University College London (UCL) was founded on 11 February 1826 as England's first entirely secular university, admitting students regardless of religion, race, or social status. Inspired by the radical ideas of philosopher Jeremy Bentham, its founders — including poet Thomas Campbell and lawyer Henry Brougham — sought to create an alternative to the Anglican universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Today, UCL is a constituent college of the University of London, a member of the Russell Group, and the second-largest university in the United Kingdom by total enrolment.

UCL is organised into 11 academic faculties, with over 100 departments, institutes, and research centres spanning arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, law, and education. With approximately 51,000 students from over 150 countries and more than 18,000 staff, UCL is one of the most internationally diverse universities in the world. The university holds a Gold rating for Student Outcomes in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.

UCL's main campus is located in the Bloomsbury area of central London, with a second campus — UCL East — at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. The university has been consistently ranked in the global top 10 by QS World University Rankings for over 14 consecutive years. As of 2025, 33 Nobel Prize laureates and three Fields Medal recipients have been affiliated with UCL as alumni or academic staff.

UCL's research and teaching is organised across 11 faculties, offering over 400 undergraduate and 700 postgraduate programmes. The university takes a strongly interdisciplinary approach, encouraging collaboration across faculties to address complex global challenges in areas such as climate science, AI, public health, and social justice.

UCL's tuition fees vary significantly depending on programme, level of study, and whether you are classified as a UK (home) or overseas (international) student. Most overseas undergraduate students benefit from a cohort fee guarantee, meaning fees will not increase during their course. Contact UCL directly for the most current fee schedule for your specific programme.

UCL's main campus is situated in Bloomsbury, one of London's most vibrant intellectual and cultural neighbourhoods, just minutes from the British Museum, the West End, and King's Cross. The university also operates UCL East, a second campus at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, which opened in 2022 as a hub for interdisciplinary innovation and community engagement.

The Wilkins Building

UCL's iconic main building, designed by William Wilkins in 1827 and formally completed in 1985, features a grand Corinthian portico and dome at the heart of the Bloomsbury campus.

UCL Student Centre

The state-of-the-art Student Centre on Gordon Street provides over 1,000 study spaces, a learning hub, and support services in a striking contemporary building.

UCL East Campus

One Pool Street at UCL East has been recognised with a Civic Trust Award for its outstanding design, sustainability, and contribution to the community at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

UCL offers a rich and diverse student experience in the heart of London. With students from over 150 countries and more than 200 clubs and societies run by the Students' Union — one of the oldest in England, established in 1893 — there is something for everyone. The university provides comprehensive wellbeing, disability, and mental health support services.

UCL is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world, holding a position in the global top 10 for over 14 consecutive years in the QS World University Rankings. The university also excels in subject-specific rankings, holding the number one global position in Education and Architecture and the Built Environment.