. This focus on the practical also distinguished the red brick universities from the ancient English universities ofOxfordandCambridge,collegiate institutions which concentrated on divinity, the liberal arts and imposed religious tests.