Transforming Education... Creating Futures

Since its foundation in 1836, the University of London has played a pioneering role in global higher education, constantly innovating to foster learning and research at the very highest academic levels, whilst collaborating with our Member Institutions to connect learners and researchers with an unrivalled range of talent and knowledge.

We are continuously advancing ways to position digital technology to serve the human curiosity to learn, and providing flexible and adaptive approaches to suit the different needs of students across the world. Today, the University has established itself as an institution of global importance, which stands literally and metaphorically at the very heart of one of the world’s leading cities.

Now is a time for opportunity and change. Demand for higher education is at an all-time high and growing; yet access continues to elude many, generation after generation. Moreover, with participation rates in higher education having never been higher, as more people gain qualifications so grows the importance of demonstrating value and impact. Whilst our vision is clear, the current landscape presents new and unique challenges for higher education. The University of London’s ambitious new five-year strategy Transforming Education…Creating Futures will address these challenges by harnessing the strengths of our history, connecting worlds across national, educational and economic divides, and forging a path for a worldclass university in a modern, global community.

Launching on 24 November 2020, coinciding with the University’s annual Foundation Day, the strategy will build on our mission and core values, leading the way for a positive future. This is an exciting moment for the University of London and we look forward to sharing more with our community of alumni and friends, who will play an important role in helping the University to realise its vision.

Foundation Day 2020

The University of London Foundation Day marks the anniversary of the creation of the University by Royal Charter, which was granted by William IV on 28 November 1836.

Since 1903, the event has also been an opportunity to award honorary degrees to distinguished individuals from both the academic and non-academic worlds. Recipients in previous years have included Winston Churchill, Judi Dench, T S Eliot, Margot Fonteyn and Henry Moore. The degrees are presented to the recipients in an evening ceremony at the University of London’s headquarters Senate House, held each autumn.

Whilst current circumstances mean the University is unable to host a physical event this year, we are delighted to instead be hosting a virtual celebration of Foundation Day on 24 November 2020, where we will mark the occasion with a commemorative video. Viewers will be given insight into the history of the event, with the chance to watch messages from our Chancellor, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, who will launch the University’s strategy and outline our future plans.

For more information, visit: london.ac.uk/foundation-day-2020

Connecting worlds across time and space

Our alumni play a key part in the University's mission to connect worlds. Alumnus Sir Charles Kao, winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics, was a pioneer in the field of fibre optics. His ground-breaking research revolutionised telecommunications, allowing communication across time and space and creating a more interconnected world.