University of London (Institutes and Activities)

The University of London is a federal research university made up of 17 autonomous colleges and 10 research institutes, some of which date back to the 19th century. There are two institutes within the umbrella of the University of London: The School of Advanced Study and the University of London Institute in Paris.

The School of Advanced Study is made up of eight institutes: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Institute of Classical Studies, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Institute of English Studies, Institute of Historical Research, Institute of Modern Languages Research, Institute of Philosophy and The Warburg Institute. Each of these schools offers specialised postgraduate programmes, research opportunities and academic events.

The University of London Institute in Paris offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in many subjects including French studies, international relations, history, law and urban studies. Situated in the centre of Paris, students can explore the city while they complete their degree. Most degrees are primarily taught in English. Students also have the option to study a dual degree programme if they wish in collaboration with SOAS, in subjects such as French and Arabic, French and international relations or French and law.

The University of London was established in 1836 as a secular alternative to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, becoming the first university to explicitly exclude a religious qualification as a requirement for entry.

There is an extensive range of services available to students, including careers advice and access to Student Central and the Senate House Library, an art deco building that stands as one of the UK's largest academic libraries for arts, humanities and social sciences with over 2 million books and 50 special collections.