List of universities in the United Kingdom by date of foundation

Until the nineteenth century there were only two successful long-term university establishments in England and five in Scotland (including two in Aberdeen, see below).Earliest royal charter, sometimes referred to as the Magna Carta of the university, 1244.[5] No new universities were successfully founded in England or Scotland after 1600 until the nineteenth century, although the eighteenth century saw the establishment of a number of dissenting academies, medical schools such as St George's (1733) and the London Hospital Medical College (1785), and the Royal Veterinary College (1791).[30] [31] These universities were distinguished by being non-collegiate (and thus, at the time, non-residential) institutions founded as university colleges that admitted men without reference to religion and concentrated on imparting to their students "real-world" skills, often linked to engineering.The passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 allowed all polytechnics and Scottish central institutions to become universities and award their own degrees rather than degrees governed by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA).Thirty-eight (including institutions later merged) took up the offer immediately, nearly doubling the number universities again from 46 to 84 (and 89 by 1994).These were university colleges and other higher education institutions that had gained degree awarding powers since 1992 rather than being granted them on the break up of the CNAA.In 2004, the requirement that institutes gain research degree awarding powers before they could gain university status was dropped in England and Wales (but not in Scotland or Northern Ireland),[104] although they were still required to have 4000 full-time equivalent students, with 3000 on degree courses.The Office for Students (OfS) was created by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and took over responsibility for approving university title in England in 2018.Apart from being allowed to submit students for London examinations, there was no connection between the affiliated colleges and the university.[29] In 1858, the affiliation system was abandoned for Arts and Law degrees, with these being opened to anyone willing to travel to London for the examinations.In the first two cases, the federal university merged with one of its colleges when it broke up (a process still ongoing as of July 2018 for Wales) while in the other three cases, where the university had previously existed as a non-federal body, it simply reverted to that status.From August 2017 the two institutions have been functionally integrated although a legal merger has not (as of July 2018) been finalised.
universities in the United Kingdomancient universitiesUniversity of ManchesterManchester Mechanics' InstituteManchester Royal School of Medicineroyal charteract of parliamentorder in councilCompanies HouseAncient universityUniversity of NorthamptonStamford UniversityUniversity of OxfordDominus illuminatio mealegatineUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of St AndrewsEver to Excelpapal bullHenry WardlawUniversity of GlasgowVia, Veritas, VitaOld StyleUniversity of AberdeenWilliam ElphinstoneKing's College, AberdeenMarischal CollegeUniversity of EdinburghJames VIJames II and VIIUniversities (Scotland) Act 1858George Keith, 5th Earl Marischaldissenting academiesSt George'sLondon Hospital Medical CollegeRoyal Veterinary CollegeDurham UniversityUniversity of LondonKing's CollegeUniversity CollegeQueen's University of IrelandBelfastGalwayQueen's University BelfastUniversity College CorkNUI GalwayRoyal University of IrelandMagee CollegeUniversity College DublinSt. Patrick's College, MaynoothBlackrock CollegeNational University of IrelandVictoria UniversityManchesterLiverpoolVictoria University of ManchesterUniversity of WalesUniversity of StrathclydeSt Patrick's College, MaynoothCatholic University of Irelanduniversity collegesRed brick universityFirst World WarUniversity of LiverpoolVictoria BuildingUniversity of BirminghamMason Science CollegeQueen's College, BirminghamUniversity of LeedsUniversity of SheffieldQueen's College, BelfastUniversity of BristolUniversity College, BristolBristol Medical SchoolUniversity of ReadingChrist Church, OxfordUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of SouthamptonUniversity of HullUniversity of ExeterUniversity of Leicesterplateglass universitiescolleges of advanced technologyRobbins ReportUniversity of Keeleredbrick universitiesdistance learningUniversity of SussexUniversity of East AngliaUniversity of Yorkcollegiate universityeleven collegesNewcastle UniversityLancaster UniversityRoyal College of Science and TechnologyUniversity of KentUniversity of EssexUniversity of WarwickLoughborough UniversityAston UniversityBrunel University of LondonUniversity of SurreyUniversity of BathUniversity of BradfordCity University LondonHeriot-Watt UniversityUniversity of SalfordUniversity of DundeeUniversity of StirlingNew University of UlsterUlster PolytechnicUniversity of UlsterThe Open Universityprivate universityUniversity Grants CommitteeUniversity of BuckinghamPost-1992 universityFurther and Higher Education Act 1992polytechnicscentral institutionsCouncil for National Academic AwardsAnglia Ruskin UniversityBirmingham City UniversityAge quod agisBournemouth UniversityUniversity of BrightonUniversity of Central LancashireCoventry UniversityDe Montfort UniversityUniversity of DerbyUniversity of East LondonUniversity of GlamorganUniversity of Wales, NewportUniversity of South WalesUniversity of GreenwichUniversity of HertfordshireUniversity of HuddersfieldKingston UniversityLeeds Beckett UniversityUniversity of LincolnLondon Guildhall UniversityUniversity of North LondonLondon Metropolitan UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityLondon South Bank UniversityManchester Metropolitan UniversityMiddlesex UniversityNapier UniversityNorthumbria UniversityNottingham Trent UniversityOxford Brookes UniversityUniversity of the West of ScotlandPlymouth UniversityUniversity of PortsmouthThe Robert Gordon UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversityStaffordshire UniversityUniversity of SunderlandNewcastle Division of Durham UniversityTeesside UniversityUniversity of WestminsterUniversity of the West of EnglandSociety of Merchant VenturersUniversity of WolverhamptonGlasgow Caledonian UniversityCranfield UniversityUniversity of West LondonAbertay UniversityOffice for StudentsHigher Education and Research Act 2017University of GloucestershireUniversity of BoltonUniversity of the Arts LondonRoehampton UniversityFederal University of SurreyCardiff UniversityCanterbury Christ Church UniversityVeritas liberabit vosUniversity of ChesterUniversity of WinchesterLiverpool Hope UniversitySolent UniversityBath Spa UniversityUniversity of WorcesterUniversity of ChichesterDocendo discimusUniversity of BedfordshireEdge Hill UniversityYork St John UniversityQueen Margaret UniversityImperial College LondonUniversity of CumbriaSt Martin's CollegeCumbria Institute of the ArtsBuckinghamshire New UniversityAberystwyth UniversityBangor UniversitySwansea UniversitySwansea Metropolitan UniversityUniversity of Wales Trinity Saint DavidWrexham Glyndŵr UniversityUniversity for the Creative ArtsUniversity of Wales, LampeterTrinity University CollegeCardiff Metropolitan UniversityUniversity of the Highlands and IslandsUniversity of LawLegal Education FoundationGlobal University SystemsUniversity College BirminghamBishop Grosseteste UniversityDiocese of LincolnArts University BournemouthFalmouth UniversityHarper Adams UniversityUniversity of St Mark & St JohnLeeds Trinity UniversityRoyal Agricultural UniversityNorwich University of the ArtsNewman UniversityRegent's University LondonBPP UniversityBPP Law SchoolApollo GroupSt Mary's University, TwickenhamArden Universityblended learningCapella Education CompanyUniversity of SuffolkLeeds Arts UniversityRavensbourne University LondonHartpury UniversityRichmond, The American International University in LondonSt George's, University of LondonSt George's HospitalNational Health Service Act 1946Arts University PlymouthLondon School of EconomicsNortheastern University – LondonBIMM UniversityRoyal Holloway, University of LondonCity, University of LondonUniversity College LondonKing's College LondonQueen Mary University of LondonBirkbeck, University of LondonSOAS, University of LondonHealth Sciences UniversityCity St George's, University of LondonGoldsmiths, University of LondonPresbyterian Theological Faculty IrelandRoyal College of MusicRoyal College of ArtRoyal Conservatoire of ScotlandRoyal Northern College of MusicAshridge Executive EducationLondon Institute of Banking and FinanceUniversity College of Estate ManagementGuildhall School of Music and DramaWrittle University CollegeUniversity College of OsteopathyAECC University CollegeRose Bruford College of Theatre & PerformanceLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineNorland CollegeArchitectural Association School of ArchitectureUniversity of London (Worldwide)St Thomas's Hospital Medical SchoolBedford CollegeQueen Mary, University of LondonWestfield CollegeLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineCourtauld Institute of ArtLondon Business SchoolInstitute of Cancer ResearchRoyal Academy of MusicRoyal Central School of Speech and DramaUniversity of DurhamSt David's College, LampeterLeeds School of MedicineRoyal College of ChemistryRoyal School of MinesRoyal College of ScienceWhitelands CollegeStamfordCromwellNew College, DurhamRepublic of IrelandKing Henry IIIFraserburgh UniversityCharles FermeUniversity of Wales Trinity St DavidCity UniversityOxfordCambridgeNorthamptonSt AndrewsGlasgowAberdeenEdinburghFraserburghMarischal College, AberdeenDurhamUniversity of the West IndiesAnguillaBermudaBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsMontserratJamaicaTrinidad and TobagoBarbadosInternational College of the Cayman IslandsUniversity College of the Cayman IslandsSt. Matthews UniversitySaint James School of MedicineBonaireArmorial of UK universitiesList of oldest universities in continuous operationList of universities in the United KingdomList of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolmentList of UK universities by endowmentThird oldest university in England debateA History of the University in EuropeCambridge University PressOxford University PressSir Alexander GrantH. J. PerkinParliamentary Debates (Hansard)Privy Council of the United KingdomBirmingham MailThe IndependentTimes Higher EducationBBC NewsRoutledgeThe GuardianQuality Assurance AgencyThe StageDezeenThe SpectatorBibcodeDepartment for Business, Innovation and SkillsEnglandEast of EnglandAnglia RuskinBedfordshireCranfieldEast AngliaHertfordshireSuffolkLondonUniversity of LondonBirkbeckBrunelCity St George'sCourtauldGoldsmithsKing'sQueen MaryRoyal HollowaySchool of Advanced StudyEast LondonGreenwichImperialKingstonLondon MetLondon South BankMiddlesexRavensbourneRegent'sRoehamptonSt Mary'sWestminsterWest LondonMidlandsBirminghamBirmingham CityBishop GrossetesteCoventryDe MontfortHarper AdamsLeicesterLincolnLoughboroughNewmanNottinghamNottingham TrentStaffordshireWarwickWolverhamptonWorcesterBradfordCentral LancashireChesterCumbriaEdge HillGreater ManchesterHuddersfieldLancasterLeeds ArtsLeeds BeckettLeeds TrinityLiverpool HopeLiverpool John MooresManchester MetropolitanNewcastleNorthumbriaSalfordSheffieldSheffield HallamSunderlandTeessideYork St. JohnBath SpaBournemouthBrightonBristolBuckinghamBuckinghamshire NewCanterbury Christ ChurchChichesterCreative ArtsExeterFalmouthHartpuryGloucestershireOxford BrookesPlymouthPlymouth MarjonPortsmouthReadingRoyal AgriculturalSolentSouthamptonSurreySussexUWE BristolWinchesterNorthern IrelandQueen'sUlsterScotlandAbertayDundeeEdinburgh NapierGlasgow CaledonianHeriot-WattHighlands and IslandsQueen MargaretRobert GordonStirlingStrathclydeWest of ScotlandAberystwythBangorCardiffCardiff MetropolitanSouth WalesSwanseaWales Trinity Saint DavidWrexhamBermuda CollegeCayman Islands Law SchoolGibraltarSt. Matthew's UniversityUniversity of Science, Arts and TechnologyUniversity of the West Indies Open CampusUniversity of the Channel Islands in GuernseyLondon International Programmes2010 United Kingdom student protestsList by date of foundationAncientThird-oldest in EnglandRedbrickPlate glassPost-1992List by endowmentList by enrolmentColleges within universitiesDegree abbreviationsRankingsScottish Funding CouncilStudent loans and grants in the United KingdomStudent Radio AssociationStudent television in the United KingdomStudent unionism in the United KingdomTuition fees in the United KingdomUndergraduate degree classificationUniversity and College UnionPolytechnic