List of UK universities by date of foundation

This is a list of Universities in the United Kingdom by the date of their foundation as universities.

In many cases the supposed date of foundation as a university is open to debate, particularly for the ancient universities. For the modern (post 1800) universities, the date of achieving university status (by royal charter, act of parliament, order in council, or decision of Companies House) is given. Former universities with extant successor institutions in the UK are given in italics.

Ancient universities

Until the nineteenth century there were only two successful university establishments in England and five in Scotland (including two in Aberdeen, see below).

Name	Country	Date of foundation	Motto	Notes
University of Oxford	England	Before 1167[1]	Dominus illuminatio mea (The Lord is my light)	University by ancient usage. Earliest royal charter 1248
University of Cambridge	England	1209-1226[2]	Hinc lucem et pocula sacra (From here, light and sacred draughts)	University by ancient usage. Earliest royal charter (1231) of any UK university
University of St Andrews	Scotland	1410 - 1413[3]	ΑΙΕΝ ΑΡΙΣΤΕΥΕΙΝ (Ever to Excel)	Foundation as a university by papal bull in 1413, after teaching began in 1410 and the institute was incorporated by a charter of Bishop Henry Wardlaw in 1411. The university uses 1413 as its date of foundation.[4] Royal Charter in 1532.[5][6]
University of Glasgow	Scotland	1451[7]	Via, Veritas, Vita (The way, the truth, the life)	Founded by papal bull issued 7 January 1451.[8] Note this is 1450 Old Style, which is the year given in some sources. Royal Charter 1453.[9]
University of Aberdeen	Scotland	1495-1505[10][11]	Initium sapientiae timor domini (The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord)	Founded by papal bull in 1495 and a charter from Bishop William Elphinstone in 1505 as King's College, Aberdeen, with the status of a university.[11] A royal charter was also issued in 1495.[12] The university uses 1495 as its date of foundation. Merged with Marischal College (founded 1593) by act of parliament to form the University of Aberdeen in 1860, explicitly maintaining the precedence of King's College.[10][11]
University of Edinburgh	Scotland	1583[13]		Permission granted to Edinburgh Corporation by royal charter in 1582 to establish a university, although Edinburgh uses its opening in 1583 as its date of foundation. Ratified by act of parliament in 1621. Attempts in the 17th century to gain a royal charter for the university itself (as opposed to the corporation) failed due to the overthrow of James II and VII.[14] Incorporated and made independent of the Corporation by act of parliament in 1858.[15][16]
Marischal College	Scotland	1593 to 1860		Founded by George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal, later confirmed by act of parliament. Merged into the University of Aberdeen in 1860.

Nineteenth-century universities

No new universities were successfully founded in the United Kingdom 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).

Name	University Status	Motto	Notes
Durham University	1832 [17]	Fundamenta eius super montibus sanctis (Her foundations are upon the holy hills)	Royal charter 1837. Derives university status from act of parliament rather than charter[18]
University of London	1836[19]		First British university to be founded via a charter of incorporation, with King's College and University College as founding colleges. See below
Victoria University	1880 to 1903[20]	Olim armis nunc studiis (Formerly by weapons, now by studies)	Federal university with its seat in Manchester, comprising colleges in Manchester (1880 - 1903), Liverpool (1884 - 1903) and Leeds (1887 - 1903). Merged with Owen's College, Manchester to form the Victoria University of Manchester in 1903. Current successor institute is the University of Manchester
University of Wales	1893[21]	Goreu Awen Gwirionedd (The Best Inspiration is Truth)	See below

Note that the University of Wales and the Victoria University were founded as federal universities incorporating earlier colleges and the University of London was founded as an examination board (becoming a federal university in 1900). The cases of London and Wales are discussed further below.

Also note that the Andersonian Institute, a precursor of the University of Strathclyde, was established in 1796 and used the title Anderson's University between 1828 and 1887, but the University of Strathclyde did not receive a royal charter granting university status until 1964.^[22] Similarly, University College London used the title London University without being granted university status from 1826 to 1836.^[23] Both St Patrick's College, Maynooth (from 1896) and the Catholic University of Ireland (1854 - 1911) were universities by Papal Bull but were never recognised as such by the British state.^{[24] [25]}

University of London

Attempts to list UK universities in order of foundation are greatly complicated by the existence of the federal University of London, formed as a degree-awarding examining board for in 1836 in response to the application of University College London (UCL) to be chartered as a university. It was notable for being the first institution in England and Wales to allow non-Anglicans to take degrees. It originally operated a system of affiliated institutions with two registers: one (controlled by the government) of institutions allowed to submit students for examination for Arts and Law degrees, and a second (controlled by the university) of institutions allowed to submit students for medical degrees.^[23]

UCL and King's College London (KCL), neither of which possessed their own degree awarding powers, were the only affiliated institutions named in London's original charter. However, the list swiftly grew to include many dissenting academies and Roman Catholic seminaries from all over the UK, as well as all UK universities and numerous small institutions. Apart from being allowed to submit students for London examinations, there was no connection between the affiliated colleges and the university.^[23] The colleges were thus free to affiliate to other universities: KCL, for example, formed arrangements with the universities of Edinburgh and Durham to allow its students to take degrees at those institutions.^[26]

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 1900, following a period of pressure from UCL and KCL, the university was reorganised as a federal body after the model of the Victoria University and the University of Wales, with the open examinations becoming the modern University of London International Programmes and the London institutions becoming schools of the university.^[23]

In 2005-6 UCL, KCL, the London School of Economics and Imperial College London gained the right to award degrees in their own name, although this right was not exercised until 2007. In 2007 Imperial College left the federation and became entirely independent. Other institutions have since gone on to gain their own degree awarding powers, and a number of institutions have recently joined the federal structure. Thus the University of London now combines a federal structure, made up of colleges which are not full universities but award London degrees, a confederal structure, including institutions which award their own degrees and are de facto independent universities, and the international programme used by independent colleges such as the New College of the Humanities.

Institution	College Founded	Joined Federation	Full College	Notes
University College London	1826[19]	1836[19]	1900[23]	Merged into University of London 1907 - 1977.[27] Incorporated by royal charter 1836 - 1907 and again from 1978.[28] Awarded independent degrees from 2007
King's College London	1829[19]	1836[19]	1900[23]	Merged into University of London 1910 - 1980.[23] Royal charter was initially received in 1829 but was reincorporated by a new royal charter in 1980, currently incorporated under a royal charter granted in May 2009.[29][30] Awarded independent degrees from 2007. The St Thomas's Hospital Medical School was founded around 1550.
Heythrop College, University of London	1614[31]	1840[32]	1970[31]	Founded in Leuven, relocated to the UK in 1794 Affiliated to London (as Stonyhurst College) from 1840 but only became a full college on moving to London in 1970.[31] Will cease to be a college of the university in 2018. Royal charter 1971.[33] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
St George's, University of London	1733[35]	1840[36]	1900[23]	Awarded independent degrees from 2007. Statutory body under the National Health Service Act 1946 rather than established by royal charter.[37]
Royal Holloway, University of London	1886[38]	1900[38]	1900[38]	Merged with Bedford College (founded 1849) in 1985.[38] Merged college incorporated by act of parliament (as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College) 1985 rather than by royal charter; Royal Holloway College incorporated by act of parliament 1949 – 1985; Bedford College incorporated by royal charter 1909, revoked 1985.[39] Has its own degree awarding powers.[40][41]
London School of Economics	1895[42]	1900[42]	1900[42]	Awarded own degrees from 2007. Company Limited by Guarantee rather than established by royal charter.[43]
Goldsmiths, University of London	1891[44]	1904[44]	1988[44]	Royal charter 1990.[44] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
Queen Mary, University of London	1887[45]	1907-1915[45]	1915[45]	Merged with Westfield College (founded 1882) in 1989. Merged with St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College (founded 1843) and London Hospital Medical College (founded 1785) in 1995. Awards own degrees since 2013.[45] Royal charter 1934.[46]
SOAS, University of London	1916[47]	1916	1916	Royal charter 1916.[48] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
Birkbeck, University of London	1823[49]	1920[49]	1920[50]	Founded 1823 as London Mechanics' Institute; admitted women from 1830; named changed in 1866 to Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution;[51] finally to Birkbeck College in 1907. Royal charter 1926.[50] Holds, but does not use, degree awarding powers.[52]
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	1899[53]	1924[53]		Royal Charter 1924.[53] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
Courtauld Institute of Art	1932[54]	1932	1990s[54]	Company Limited by Guarantee rather than established by royal charter.[55]
Royal Veterinary College	1791[56]		1949[56]	Royal charter 1875.[56] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
London Business School	1964[57]	1965[57]		Originally registered as a company; incorporated by royal charter 1986.[57] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
Institute of Cancer Research	1909[58]	1996[58]	2003[58]	Incorporated 1954 as a Company Limited by Guarantee.[59]
Royal Academy of Music	1822[60]		1999[60]	Royal charter 1830.[60] Has its own degree awarding powers.[34]
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama	1906[61]	2005[61]	2005[61]	Incorporated 1989. Has taught degree awarding powers since 2005. Became the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2012.[61] Company Limited by Guarantee.[62]
City, University of London	1894[63]	2016[63]	2016[63]	Founded 1894 as the Northampton Institute. University status from 1966 by royal charter. Merged with the Inns of Court Law School (founded 1852) in 2001.[63] Surrendered university status and joined the University of London 1 September 2016.[64]

University of Wales

The University of Wales was founded by royal charter in 1893 with the federation of University College Wales (now Aberystwyth University), University College North Wales (now Bangor University) and University College South Wales and Monmouthshire (now Cardiff University). Prior to this, students at these university colleges prepared for examinations of the University of London. The university grew with the addition of further colleges, and in 1971 St David's College, Lampeter (now part of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David), Wales' oldest degree-awarding institution, suspended its own degree-awarding powers and entered the University of Wales as St David's University College.

In 2007 the university changed from a federal structure to a confederation of independent institutions, allowing individual institutions which had gained the status of universities in their own right to use the title of university, and in 2008 Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea Universities decided to exercise their right to award their own degrees. This led to the effective breakup of the university in 2011. The University of Wales is currently (September 2015) in the process of merging with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, but remains for the moment an independent institution.^[65]

Institution	College Founded	Joined Federation	Notes
Aberystwyth University	1872 as University College Wales[66]	1893[67]	Independent from 2007[68]
Cardiff University	1883 as University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire[69]	1893[69]	Independent from 2005[69]
Bangor University	1884 as University College of North Wales[70]	1893[70]	Independent from 2007[71]
Swansea University	1920 as University College of Swansea[72]	1920[72]	Independent from 2007
University of Wales, Lampeter	1822 as Saint David's College, Lampeter[73]	1971 [73]	Merged with Trinity University College in 2010 to form University of Wales Trinity Saint David[73]
Cardiff Metropolitan University	1865 as Cardiff School of Art.[74] University of Wales Institute Cardiff from 1992.	1992[74]	Independent from 2011.[74]
University of Wales, Newport	1840s as Newport Mechanics' Institute. University of Wales College, Newport from 1996.[75]	1996[75]	Merged with University of Glamorgan in 2013 to form the University of South Wales[75]
Glyndŵr University	1887 as Wrexham School of Science & Arts;[76] 1993 as a Higher Education Corporation under the name of North East Wales Institute[77]	2004 [76]	Independent from 2008[76][77]

Civic universities

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. All were established as universities by royal charter, with an accompanying act of parliament to transfer the property and assets of the university college to the newly incorporated university.

In the context of this article, this section lists universities that gained their status in the period 1900 - 1959. There are some institutions generally regarded as civic universities and sharing many elements of common history that became universities later than this (e.g. Newcastle in 1963 or Cardiff in 2005), these are listed under the appropriate time period.

Red brick universities

The large civic 'red brick' universities all gained official university status before the First World War. The term was first coined by a professor at the University of Liverpool to describe these universities, inspired by the university's Victoria Building which is built from a distinctive red pressed brick.^[78] All of the red brick institutions in Great Britain have origins dating back to older medical or engineering colleges which prepared students for University of London external examination; many were also members of the federal Victoria University for a period.

Name	University Status	Motto	Notes
University of Birmingham	1900[79]	Per ardua ad alta	The first civic university to be awarded full university status and the first unitary (not collegiate or federal) university in England. Formed following the merge of Mason Science College (founded 1875) and Queen's College, Birmingham (founded 1828).
Victoria University of Manchester	1903[20]	Cognitio, sapientia, humanitas	From merger of Owen's College (constituent college of the Victoria University from 1880) and the Victoria University. Merged with UMIST in 2004 to form the University of Manchester.
University of Liverpool	1903[80]	Haec otia studia fovent	Formerly a constituent college of the Victoria University from 1884.
University of Leeds	1904[81]	et augebitur scientia	Formerly a constituent college of the Victoria University from 1887.
University of Sheffield	1905[82]	Rerum cognoscere causas
Queen's University Belfast	1908[83]	Pro tanto quid retribuamus	Part of the Queen's University of Ireland 1850 - 1880 and the Royal University of Ireland 1880 - 1908
University of Bristol	1909[84]	Vim promovet insitam

Second wave of civic universities

The second wave of civic universities differed from the later 'plate glass universities' in that they all evolved from local university colleges founded before WWII and all prepared students for external University of London examinations before being granted full university status. They are distinguished from the 'redbrick' universities only by their data of foundation as universities, and are often classed together.

Name	University Status	Motto	Notes
University of Reading	1926[85]		Developed from University College Reading, founded by Christ Church, Oxford as an extension college in 1892. Students could take Oxford degrees after completing their courses at Reading with only one year of residence.
University of Nottingham	1948[86]	Sapientia urbs conditur	Developed from University College Nottingham, founded in 1881
University of Southampton	1952[87]	Strenuis Ardua Cedunt	Developed from the Hartley Institute (Hartley University College from 1902)
University of Hull	1954[88]	Lampada ferens	Developed from University College Hull, which prepared students for University of London external examinations founded in 1927
University of Exeter	1955[89]	Lucem sequimur	Developed from the University College of the South West of England, founded in 1922, an external college of the University of London; traces its origins back to Exeter School of Art, founded in 1855
University of Leicester	1957[90]	Ut Vitam Habeant	Developed from Leicestershire and Rutland University College, founded in 1921 (University College, Leicester from 1927)

1960s universities

The 1960s saw the number of UK universities more than double from 22 to 46. Universities founded during the 1960s divide into two main groups: the plateglass universities, so called because of their dominant architectural style, and the former Colleges of Advanced Technology that were converted to universities following the Robbins Report.^[91]

The plate glass universities are differentiated from the civic universities by not having been university colleges preparing students for London degrees. Instead they ran for the first few years under the academic oversight of boards of established universities. This approach was pioneered by Keele as the University College of North Staffordshire, which held its own degree award powers prior to becoming a university, under the oversight of Oxford, Manchester and Birmingham.^[92] The other plateglass universities did not pass through a university college stage, but were created ab initio as universities (with academic oversight councils). The decision to create the plateglass universities was taken prior to the Robbins Report, and the report mentions them as being in the process of being established (Chapter IV).^[93]

The status of College of Advanced Technology (CAT) was created in the 1950s, although many of the institutes so designated dated back much further. The CATs were distinct from university colleges (although like them they prepared stringent for London degrees) and, along with their Scottish counterparts, were recommended to be converted into universities by the Robbins Report (Chapter X).^[93] They all entered the university sector in the 1960s, although some became colleges of federal universities rather than universities in their own right.

It is notable that Dundee and Newcastle do not fit either of these descriptions. These two institutions were, like the redbrick universities, recognised as university colleges from the start of the grant-in-aid programme in 1889,^[94] making them the last of the civic universities to become universities in their own right. The Open University is also unusual, being the UK's only public distance learning university;

Name	University Status	Motto	Notes
University of Sussex	1961[95]	Be still and know
Keele University	1962[96]	Thanke God for All	Established in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire with degree awarding powers.[92]
University of East Anglia	1963[97]	Do Different
University of York	1963[98]	In limine sapientiae	York is a collegiate university and is made up of nine colleges
Newcastle University	1963[99]		Traces its origins back to medical school founded in 1834 and associated with Durham University from the mid 19th century. Part of the federal University of Durham from 1908 to 1963. Became an independent university in 1963 by act of parliament and does not have a royal charter. Its city-centre location, architecture, and history as a nineteenth century university college make Newcastle more similar to the redbricks than the plateglass universities, and it is ofen referred to as redbrick or a civic university[100][101][102]
Lancaster University	1964[103]	Patet omnibus veritas	Lancaster is a collegiate university and is made up of nine colleges
University of Strathclyde	1964[22][104]	The place of useful learning	Traces its origins back to the Andersonian Institute founded in 1796; used the title Anderson's University between 1828 and 1887 but did not receive a royal charter as a university until 1964. As the Royal College of Science and Technology (1956-1964) it educated students for degrees awarded by the University of Glasgow.
University of Kent	1965[105]	Cui servire regnare est	Kent is a collegiate university and is made up of six colleges
University of Essex	1965[106]	Thought the harder, heart the keener
University of Warwick	1965[107]	Mens agitat molem
Loughborough University	1966[108]	Veritate, Scientia, Labore	Traces its origins back to 1909 as the Loughborough Technical Institute
Aston University	1966[109]	Forward	Traces its origins back to 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School
Brunel University London	1966[110]		Traces its origins to Acton Technical College, which was founded in 1928, as well as Borough Road College and Maria Grey College
University of Surrey	1966[111]		Traces its origins back to Battersea Polytechnic Institute which was founded in 1891
University of Bath	1966[112]	Generatim discite cultus	Traces its origins to the Bristol Trade School of 1856
University of Bradford	1966[113]	Make Knowledge Work	Traces its origins back to the Bradford Mechanics Institute, founded in 1832
City University London	1966 – 2016[63]	To serve mankind	Founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute. Joined the University of London in 2016, ceasing to be a university in its own right and becoming City, University of London (see listing of University of London colleges above).[114]
Heriot-Watt University	1966[115]		Originally established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh but was not given a royal charter or university status
University of Salford	1967[116]	Altiora Petamus	Origins can be traced to 1896 with the opening of the Royal Technical Institute, Salford
University of Dundee	1967[117]	Magnificat anima mea dominum	Traces its origins back to University College, Dundee founded in 1881; part of St Andrews from 1897 to 1967
University of Stirling	1967[118]
Royal College of Art	1967[119]		Founded in 1837 as the Government School of Design
New University of Ulster	1968 to 1984		merged with Ulster Polytechnic to form University of Ulster in 1984
The Open University	1969[120]	Live and Learn

The New University of Ulster (NUU), which incorporated Magee College originating in 1865, was founded in 1968, but subsequently merged with the Ulster Polytechnic to form the University of Ulster (see below).

1980s universities

After the explosion in University numbers of the 1960s, no new universities were established until the 1980s. Both of the 1980s universities are unusual: the University of Buckingham was Britain's first private university since the creation of the University Grants Committee after the First World War extended state funding to Oxford, Cambridge and Durham, while Ulster University was formed from the merger of a plate glass university with a polytechnic.

Name	University Status	Motto	Notes
University of Buckingham	1983[121]	Flying on our own Wings	Founded as the University College at Buckingham in 1973. First private university in the UK, and the only one established by royal charter
University of Ulster	1984[122]		Formed by the merger of the New University of Ulster (founded 1968) and Ulster Polytechnic; in 2014 it re-branded as Ulster University.

New universities

1992 universities

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). 38 (including institutions later merged) took up the offer immediately, nearly doubling the number universities again from 47 to 85 (and 88 by 1994). While commonly referred to as 'New Universities', many of these institutions claim heritage back to the nineteenth century.

It should be noted that Cranfield and UMIST (now merged into Manchester) both achieved university status in this period via royal charter rather than under the provisions of the 1992 act and are not generally regarded as "new universities". They are listed here with the 1992 universities to reflect the date when they gained their status.

Due to the way in which these universities were created only days apart, all of the universities created in 1992 are listed alphabetically.

Name	University status	Motto	Notes
Anglia Ruskin University	1992	A Creative Constellation	Founded as Cambridge School of Art 1858; polytechnic 1991
Birmingham City University	16 June 1992[123]	Age Quod Agis (Do what you are doing; attend to your business)	Founded as City of Birmingham Polytechnic 1971; until 2007 was called University of Central England
Bournemouth University	27 November 1992	Discere Mutari Est
University of Brighton	1992		Founded as Brighton Polytechnic 1968
University of Central Lancashire	1992	Ex Solo ad Solem	Formerly Preston Polytechnic 1973
De Montfort University	1992		Founded as Leicester Polytechnic 1969
Coventry University	1992		Founded as Lanchester Polytechnic 1970
University of Derby	1992	Experientia Docet	formerly Derbyshire College of Higher Education
University of East London	1992		Founded as North East London Polytechnic 1970
University of Glamorgan	1992 to April 2013	Success Through Endeavour	merged with University of Wales, Newport to form the University of South Wales
University of Greenwich	1992	To learn, to do, to achieve
University of Hertfordshire	1992[124]	Seek Knowledge Throughout Life
University of Huddersfield	1992
Kingston University	1992
Leeds Beckett University	1992	Opening minds, opening doors	Changed its name from Leeds Metropolitan University in September 2014; formerly Leeds Polytechnic, founded in 1970
University of Lincoln	1992	Excellence through study	Formerly Humberside Polytechnic (located in Kingston upon Hull); moved to Lincoln in 2001
London Guildhall University	1992 to 1 August 2002[125]		merged with University of North London to form London Metropolitan University[125]
Liverpool John Moores University	1992	Audentes Fortuna Juvat	Founded as Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts in 1823;
London South Bank University	1992	With Thy Might	Founded as the Borough Polytechnic Institute in 1892
Manchester Metropolitan University	1992[126]	Many Arts, Many Skills	Founded as Manchester Polytechnic in 1970
Middlesex University	1992
Napier University	June 1992	Nisi sapientia frustra	Founded as Napier Technical College 1964
University of North London	1992 to 1 August 2002[125]		merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University[125]
Northumbria University	1992
Nottingham Trent University	1992	Shaping futures	Founded as the Nottingham Government School of Design in 1843. The institution became Trent Polytechnic in 1970.
Oxford Brookes University	1992[127]	Excellence in diversity	Founded as the Oxford School of Art in 1865; became Oxford Polytechnic in 1970.
University of the West of Scotland	1992
Plymouth University	1992	Indagate Fingite Invenite
University of Portsmouth	7 July 1992[128]	Lucem Sequamur
The Robert Gordon University	1992	Omni Nunc Arte Magistra	Developed out of Robert Gordon's Hospital (founded 1750)
Sheffield Hallam University	1992	Learn and Serve
Staffordshire University	1992	Create the difference	Founded in 1906 by Alfred Bolton and opened in 1914 as the Central School of Science and Technology.
University of Sunderland	4 June 1992[129][130]	Scientiam Dulce Hauriens	Founded 1901 as Sunderland Technical College. Affiliated to the Newcastle Division of Durham University from 1930.[131] Sunderland Polytechnic from 1969[129]
Teesside University	1992[132]	Facta Non Verba	Founded as Constantine Technical College in 1930; became Teesside Polytechnic in 1969
University of West London	1992		Thames Valley University was granted permission by the Privy Council to change its name to University of West London in 2010 and the new name and logo were officially launched in April 2011.
University of Westminster	1992[133]	Educating for professional life	The first polytechnic university - founded in 1838 as the Royal Polytechnic Institution at Regent Street, London
University of the West of England	1992	Light Liberty Learning
University of Wolverhampton	1992	Innovation and Opportunity	It was established as the School of Art, established in 1851, which came together as the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College in 1931.
Glasgow Caledonian University	1 April 1993	For the common weal
Cranfield University	1993	Post Nubes Lux	Founded in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics. The Cranfield Institute of Technology was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1969, giving the institution its own degree-awarding powers. The current Cranfield University dates from 1993 and was established by royal charter rather than under the 1992 act
Abertay University	1994[134]		Founded in 1888 as Dundee Technical Institute[134]
UMIST	1994 to 1 October 2004[135]	Scientia et Labore	Traces its origins to 1824. Students gained Victoria University of Manchester degrees from 1905. Royal Charter as a university college in 1956. Independent university by Royal Charter in 1994. Merged with Victoria University of Manchester to form the University of Manchester in 2004.

Second wave of new universities

After the conversion of the polytechnics and central institutions under the 1992 act there was a pause before a second wave of institutions gained university status in the 21st century. 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.

From 1999, higher education policy has been a devolved power, although the actual award of university and degree awarding powers remains with the UK Privy Council. In 2004, the requirement that institutes gain research degree awarding powers before they could gain university status was drropped in England and Wales (but not in Scotland or Northern Ireland),^[136] although they were still required to have 4000 full-time equivalent students, with 3000 on degree courses. Five university colleges without research degree awarding powers became universities in 2005.^[137] In 2012, the student numbers criterion for institutions in England was relaxed to 1000 full-time equivalent students (with 750 on degree courses) and a number of university colleges became universities.^[138] New guidance for England issued in September 2015 replaces the requirement for 750 students to be studying degree courses with a requirement that 55% of students are studying on degree courses.^[139]

This was also the era of the break-up of the federal University of Wales and the accreditation of its constituent colleges as individual universities, the secession of Imperial College from the University of London, and of mergers between a number of institutes that already had university status but which were dissolved to form a new university. In the case of many of these, the university so formed owes its status to a Royal Charter rather than the provisions of the 1992 act, making it legally distinct from the "new universities". As with the earlier overlap between plate glass and civic universities, these new "old universities" are listed here as institutions that became universities in the 21st century.

Up to September 2016, 49 further new universities have been created (including those created by mergers of existing universities) bringing the total number to 130, of which 104 (including the Open University, which operates in all four countries of the UK, and 5 private universities) are in England,^[140] 9 in Wales,^[141] 2 in Northern Ireland,^[142] and 15 in Scotland.^[143] .

Name	University status	Motto	Notes
University of Gloucestershire	2001	In animo et veritate
London Metropolitan University	1 August 2002[125]		Formed by the merger of two 1992 Universities, London Guildhall University (tracing its origins back to evrning classes given in 1848) and the University of North London (founded as the Northern Polytechnic Institute in 1896).[125]
University of Bolton	April 2004
University of the Arts London	2004		The collegiate body was first introduced as the London Institute in 1986, and acquired university status in 2004 as the University of the Arts London. The six colleges of art, design, fashion and media have origins dating back to the mid 19th Century.
Roehampton University	1 August 2004[144]		Collegiate university consisting of four colleges. Earliest constituent college (Whitelands College) founded in 1841. Part of the Federal University of Surrey from 1 January 2000 to 1 August 2004.[144]
University of Manchester	22 October 2004[145]	Cognitio, sapientia, humanitas	Formed in 2004 by the dissolution of the Victoria University of Manchester (which was commonly known as the University of Manchester) and UMIST (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology) and the immediate formation of a single institution (inaugurated on 1 October). As a university by royal charter, the new institution is legally distinct from the 'post-1992' institutions that became universities under the auspices of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.
Cardiff University	December 2004[69]	Gwirionedd Undod A Chytgord	Established 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and was a founder member of the University of Wales in 1894. Merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology in 1988 and with the University of Wales College of Medicine in 2004. Left the University of Wales in 2005 on becoming an independent university. Like Manchester, Cardiff is a university by royal charter.
Canterbury Christ Church University	2005[137]	Veritas liberabit vos
University of Chester	2005[137]	Qui docet in doctrina	Founded as Chester Diocesan Training College in 1839; degrees awarded by University of Liverpool 1910; university college 2003
University of Winchester	June 2005[137]	Wisdom ond lar (from old English) Modern English translation: Wisdom and Knowledge	Founded in 1840 as Winchester Diocesan Training School. In 1847 it became Winchester Training College and was renamed King Alfred's College in 1928; degree awarding powers in 2003 and became University College Winchester in 2004. In 2008 Winchester University was awarded Research awarding powers.
Liverpool Hope University	July 2005[137]	In Faith, Hope and Love	Originally three teacher training institutions, Christs College, Notre Dame and St Catherines which merged in the late 1970s to become Liverpool Institute of Higher Education and then later, Liverpool Hope University College
Southampton Solent University	July 2005[137]	Scintill Tuus Imaginationem	The university's origins can be traced back to a private School of Art founded in 1856, which eventually became the Southampton College of Art. Mergers with the Southampton College of Technology, and later the College of Nautical Studies at Warsash, led to the establishment of the Southampton Institute of Higher Education in 1984. Southampton Institute then became a university on 12 July 2005.
Bath Spa University	August 2005[146]		Founded as Bath College of Higher Education 1975; university college 1992
University of Worcester	5 September 2005[147]	Ad Inspirandum Aspiramus	Founded as a teacher training college in 1946, absorbing the Herefordshire and Worcester College of Midwife training. Gained full university status in 2005 and became the University of Worcester
University of Northampton	2005[137]	Transforming lives, inspiring change
University of Chichester	12 October 2005[148]	Docendo discimus	Founded as West Sussex Institute of Higher Education 1977; university college 1999; traces history to diocesan teacher training college established 1839
University of Bedfordshire	2006
Edge Hill University	18 May 2006	In Scientia Opportunitas
York St John University	10 July 2006		Founded in 1841 as York Diocesan College.
Queen Margaret University	January 2007
Imperial College London	July 2007[149]	Scientia imperii decus et tutamen	Founded 1907 and formerly part of the University of London. Continues to use the name 'Imperial College' despite having university status. University by Royal Charter
University of Cumbria	1 August 2007		merger of St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and part of University of Central Lancashire
Buckinghamshire New University	October 2007[150]	Arte et Industria	formerly Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education until 1995, then Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.[150]
Aberystwyth University	1 September 2007[68]	Nid Byd, Byd Heb Wybodaeth	Founded as University College Wales 1872; founder member of University of Wales 1893. University by royal charter
Bangor University	1 September 2007	Gorau Dawn Deall	Founded as University College of North Wales 1884; founder member of University of Wales 1893. University by royal charter
Swansea University	1 September 2007	Gweddw crefft heb ei dawn	Broke away from the University of Wales, which it joined as a constituent college in 1920, to begin awarding own degrees. University by royal charter.
Swansea Metropolitan University	January 2008 to 2013[73]		Founded as West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education 1976. Merged with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in 2013.[73]
Glyndwr University	3 July 2008[76][77]		Founded as Wrexham School of Science and Art 1887[76]
University for the Creative Arts	May 2008		Founded 2005 as the University College for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester
University of Wales Trinity Saint David	2010[73]		Merger between University of Wales, Lampeter (founded 1822) and Trinity University College, incorporated under Lampeter's 1828 charter. University by Royal Charter.[73]
Cardiff Metropolitan University	2011[74]	The most valuable possession is knowledge	Part of federal University of Wales as the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) until 2011[74]
University of the Highlands and Islands	2011		The "UHI Millennium institute", a collegiate partnership of 13 colleges and research institutions scattered throughout the highlands and islands, Moray, and Perthshire and providing in excess of 50 additional learning centres in the same areas gained full university status as The University of the Highlands and Islands (Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean) in 2011; it had been a Higher Education Institute since 2001, and acquired the power to grant its own degrees from 2008, prior to which its degrees were authenticated by Open University Validation Service, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Aberdeen
University of Law	22 November 2012[151]		Founded 1962 as The College of Law, royal charter 1975. Education business sold off as a for-profit private limited company (becoming the University of Law) in 2012, with the chartered charity continuing as the Legal Education Foundation.[152] Part of Global University Systems.
University College Birmingham	2012[153]		Did not change name on acquiring university status[154]
Bishop Grosseteste University	2012[153]		Traces its origins back to the Diocese of Lincoln's Diocesan Training School for Mistresses, founded in 1862. Degree awarding powers from 2006.
Arts University Bournemouth	2012[153]		Formerly Arts Institute BouInstitute at and Arts University College at Bournemouth. Founded 1883[155]
Falmouth University	2012[153]		Founded in 1902 as Falmouth School of Art
Harper Adams University	2012[153]		Founded in 1901
University of St Mark & St John
Leeds Trinity University	2012[153]		Formed as Trinity & All Saints College in 1980 by merger of Trinity College and All Saints College
Royal Agricultural University	2012[153]	Avorum Cultus Pecorumque	Founded 1845 as the Royal Agricultural College
Norwich University of the Arts	2012[153]		Formerly Norwich University College of the Arts, founded in 2007, which traces its origins back to the Norwich School of Design, founded in 1845
Newman University, Birmingham	2012[153]		Former Newman University College granted university status
Regent's University London	March 2013		Private university. Formerly Regent's College (founded 1984)
University of South Wales	April 2013		Formed from merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport
BPP University	August 2013	Your Ambition Realised	Founded as BPP Law School 1992. Private for-profit university. Part of Apollo Group.
St Mary's University, Twickenham	23 January 2014	Monstra te Esse Matrem
Arden University	5 August 2015		Private for-profit blended learning university, title awarded via Companies House rather than the Privy Council. Formerly called RDI. Sold by Capella Education Company to Global University Systems in August 2016.[156][157]
University of Suffolk	1 August 2016		Previously University Campus Suffolk, established 2007 as a joint venture between the University of Essex and the University of East Anglia.[158]

Universities and University Colleges in Overseas Territories

Note: these are not considered UK Universities and are not recognised as degree-awarding bodies by the British government.^[159]

Name	Territory	University status	Motto	Notes
University of the West Indies	Anguilla Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Montserrat	1962		Operates across current and former British territories in the West Indies. Physical campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. Operated as part of the University of London 1948-1962 as the University College of the West Indies
International College of the Cayman Islands	Cayman Islands	1970
University College of the Cayman Islands	Cayman Islands	1975
St. Matthews University	Cayman Islands	1997		Founded in Belize; moved to the Cayman Islands in 2002
Saint James School of Medicine	Anguilla	1999		Founded in Bonaire; moved to Anguilla in 2010
University of Science, Arts and Technology	Montserrat	2003

Former universities

This table contains universities that were officially recognised but were dissolved either by merging, splitting or just closing down. It does not include institutions which did not receive official recognition as universities, such as the attempt to found a university at Stamford in the 14th century, Cromwell's New College, Durham in the 17th century, or colleges of the federal universities of Wales and London that never became independent universities. It also does not include universities in the Republic of Ireland that ceased to be UK universities on independence from the UK.

Name	University status	Motto	Ceased to be a university	Reason
University of Northampton	1261		1265	Dissolved by King Henry III
University of Fraserburgh	1592		1605	Founded by permission of royal charter granted to Sir Alexander Fraser. Closed after the Principal, Charles Ferme, was arrested and imprisoned for "unlawfully assembling against the letters and charges of his majesty".[160]
Marischal College	1593		1860	Founded by George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal, later confirmed by act of parliament. Was merged into the University of Aberdeen
Queen's University of Ireland	1850		1880	Federal university with colleges in Belfast, Cork and Galway. Replaced by the Royal University of Ireland (see below)
Royal University of Ireland	1880		1908	Examining board for Irish colleges. Replaced by the National University of Ireland, with Queen's College Belfast becoming Queen's University Belfast
Victoria University	20 April 1880	Olim Armis Nunc Studiis	1 October 1904	Leeds and Liverpool left; surviving college became Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester	1 October 1904	Arduus Ad Solem	1 October 2004	Merged with UMIST to form the University of Manchester
New University of Ulster	1968		1984	merged with Ulster Polytechnic to form University of Ulster
University of Glamorgan	1992	Success Through Endeavour	April 2013	merged with University of Wales, Newport to form the University of South Wales
University of North London	1992[125]		1 August 2002[125]	merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University[125]
London Guildhall University	1992[125]		1 August 2002[125]	merged with University of North London to form London Metropolitan University[125]
UMIST	1994[135]	Scientia et Labore	1 October 2004	Traces its origins to 1824. Students gained Victoria University of Manchester degrees from 1905. Royal Charter as a university college in 1956. Independent university 1994. Merged with Victoria University of Manchester to form the University of Manchester
Swansea Metropolitan University	2008		1 August 2013	Merged into the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
City University, London	1966[63]	To serve mankind	2016	Became a college of the University of London in 2016 as City, University of London

See also

• List of oldest universities in continuous operation
• List of British universities
• British universities
• Third oldest university in England debate

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