University of London Worldwide

The institution that later became known as University College London was established in 1826 and opened in 1828 under the name "London University", although without official recognition of university status. The institution – following the Scottish model in curriculum and teaching – was non-denominational and, given the intense religious rivalries at the time, there was an outcry against the "godless" university. The issue soon boiled down to which institutions had degree-granting powers and which institutions did not. The compromise solution that emerged in 1836 was that the sole authority to conduct the examinations leading to degrees would be given to a new officially recognised entity called the "University of London", which would act as examining body for the University of London colleges, originally University College London and King's College London, and award their students University of London degrees. As Sheldon Rothblatt states, "thus arose in nearly archetypal form the famous English distinction between teaching and examining, here embodied in separate institutions." although its role at that time was limited to that of an examining board. Thanapal (2015) states that "the original degree by external study of the UOL was not a form of distance education". or "The English People's University", to describe the University of London as it provided access to higher education to students from less affluent backgrounds. The external system continued to expand from its London base with examinations for non-collegiate students Most English and Welsh university colleges founded between 1849 and 1949 (exceptions include Newcastle, linked with Durham from its foundation in 1871, and Swansea, part of the University of Wales from its foundation in 1920) served what was a form of "apprenticeship" through offering London degrees by external study for a period (which could vary considerably in length), before receiving authorisation to award their own degrees and becoming universities in their own right. In 1985–6, there were 24,500 students registered for external degrees in six main subject areas. The University of London International Programmes commemorated its 150th anniversary in 2008. A specially commissioned anniversary book was produced to mark the occasion. Research programmes and degrees With the advent of inexpensive airmail services after the war, the number of external students taking University of London courses increased dramatically. According to relevant Regulations, until 2000 University of London external students could pursue research leading to the award of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) albeit the completion rate had been rather low. ==Organisation and administration==

University of London Worldwide is led by an executive director. == Current system ==

, presiding over the External Programme Presentation Ceremony, 2006|thumb|right|261px The system offers courses of study for undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas and degrees to more than 50,000 students around the world. The 'confidence' was once again reiterated in the QAA's 2011 Institutional Audit, attesting to the quality of the program provision. Most International Programmes Students are in former territories of the British Empire. There are more than 9,000 students enrolled in the programme in Singapore notably the SIM Global Education, 5,000 in Hong Kong, 3,000 in Trinidad and Tobago, 2,000 in Malaysia, 1,900 in Pakistan, 1,200 in Bangladesh, 800 in Sri Lanka, 1,000 in Canada, between 1,000 and 1,999 in the United States, 300 in Malta, more than 200 in Australia, more than 200 in South Africa, more than 30 in New Zealand and many hundreds in India, among other countries. Furthermore, there are around 1,000 students in Russia participating in this programme. Name changes In November 2007, the University of London External Programme became known as the University of London External System. In August 2010, the name was once again changed to University of London International Programmes in response to feedback that the programme needed a clear, simpler and more inclusive name that described what the University of London offered to almost 50,000 students in 180 countries. As from February 2018, University of London International Programmes changed its name to just University of London. Independent teaching institutions In Europe, North America, the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia many students participating in University of London International Programmes seek out tuition at one of the more than 150 private or non-profit institutions that prepare students for University of London examinations. Such institutions may be audited and, if found to meet quality standards, may become "recognised" by the university for the support offered. Starting August 2010, the External System programmes were renamed University of London International Programmes. The central academic body of the university, collaborating with the colleges of the University of London, is renamed University of London International Academy, term mainly used internally. In parallel to this change, the teaching institutions are now categorized into Registered and Affiliate centers (collectively known as recognised centres). Students can either decide to study entirely by themselves, or to enjoy the administrative and academic support of the institutions that are recognised by the University of London for the International Programmes. Registered Centres have demonstrated commitment to developing high standards in respect of teaching, support to students and administrative processes. Affiliate Centres have demonstrated a sustained commitment to developing excellence in respect of quality of teaching, support to students and administrative processes. Affiliate Centre status is the highest level of recognition awarded by the University of London. Recognition applies to specific programmes on named campuses. New College of the Humanities, a private college founded in London in 2011, though not affiliated with the University of London, also plans to register its students for degrees through the programme. ==Academic profile==

Programmes and degrees University of London currently offers 31 undergraduate degrees and 38 postgraduate degrees and also several diplomas. All degrees are created, monitored and examined by the colleges of the University of London. In 2019, the University of London Worldwide and the LSE announced a partnership with 2U to deliver a fully online bachelor's degree in data science and business analytics through 2U's online platform. Scholarships and financial support In 2020, József Váradi donated £1 million to the university for support of external scholarship and aid. Organisations such as Commonwealth Scholarships, Sir John Cass's Foundation scholarship and individual scholarship like Guy Goodwin-Gill scholarship, Sadako Ogata scholarships are available for external students. == Influence ==

The University of London external system has played an important role in the development of higher education institutions in Britain. Many leading research universities in England started out as "university colleges" that prepared students for external degrees of the University of London. Some technical colleges in England and Scotland also entered students for University of London degrees and certificates prior to becoming polytechnics or central institutions and then universities. Examples include the University of Exeter, the University of Leicester, the University of Nottingham and Portsmouth University in England, Bangor University and Cardiff University in Wales (prior to the establishment of the University of Wales) and Robert Gordon University in Scotland. This was a common way of establishing new universities in Britain and around the British Empire during the first half of the twentieth century. Many universities in the Commonwealth began as extension institutions or a provider of the programme. Notable examples include Ceylon University College in Ceylon, University College Ibadan (now the University of Ibadan) in Nigeria, the former University of East Africa's three constituent institutions and the University of the West Indies in the Caribbean. ==Online MOOCs==

In 2012, University of London International Programmes became the first British higher education institution to join Coursera and offer mass open online courses through their platform. By 2016, total enrollments had crossed 1 million. In 2018 the University of London, its member institution Goldsmiths, University of London, and Coursera announced they were collaborating to offer the first undergraduate Computer Science degree on the platform. ==Notable alumni==

The degree graduates from the International Programmes are member of the University of London International Programmes Alumni Association and formal alumni of the University of London. Nobel laureates At least seven Nobel Prizes have been awarded to alumni of the University of London distance learning students in external mode: • Ronald H. Coase (Economic Sciences, 1991) • Frederick Gowland Hopkins (Physiology or Medicine, 1929) • Charles K. Kao (Physics, 2009) • Nelson Mandela (Peace, 1993) • Rolph Payet, Lead author of IPCC (Peace, 2007); HonDSc (2016) • Wole Soyinka (Literature, 1986) • Alvan Ikoku, Nigerian politician • J. R. Jayewardene, 2nd President of Sri Lanka and 7th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka • Charles Muguta Kajege, Member of Parliament, Tanzania • David Knox, former Member of Parliament for Leek, Staffordshire • W. J. M. Lokubandara, Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka United National Party • Eleni Mavrou, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus • Dipu Moni, 1st woman to become Foreign Minister of Bangladesh • Fred Mulley, UK Secretary of State for Defence • Robert Mugabe, 2nd President of Zimbabwe and 1st Prime Minister of Zimbabwe • Paul Pearce, Member of Parliament, Australia • A. N. R. Robinson, 3rd President of Trinidad and Tobago and 3rd Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago • Patricia Scotland, 6th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations • Gisela Stuart, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston • Maria Tam, Deputy of Hong Kong to National People's Congress Military, civil servants and diplomats • Hamilton Amerasinghe, 31st President of the United Nations General Assembly (1976) • Teresa Cheng, 4th Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong • Leung Chin-man, Permanent Secretary in the Government of Hong Kong • Thomas Kelly-Kenny, General of the British Army • Stephen Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong • Gunapala Malalasekera, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and Ambassador • Bernard Peiris, Cabinet Secretary of Sri Lanka • Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France • Li Tieh-tseng, Ambassador of Republic of China to Iran and Thailand • T. K. Whitaker, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland and Senator of Seanad Éireann Judges and lawyers • Bola Ajibola, Judge of the International Court of Justice • Oswald Leslie De Kretser III, judge of the Supreme Court of Ceylon • Helena Normanton, First female barrister in the United Kingdom. • Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan, Former Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan • Babatunji Olowofoyeku, Attorney General of Western Region, Nigeria • Meir Shamgar, former President/Chief Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court • Choor Singh, Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore • Frederic N. Smalkin, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, • Victor Tennekoon, 35th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka • Henry Thambiah, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ceylon • Christopher Weeramantry, Judge and Vice-President of the International Court of Justice • Edward Williams, Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia Business • Joseph Hotung, 1st Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Recipient of Knight Bachelor • Khadija Mushtaq, executive director of Roots School System, Pakistan • Sherin Naiken, CEO of Seychelles Tourism Board Scientists and academics • Donald Harris, Professor emeritus at Stanford University and father of Kamala Harris • Chinua Achebe, David and Marianna Fisher University Professor at Brown University. • Brian Laurence Burtt, English botanist • Bob Coats – former professor at University of York • Glyn Davies, economist • Patrick du Val, inventor of the concept of Du Val singularity in algebraic surface • Geoffrey Elton, Regius Professor of History at University of Cambridge • Sir Roy Goode, Founder of Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary, University of London. • A.C. Grayling, Master of the New College of the Humanities • Alec Issigonis, engineer and designer of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) Mini • Israel Kirzner, former professor of economics at New York University • Kelvin Lancaster, former professor of economics at Columbia University • D H Lawrence, British author and critic • Charlotte Scott, former professor of mathematics at Bryn Mawr College • Charles P. Snow, Rector of the University of St Andrews (1961 to 1964) • L. Dudley Stamp, Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science • Barnes Wallis, Inventor of the Bouncing Bomb Religion • Louis Charles Casartelli, fourth Bishop of Salford • Thomas Cooray, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church • Walpola Rahula Thero, Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, scholar and writer Others • Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, actor • Malcolm Bradbury, British author and academic • Louise Creighton, British author and activist • Nigel de Gruchy, former trade union official • Jack Higgins, English novelist • Ramita Mahapreukpong, Thai actress • David Forbes Martyn, physicist • C. P. Snow, English physicist and novelist • Gordon Taylor, former professional footballer and current chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association • Barbara Thiering, Australian writer and historian • H. G. Wells, writer • Kwasi Wiredu, philosopher • Frances Yates, historian ==Notable faculty==