University College's main building in the late 1820s, with its classical portico and dome

University College London has a long history, beginning in the early 19th century. UCL was founded in 1826 under the name "University of London", as a secular alternative to the strictly religious universities of Oxford and Cambridge.^[1] It was founded from the beginning as a university, not a college or institute. However its founders encountered strong opposition from the Church of England, which prevented them from securing the Royal Charter that was necessary for the award of degrees, and it was not until 1836, when the latter-day University of London was established, that the college was legally recognised and granted the power to award degrees of the University of London. The London University as drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd and published in 1827/28. ... The London University as drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd and published in 1827/28. ... Categories: Architectural elements | Stub ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... University College London, commonly known as UCL, is a college of the University of London. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The University of London is a university based primarily in London. ... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... The University of Oxford (usually abbreviated as Oxon. ... The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and has a reputation as one of the worlds most prestigious universities. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... A Royal Charter is a charter given by a monarch to legitimize an incorporated body, such as a city, company, university or such. ... The University of London is a university based primarily in London. ... A degree is any of a wide range of awards made by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study. ...

Early years

The UCL Main Building, just off Gower Street is the centre of the UCL campus

Whether or not UCL is actually the third oldest university in England is open to some debate. Within England, other higher education institutions can trace institutional ancestry before they were formed as universities; for example what is now the University of Nottingham can trace some elements back to 1798. However, Nottingham only received its Royal Charter (conferring university status) in 1948, making it much younger as a university. Conversely, King's College London (KCL) was founded after UCL, but received its Royal Charter before UCL, so arguably KCL is older. This is further confounded by the fact that technically neither UCL nor KCL are universities in their own right (though they are de facto), but colleges of the University of London. All that can really be said safely is that UCL was one of the early members of a rapid expansion of university institutions in the UK, which also included Durham University (founded by Act of Parliament in 1832). However UCL was certainly unique in that it was secular. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 630 KB) Own Personal Photography (camera phone) - will upload a higher quality one when possible I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 630 KB) Own Personal Photography (camera phone) - will upload a higher quality one when possible I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Main Building of University College London, including the Octagon (building), Quad, Cloisters and the Wilkins building. ... Gower Street Gower Street is a street in Bloomsbury, central London, England, running between Euston Road to the north and Montague Place to the south. ... There is much debate over which university in England is the third oldest with several higher education instutions either explicitly claiming the distinction or asserting a foundation date that predates the conventional date for another claimant. ... The University of Nottingham is a leading research and teaching university in the city of Nottingham, in the East Midlands of England. ... Kings College London is the largest college of the University of London and one of a number of university institutions founded in England in the early 19th century: only the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have royal charters predating that of Kings. ... The University of London is a university based primarily in London. ... Affiliations 1994 Group European University Association Association of MBAs EQUIS Universities UK N8 Group Association of Commonwealth Universities Website http://www. ... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ...

UCL was the first UK higher education institution to accept students of any race or religious or political belief.^[2] It was possibly the first to accept women on equal terms with men (the University of Bristol also makes this claim — as both were admitting students to University of London degrees at the time, it is possible that this was a simultaneous action).^[3] The University of Bristol is a university in Bristol, England. ...

UCL was the first in England to establish a students' union.^[4] However men and women had separate unions until 1945.^[5] University College London Union, founded in 1893, is widely believed to be Englands oldest students union. ...

UCL was the first university to have professorships in chemical engineering, chemistry, Egyptology, electrical engineering, English, French, geography, German, Italian, papyrology, phonetics, psychology, and zoology, as well as the first chemistry department proper in England.^[6] A professor is a senior teacher and researcher, usually in a college or university. ... Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e. ... Chemistry - the study of atoms, made of nuclei (conglomeration of center particles) and electrons (outer particles), and the structures they form. ... The Great Sphinx of Giza against Khafres Pyramid at the Giza pyramid complex. ... Electrical Engineers design power systems… … and complex electronic circuits. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Papyrology is the study of ancient literature as preserved in manuscripts written on papyrus, the most common form of paper in the Egyptian, Greek and Roman worlds. ... Phonetics (from the Greek word φωνή, phone meaning sound, voice) is the study of the sounds of human speech. ... Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhÄ“, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is an academic / applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior of humans and animals. ... Zoology (rarely spelled zoölogy) is the biological discipline which involves the study of non-human animals. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total 130...

Construction of the Main Building

In 1827, a year after the founding of UCL, construction of the Main Building began on the site of the old Carmarthen Square. The Octagon Building is a term used for the whole of the Main Building, but more appropriately for a central part of it. At the centerpiece of the building is an ornate dome, which is visible throughout the immediate area. The Octagon was designed by the Architect William Wilkins, who also designed the National Gallery. The original plans by Wilkins called for a U shaped enclosure around the Quad (square). These plans however were not completed until the 20th century. The Main Building was finally finished in 1985, 158 years since the foundations were layed, with a formal opening ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.^[7] Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Main Building of University College London, including the Octagon (building), Quad, Cloisters and the Wilkins building. ... William Wilkins (31 August 1778 — 31 August 1839) was an English architect, classicist and archaeologist. ... National Gallery is a common name for a countrys major public art gallery. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ...

Jeremy Bentham

A fictional painting of Jeremy Bentham overseeing the construction of UCL in the Flaxman gallery inside the 'main library'

The philosopher and jurist Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) is often credited with being one of the founders of the University of London, the forerunner of today's University College London. This is not, in fact, true. Bentham was eighty years of age when the new University opened its doors in 1828, and took no part in the campaign to bring it into being.^[8] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 744 KB) Own Work, Nov 2006 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 744 KB) Own Work, Nov 2006 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Jeremy Bentham (IPA: or ) (February 15, 1748 O.S. (February 26, 1748 N.S.) – June 6, 1832) was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. ... Jeremy Bentham (IPA: or ) (February 15, 1748 O.S. (February 26, 1748 N.S.) – June 6, 1832) was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... Year 1832 (MDCCCXXXII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The myth of his participation has been perpetuated in a mural by Henry Tonks, in the dome above the Flaxman gallery (by artist John Flaxman in the UCL Main Building. It shows William Wilkins, the architect of the main building, submitting the plans to Bentham for his approval while the portico is under construction in the background. This is however a myth.^[9] Although Bentham played no direct part in the establishment of UCL, he still deserves to be considered as its spiritual father. Many of the founders, particularly James Mill and Henry Brougham, held him in high esteem, and their project embodied many of his ideas on education and society. Jeremy Bentham was a strong advocate for making higher education more widely available, and is often linked with the University's early adoption of a policy of making all courses available to people regardless of sex, religion or political beliefs. John Flaxman (July 6, 1755 - December 7, 1826), was an English sculptor and draughtsman. ... The Main Building of University College London, including the Octagon (building), Quad, Cloisters and the Wilkins building. ... There have been at least three notable people called William Wilkins: William Wilkins, (1778-1839), British architect and archeologist William Wilkins, (1779-1865), American lawyer, U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, Secretary of War William A. Wilkins, (fl. ... James Mill James Mill (April 6, 1773 - June 23, 1836), Scottish historian, economist and philosopher, was born at Northwater Bridge, in the parish of Logie-Pert, Angus, Scotland, the son of James Mill, a shoemaker. ... Lord Henry Peter Brougham Baron Brougham & Vaux sitting as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (September 19, 1778 - May 7, 1868) was Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. ...

The Jeremy Bentham auto-icon, on display in the cloisters of the UCL Main Building

A further reason for Jeremy Bentham's fame within UCL is due to the fact that his body is on display to the public. Jeremy Bentham specified in his will that he wanted his body to be preserved as a lasting memorial to the university, and this instruction was duly carried out.^[10] This 'Auto-Icon' has become famous. Unfortunately, when it came to preserving his head, the process went disastrously wrong and left the head badly disfigured. A wax head was made to replace it, but for many years the real head sat between his legs. At present the Auto-Icon sits in a wooden cabinet, at the end of the South Cloisters of the UCL Main Building.^[11] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 78 KB)Jeremy Benthams Auto-Icon at University College London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 78 KB)Jeremy Benthams Auto-Icon at University College London. ... The Main Building of University College London, including the Octagon (building), Quad, Cloisters and the Wilkins building. ... “Human Head” redirects here. ... candle wax This page is about the substance. ... The Main Building of University College London, including the Octagon (building), Quad, Cloisters and the Wilkins building. ...

It is often claimed that King's College London students stole the head and played football with it. Although the head was indeed stolen, the football story is a myth which is denied by official UCL documentation about Bentham found next to his display case in the college cloisters. The head is now kept in the college vaults.^[12] On another occasion, according to legend, the head, again stolen by students, was eventually found in a luggage locker at a Scottish Station (possibly Aberdeen).^[13] Kings College London is the largest college of the University of London and one of a number of university institutions founded in England in the early 19th century: only the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have royal charters predating that of Kings. ...

A testament to his eccentricity is the often repeated myth that the box containing his remains is wheeled into senior college meetings, and that he is then listed in minutes as 'present but not voting'. He is also said to have a vote on the College council, but only when the vote is split, and that he always votes in favour of the motion. When the Upper Refectory was refurbished in 2003, the room became renamed the Jeremy Bentham Room (sometimes abbreviated JBR) in tribute to the man. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

20th century

In 1907 the University of London was reconstituted and many of the colleges, including UCL, lost their separate legal existence. This continued until 1977 when a new charter restored UCL's independence. Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ...

In 1973, UCL became the first international link to the ARPANET, the precursor of today's internet, sending the world's first electronic mail, or e-mail in the same year. UCL was also one of the first universities in the world to conduct space research. It is the driving force of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, managed by UCL's Department of Space and Climate Physics. ARPANET logical map, March 1977. ... Electronic mail, abbreviated e-mail or email, is a method of composing, sending, and receiving messages over electronic communication systems. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) is the United Kingdoms largest university space research group. ...

Newton's Principia, of which UCL has a first edition

In August 1998 the medical school at UCL merged with The Royal Free Hospital Medical School to create the new Royal Free and University College Medical School. This, together with the incorporation of several major postgraduate medical institutes (Institute of Child Health, Institute of Neurology, Eastman Dental Institute and the Institute of Ophthalmology) make UCL one of the leading centres for biomedical research in the world. Indeed, 65% of UCL's turnover resides within biomedicine^{[citation needed]}. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1266x842, 646 KB)Isaac Newtons own first edition copy of his Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica with his handwritten corrections for the second edition. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1266x842, 646 KB)Isaac Newtons own first edition copy of his Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica with his handwritten corrections for the second edition. ... Newtons own copy of his Principia, with hand written corrections for the second edition. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Royal Free Hospital is a hospital in London, United Kingdom. ...

10 Nobel Laureates in Physiology and Medicine either studied or carried out their research at UCL. UCL is particularly strong in cell biology, neuroscience, physiology, paediatrics, neurology and ophthalmology. UCL's strengths in biomedicine will be significantly augmented with the move of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) from Mill Hill to UCL. Founded in 1913 and the Medical Research Council's first and largest laboratory, its scientists have garnered five Nobel prizes. NIMR today employs over 700 scientists and has an annual budget of £27 millions. The Nobel Prizes (pronounced no-BELL or no-bell) are awarded annually to people who have done outstanding research, invented groundbreaking techniques or equipment, or made outstanding contributions to society. ... The National Institute For Medical Research, commonly abbreviated to NIMR, is a large medical research facility situated in rural Mill Hill, England, on the outskirts of London. ... Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. ... Current MRC logo The Medical Research Council (MRC) is a UK organisation dedicated to promot[ing] the balanced development of medical and related biological research in the UK. // Organisation The MRC is one of eight Research Councils and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Office of Science and...

Recent years

Even today UCL retains its strict secular position, and unlike most other UK universities has no designated Muslim prayer rooms. It has recently (2005) gained a Christian chaplaincy. Due to this, in general, secularistic attitude, UCL has also been known as "the godless institution of Gower Street". However, there is no restriction on religious groups among students, and a quiet room allows prayer for staff and students of all faiths. The very reason for secularity was that students of different denominations (specifically Catholics and Protestants) could study alongside each other without conflict. A chaplain is a priest or military unit, a private chapel, a ship, a prison, a hospital, a parliament and so on. ...

In October 2002, a plan to merge UCL with Imperial College London was announced by both institutions. The merger was widely seen as a de facto takeover of UCL by Imperial College and was opposed by both staff and UCL Union, the students' union, as well as students in general; but what particularly angered many staff and students was the absence of consultation before the proposal was made^{[citation needed]}. At an emergency meeting organised by University College London Union to discuss the merger and the union's stance on it, the then provost Sir Derek Roberts stormed out of the Bloomsbury Theatre, refusing to listen to a speaker who opposed the merger. He himself had just finished delivering a speech in favour^{[citation needed]}. One month later after a vigorous campaign the merger was called off. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Imperial College London (also known as Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a British university institution and a constituent college of the University of London. ... University College London Union, founded in 1893, is widely believed to be Englands oldest students union. ... University College London Union, founded in 1893, is widely believed to be Englands oldest students union. ... Bloomsbury Theatre The UCL Bloomsbury is a theatre on Gordon Street, Bloomsbury, Camden, London, owned by the nearby University College London. ...

On 1 August 2003, Professor Malcolm Grant took the role of President and Provost (the principal of UCL), taking over from Sir Derek Roberts, who had been called out of retirement as a caretaker provost for the college. Shortly after Grant's inauguration, UCL began the 'Campaign for UCL' initiative, in 2004. It aimed to raise £300m from alumni and friends. This kind of explicit campaigning is traditionally unusual for UK universities, and is similar to US university funding. UCL had a financial endowment in the top ten among UK universities at £81m, according to the Sutton Trust (2002). Grant has also aimed to enhance UCL's global links, declaring UCL London's "Global University". Significant interactions with France's École Normale Supérieure , Columbia University, CalTech, New York University, University of Texas, Villanova University and universities in Osaka have developed during the first few years of his tenure as provost. is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Professor Malcolm Grant is the Provost of University College London. ... Provost is the title of a senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, the equivalent of Vice-Chancellor at certain UK universites such as UCL, and the head of certain Oxbridge colleges (e. ... A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution, with the stipulation that it be invested, and the principal remain intact. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... See also École Normale de Musique de Paris. ... Columbia University is a private research university in the United States. ... California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (commonly known as Caltech) is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... New York University (NYU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational institution in New York City. ... The University of Texas System comprises fifteen educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are general academic universities, and six are health institutions. ... Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. ... Osaka )   is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of HonshÅ«. The city is the capital of Osaka Prefecture. ...

UCL was named Sunday Times University of the Year in 2004. The Sunday Times 2005 University Guide describes UCL as "physically and academically at the centre of the University of London. Mergers with a number of medical and other academic schools have created a multidisciplinary college that rivals Oxford and Cambridge for breadth, exclusivity and cutting-edge teaching and research." The Sunday Times University of the Year is an annual award given to a British university by The Sunday Times. ...

UCL applied to the Privy Council for the power to award degrees in its own right. This was granted in September 2005 although the powers are being held in reserve and will only be used should the college find it necessary to change its status within the federation of the University of London. The University also had a major rebranding exercise for the start of the 2005-2006 academic year, which cost in order of £600,000.^[14] A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, especially in a monarchy. ...

UCL has been a member of theLeague of European Research Universities since 2006.

In January 2006, UCL decided to become a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), a network of research-intensive universities with common viewpoints on higher education and research policy. Membership of LERU, which is by invitation, is periodically evaluated against a broad set of quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as research volume, impact and funding, strengths in PhD training, size and disciplinary breadth, and peer-recognised academic excellence. Image File history File links LERU_logo. ... Image File history File links LERU_logo. ... According to its mission statement, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) is a group of European research-intensive universities committed to the values of high quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research. ... According to its mission statement, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) is a group of European research-intensive universities committed to the values of high quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research. ...

The 2006 report 'Bibliometric analysis of highly cited publications of health research in England, 1995–2004'^[15] published by Leiden University in The Netherlands, shows that UCL is England's most cited university by health-researchers. From 1995–2001, for example, UCL produced more than 4,500 highly cited papers, compared with fewer than 3,500 for Oxford University, which stood in second place, and slightly over 3,000 for Cambridge University at third place. King's College London and Imperial College London came in fourth and fifth respectively. The number of citations that an institution receives in academic papers is widely considered to be a measure of importance and influence. This analysis, written to help identify candidate biomedical research centres as part of the UK Department of Health’s research and development strategy, ‘Best Research for Best Health’, shows that UCL is at the forefront of a range of health disciplines. Leiden University, located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands[1]. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, the Europaeum and the League of European Research Universities. ... Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... UCL may refer to University College London, in England Université catholique de Louvain, in Belgium Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. ... UCL may refer to University College London, in England Université catholique de Louvain, in Belgium Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom. ... Kings College London is the largest college of the University of London and one of a number of university institutions founded in England in the early 19th century: only the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have royal charters predating that of Kings. ... Imperial College London (also known as Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a British university institution and a constituent college of the University of London. ...

References

Further Reading

• The World of UCL 1828-1990 (1991) by Negley Harte and John North. This is a detailed and well illustrated history of UCL and is available in hardback and paperback
• The World of UCL Union 1893-1993 (1994) by James Bates and Carol Ibbetson.
• The Godless Students of Gower Street (1968) by David Taylor.
• The Admission of Women to University College London, a Centenary Lecture (1979) by Negley Harte.

External Links

• UCL History Page
• Cruchley Plan 1827 UCL site 1827