The University of London is one of the world's leading academic institutions, internationally recognised as a centre of excellence.

Since 1823, Birkbeck has forged its own path in higher education, reaching out to people traditionally excluded by other universities. Birkbeck is unique in its special mission to enable mature students to gain higher education qualifications via part-time study. Today, Birkbeck is ranked among the leading UK university institutions for its excellence in research in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.