The University of London has played an historic and pioneering role in extending university education to all regardless of race, religion, gender or country of residence. It was the first university in the world to offer distance learning degrees – more than a century before the open universities were founded – through its External System established in 1858.
Now one of the oldest and most reputable distance learning providers in the world, the University of London External System has a truly international character with more than 40,000 students in over 180 countries worldwide. Ranging from education to management, and from law to philosophy, it offers over 100 qualifications to suit all interests.
As a family of world-class institutions the University has a reputation of academic distinction in the UK and internationally. University of London academics are responsible for the academic direction of all our distance learning programmes, and whatever courses are studied, students are examined to the same high standard as those attending one of the University of London’s Colleges.
Many of our courses are offered through a network of local teaching institutions around the world. Currently, 200 independent institutions in over 45 countries offer teaching and learning support to over 20,000 students on many of our distance learning courses.
During 2008 the University of London will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the External System. To mark this event we are planning a programme of events, publications and an online exhibition, details of which will appear on the London website throughout 2007 and 2008.
www.londonexternal.ac.uk – for information on courses and studying with the University of London External Programme
www.londonexternal.ac.uk/150/index.shtml - for information on the 150th Anniversary events
www.londonexternal.ac.uk/about_us/alumni.shtml - for information on the alumni organisation