LONDON, UNIVERSITY OF

a federation of more than 50 British institutions of higher learning, located primarily in London. It also examines and grants degrees to students not enrolled in any of its constituent schools. The university was a product of the Liberal movement of the 19th century. Following a call by poet Thomas Campbell in 1825 for a university to provide education for the class between the mechanics and the enormously rich, liberals and religious dissenters founded London University (now University College) in 1826; instruction began in 1828. Its application for a royal charter was refused because the college admitted Roman Catholics, Jews, and other non-Anglicans. In 1831 King's College was founded under Anglican auspices, but its charter was blocked by the dissenters. In 1836 the University of London was created as an administrative entity that would hold no classes of its own but would examine and confer degrees on students of the other two colleges. Under the Supplemental Charter of 1849, it became possible for students enrolled in any institution of higher learning anywhere in the British Empire to be examined by the university and awarded a University of London degree. Students from institutions as different as the University of Oxford and the Working Men's College of London thereby could become recipients of London degrees. In 1858 students who were not enrolled in any institution were allowed to become degree candidates. By the early 20th century many other institutions had become affiliated with the university, including Bedford College, the first British university to grant degrees to women; the London School of Economics and Political Science, now an internationally respected centre for the study of social science; and three institutions that later became the Imperial College of Science and Technology. In 1900 the university was authorized to begin offering its own courses. Students attending the university or its affiliated schools were dubbed internal students; those who sat for university examinations but were enrolled elsewhere were external students. Interactive map of the West End of London, including the City of Westminster and neighbouring areas.