List of UK universities by date of foundation

List of UK universities by date of foundation

This is a list of Universities in the United Kingdom by the date of their foundation. In many cases the supposed date of establishment is open to debate. The date in which an institution officially achieved royal charter is therefore provided first, with any unofficial date in parenthesis.

Ancient universities
Until the nineteenth century there were only two university establishments in England and five in Scotland (including two in Aberdeen, see below).
Name Country Date of foundation Motto Notes

University of Oxford University of Cambridge University of St Andrews University of Glasgow University of Aberdeen

England

Before 1167

Dominus illuminatio mea Hinc lucem et pocula sacra

England

1209

Scotland

Between 1410 and 1413 1451

Scotland

Via, Veritas, Vita

Scotland

1495

Initium sapientiae timor domini

For centuries, Aberdeen had two universities. King's College (1495) and Marischal College (1593) merged to form the University of Aberdeen in [1] 1860

University of Edinburgh

Scotland

1582

Nec temere, nec timide

Nineteenth century universities

No new universities were founded in the United Kingdom after Edinburgh until the eighteenth century with the establishment of a number of the London colleges, for example St George's (1733), The London Hospital Medical College (1785) and the Royal Veterinary College (1791). These later became part of the University of London. A number of universities lay claim to being the third oldest university in England, including University College London, King's College London and Durham University.
Name The University of Durham King's College London University College London University of London Queen's University Belfast University College Wales, now Aberystwyth University Royal Holloway University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, now Cardiff University 1832 1829 1836 (1826) 1836 1845 1872 Nid Byd, Byd Heb Wybodaeth: A World Without Knowledge, is No World At All Esse quam videri: To be, rather than to seem Truth Unity and Harmony Date of foundation Motto Fundamenta eius super montibus sanctis Sancte et sapienter Cuncti adsint meritaeque expectent praemia palmae

1879 1884

List of UK universities by date of foundation

2
1885, (With roots, through medical school, to 1123) 1895 Coniunctis Viribus

Queen Mary, University of London

London School of Economics

rerum cognoscere causas

The civic universities

These universities were distinguished by being non-collegiate institutions that admitted men without reference to religion or background and concentrated on imparting to their students "real-world" skills, often linked to engineering.

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.[2] All of the red brick institutions have origins dating back to older medical or engineering colleges.
Name Date of foundation 1880 Motto Notes

Victoria University

Arduus ad solem

Succeeded Owen's College (founded 1851), later Victoria University of Manchester

University of Birmingham University of Liverpool University of Leeds University of Sheffield

1900

Per Ardua Ad Alta

1903 1904 1905

Haec otia studia fovent et augebitur scientia Rerum cognoscere causas Vim promovet insitam

University of Bristol

1909

Second wave of civic universities

Name Date of foundation Motto Gweddw crefft heb ei dawn

University College of Swansea, now Swansea University 1920 University of Reading University of Nottingham University of Southampton University of Hull University of Exeter University of Leicester 1926 1948 1952 1954 1955 1957

Sapientia urbs conditur Strenuis Ardua Cedunt Lampada ferens Lucem sequimur Ut Vitam Habeant

List of UK universities by date of foundation

Plate glass universities

Universities founded during the 1960s are called this because of their architectural style. This was the era of the Robbins Report. The number of UK universities more than doubled from 20 to 43.
Name University of Sussex Keele University Date of foundation 1961 1962 Motto Be still and know Thanke God for All Do Different In limine sapientiae

University of East Anglia 1963 University of York Newcastle University University of Strathclyde Lancaster University University of Kent University of Essex University of Warwick 1963 1963 1964 1964 1965 1965 1965

The place of useful learning Patet omnibus veritas Cui servire regnare est Thought the harder, heart the keener Mens agitat molem Veritate, Scientia, Labore Forward

Loughborough University 1966 Aston University Brunel University University of Surrey University of Bath University of Bradford City University, London Heriot-Watt University University of Salford University of Dundee University of Stirling Royal College of Art Cranfield University 1966 1966 1966 1966 1966 1966 1966 1967 1967 1967 1967 1969

Generatim discite cultus Make Knowledge Work To serve mankind

Altiora Petamus Magnificat anima mea dominum

Post Nubes Lux

Intermediate era
Only three universities were founded between 1969 and 1992 and they were all the "odd-one-out" in some way: The Open University is the UK's only distance learning university; the University of Buckingham is the only private university; and the University of Ulster was formed from the merger of a plate glass university with a polytechnic.

List of UK universities by date of foundation

Name The Open University

Date of foundation 1969

Motto Live and Learn Flying on our own Wings

University of Buckingham 1976 University of Ulster 1984

New universities
1992 universities
The passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 allowed all polytechnics to become universities. 38 took up the offer immediately, nearly doubling the number universities again from 46 to 84.
Name University status June 1992 1992 16 June 1992 27 November 1992 1992 1992 Ex Solo ad Solem Discere Mutari Est Motto Notes

Napier University Anglia Ruskin University Birmingham City University Bournemouth University

Nisi sapientia frustra A Creative Constellation

founded as Napier Technical College 1964 founded as Cambridge School of Art 1858; polytechnic 1991 founded as City of Birmingham Polytechnic 1971

University of Brighton University of Central Lancashire De Montfort University Coventry University University of Derby University of East London University of Glamorgan University of Greenwich University of Hertfordshire

founded as Brighton Polytechnic 1968 formerly Preston Polytechnic 1973

1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 Success Through Endeavour To learn, to do, to achieve Seek Knowledge Throughout Life Experientia Docet

founded as Leicester Polytechnic 1969 founded as Lanchester Polytechnic 1970 formerly Derbyshire College of Higher Education founded as North East London Polytechnic 1970

University of Huddersfield Kingston University Leeds Metropolitan University University of Lincoln

1992 1992 1992

1992

Excellence through study

formerly Humberside Polytechnic (located in Kingston upon Hull); moved to Lincoln in 2001

Liverpool John Moores University London South Bank University Manchester Metropolitan University Middlesex University Northumbria University

1992

Audentes Fortuna Juvat

1992

With Thy Might (Borough Polytechnic) Many Arts, Many Skills

founded as the Borough Polytechnic Institute in 1892

1992

1992 1992

List of UK universities by date of foundation

Nottingham Trent University 1992 Oxford Brookes University University of the West of Scotland University of Plymouth University of Portsmouth Robert Gordon University Sheffield Hallam University Staffordshire University University of Sunderland University of Teesside 1992 1992

Shaping futures Excellence in diversity

1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992

Indagate Fingite Invenite Lucem Sequamur Omni Nunc Arte Magistra Learn and Serve Create the difference Scientiam Dulce Hauriens Facta Non Verba founded as Constantine Technical College 1930; polytechnic 1970

Thames Valley University University of Westminster

1992 1992 Educating for professional life Light Liberty Learning founded as the Royal Polytechnic Institution 1838

University of the West of England University of Wolverhampton Glasgow Caledonian University University of Abertay Dundee

1992

1992

Innovation and Opportunity

1 April 1993

For the common weal

1994

Second wave of new universities

After a seven-year hiatus, a great number of polytechnics, university colleges and higher education institutes began to apply for university status. 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. So far, 31 new universities have been created bringing the total number to 115.
Name University status 2001 Motto Notes

University of Gloucestershire University of Wales, Newport London Metropolitan University University of Bolton

In animo et veritate

2002

August 2002 April 2004

Merger of London Guildhall University (est.1848) and the University of North London (est.1896).

University of the Arts 2004 London

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. Gwirionedd Undod A Chytgord Established 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire before becoming University of Wales, Cardiff and breaking from the University of Wales federation in 2004.

Cardiff University

1 August 2004

List of UK universities by date of foundation

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Earliest constituent college (Whitelands College) founded in 1841.

Roehampton University University of Manchester

1 August 2004 1 October 2004 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) founded as Bath College of Higher Education 1975; university college 1992

Bath Spa University

August 2005 2005 Veritas liberabit vos

Canterbury Christ Church University University of Chester

2005

Qui docet in doctrina

founded as Chester Diocesan Training College in 1839; degrees awarded by University of Liverpool 1910; university college 2003 founded as West Sussex Institute of Higher Education 1977; university college 1999; established as a provider of higher education in 1839 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. Originally three teacher training institutions, Christs College, Notre Dame and St Catherines which merged in the late 1970's to become Trinity College and then later Hope University

University of Chichester University of Winchester

2005

Docendo discimus

June 2005

Wisdom ond lar (from old English) Modern English translation: Wisdom and Knowledge

Liverpool Hope University

July 2005

In Faith, Hope and Love

Southampton Solent University University of Worcester

July 2005

September 2005

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 University of Bedfordshire Edge Hill University

2005

Transforming lives, inspiring change

2006

18 May 2006 10 July 2006 January 2007 2007

In Scientia Opportunitas

York St John University Queen Margaret University Buckinghamshire New University Imperial College London University Campus Suffolk University of Cumbria Aberystwyth University Bangor University

Arte et Industria

8 July 2007

Scientia imperii decus et tutamen

founded 1907 as constituent college of University of London

1 August 2007 1 August 2007 1 September Nid Byd, Byd Heb 2007 Wybodaeth 1 September Gorau Dawn Deall 2007 merger of St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and part of University of Central Lancashire founded as University College Wales 1872; founder member of University of Wales 1893 founded as University College of North Wales 1884; founder member of University of Wales 1893

List of UK universities by date of foundation

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founded as St David's College 1828; merged with University of Wales 1971

University of Wales, Lampeter Swansea University

1 September Gair Duw Goreu Dysg 2007 1 September Gweddw crefft heb ei dawn 2007 1 September 2007 1 September The most valuable 2007 possession is knowledge

Broke away from the University of Wales, which it joined as a constituent college in 1920, to begin awarding own degrees. founded as Trinity College, Carmarthen 1848

Trinity University College University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

Swansea Metropolitan January University 2008 Glyndr University University of Wales, Trinity Saint David July 2008 2010

founded as Swansea Institute of Higher Education 1992

founded as Wrexham School of Science and Art 1887 Merger between University of Wales, Lampeter (1828) and Trinity University College

Former universities
This table contains universities that were given a Royal Charter and awarded degrees but were dissolved either by merging, splitting or just closing down.
Name University status 20 April 1880 Motto Dissolved Reason

Victoria University

1 October 1904 1 October 2004 1984

Leeds and Liverpool left; surviving college became Victoria University of Manchester merged with UMIST to form the University of Manchester

Victoria University of Manchester New University of Ulster St Martin's College

1 October 1904 Arduus Ad Solem 1968

merged with Ulster Polytechnic to form University of Ulster

2006

1 August 2007 Gair Duw Goreu Dysg 2010

merged with Cumbria Institute of the Arts and part of University of Central Lancashire to form University of Cumbria merged with Trinity University College to form University of Wales, Trinity Saint David merged with University of Wales, Lampeter to form University of Wales, Trinity Saint David

University of Wales, Lampeter Trinity University College

1828

1 September 2007

2010

Notes
[1] http:/ / www. abdn. ac. uk/ about/ history. php [2] Peers, Edgar Allison (1943). Redbrick University.

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

List of UK universities by date of foundation Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=438136814 Contributors: Ashiqur Rahman 87, Bedesboy, Ben101, Benson85, Billlion, Chrism, D.M. from Ukraine, Entangle, Eugene-elgato, Gilesick, Jamesdragons, Johnhousefriday, Keith D, Kinigi, Lodi01, MRacer, Mark J, Mholland, Misterx2000, Nightsturm, Ottershrew, Rich Farmbrough, ShelfSkewed, TheGerm, ThomasL, Tomsega, Ukexpat, 100 anonymous edits

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