Our history
Intro
We draw on a heritage of over 150 years in teaching and professional education.
From the outset, the University has played, and continues to play, a significant role in the educational, cultural, and economic life of its region. Over the years, leading academic institutions, career-specific training providers, and industry specialists have come together to make us what we are today - a university dedicated to your career.
Our history
2024 - The university launched the School of Medicine and Biosciences, established the Hellenic Institute of Maritime Studies (HIMS) in London alongside the Business College of Athens (BCA) and is celebrating the 125th anniversary of Ruskin College, Oxford.
2022 - The University founded the Institute for Policing Studies and opened the refurbished Century House and Cavendish House buildings.
2021 - Ruskin College, Oxford joined the University. UWL successfully bid for over £5m of government funding to help improve the environmental sustainability of our operations.
2020 - UWL achieved Eco Campus Platinum (ISO14001)
2019 - The University merged with Drama Studio London (DSL), an Ealing institution well-known in the acting world.
2018 - The University opened the West London Food Innovation Centre and became home to Heathrow Archives and Westmont Enterprise Hub for business start-ups.
2017 - We invested over £1 million in the development of the Paragon Annex studios and opened a brand-new nursing Simulation Centre at Reading.
2016 - The University purchased the Brentford site (Paragon) allowing for flexibility to grow and thrive.
2015 - Our Ealing site underwent a £100 million transformation, with a new social area, our Heartspace, library, students’ union, auditorium, gym, restaurants and cafes, studios for the student radio station and music students, and teaching spaces.
2011 - In April, the University formally changed its name to The University of West London. The University also celebrated the installation of Laurence Geller as its new Chancellor.
2010 - In July, the University completed the divestment of its site in King's Road, Reading (now known as Reading College).
2009 - The University was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for outstanding achievement and excellence in hospitality education from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of the quality of its
teaching provision.
2004 - The University merged with Reading College and Ealing School of Art and Design.
1995 - The University merged with Berkshire College of Nursing and Midwifery.
1994 - The University merged with Northwick Park School of Nursing, Riverside College of Nursing and the North West Thames Regional Health Authority's AIDS Unit.
1992 - The polytechnic became the Thames Valley University after being granted university status by royal assent. See the University’s statute document.
1991 - The Lady Byron School was renamed the Polytechnic of
West London after merging with Ealing College of Higher
Education, Thames Valley College of Higher Education, the
London College of Music and Queen Charlotte’s College of
Health Care Studies.
1860 - The Lady Byron School is founded, later known as Ealing
Technical College and School of Art from 1928. This became
the Ealing College of Higher Education from 1975.
