The University of London is unlike any other institution of higher education. Founded in 1836 by Royal Charter, it was established as a secular alternative to Oxford and Cambridge—the only two other English universities at the time—and became the first to explicitly exclude religious qualification as an entry requirement. Replica University of London diploma. This commitment to widening access has shaped its identity for nearly two centuries.
Charles Dickens’ magazine, All the Year Round, aptly coined the term “The People’s University” in 1858, describing an institution that would “extend her hand even to the young shoemaker who studies in his garret”. From its earliest days, the University of London championed access to higher education regardless of gender, race, or religion—a radical vision that continues to define its mission today. Novelty University of London degree.
The University of London holds a distinguished place in the history of educational equality. In 1868, women were first admitted to sit the “special examination,” marking the first time women could access university education in the UK. A decade later, in 1878, the University became the first UK university to award full degrees to women. In 1913, it appointed Caroline Spurgeon as only the second woman professor at a British university, and in 1948, Lillian Penson became the first woman Vice-Chancellor of a British university.
The University also pioneered distance learning on a global scale. In 1858, it became the birthplace of long-distance learning, allowing students to study for degrees without ever coming to London—providing access to higher education across the globe. Examinations were first held outside London in 1859 in Liverpool and Manchester; by 1865, overseas examinations were conducted in Mauritius. Today, the University has around 40,000 distance learning students in more than 190 countries, making it the UK institution with the largest global alumni network—over 750,000 graduates worldwide. Order a Copy University of London certificate.
The University of London continues to expand access to world-class education through its University of London Worldwide programme, with approximately 48,000 external students studying from every corner of the globe. The institution has embraced modern digital learning, launching its first massive open online course (MOOC) on the Coursera platform in 2013 and fully online BSc Computer Science programmes in 2019.
Its partnerships extend to Vietnam through British University Vietnam (BUV), a 15-year collaboration where Vietnamese students can earn University of London degrees at a fraction of the cost of studying in London. Such partnerships reflect the University’s enduring commitment to its founding mission: making world-class higher education accessible to all who merit it.
