MEDIA - OUR History IN BRIEF

About the University of London International Programmes

The University of London was established in 1836 and is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse universities in the United Kingdom.
The University’s founding principle is to provide education for all, irrespective of race, creed or political belief.
In 1858, the University of London was granted its fourth Charter, which paved the way for the establishment of the University of London International Programmes.
The University of London International Programmes is a unique global network of 45,000 students in 180 countries, on 100+ study programmes.
The External System has been instrumental in the formation of British higher education – all English and Welsh universities founded between 1849 and 1949 offered University of London degrees before obtaining Royal Charters to award their own degrees.
Between 1946-1970, the External System played a significant role in establishing many Commonwealth universities under a unique scheme of ‘special relations’.
Through the External System higher education was made available to a much wider range of social classes; it pre-empted 20th Century developments in open, flexible and distance learning by more than 100 years.
Famous former students and alumni of the External System include six Nobel Prize Winners: Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, Professor Ronald Coase, Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott, ex-President Nelson Mandela and joint winner Dr Rolph Payet.