Since 1826, we have challenged orthodoxy and applied ourselves to making the world better, seeking to serve society through the generation and application of ‘useful’ knowledge, with a particular focus on leading interdisciplinary discussion and debate.
UCL is now one of the world’s top universities, with broad disciplinary excellence in research, innovation, education and impact. We operate on a large scale and nevertheless deliver exceptional academic performance: an achievement that has few parallels internationally.
We are also a significant contributor to London and to the UK, generating close to £10bn of economic impact each year.
In all this, we strive to exemplify the strong entrepreneurial spirit and desire for equity and justice that inspired our founding.
(Extracted from Foreword by Dr Michael Spence, President & Provost, UCL Strategic Plan 2022-27)
Our culture and values
Find out about the culture and values guiding our decisions, interactions and our work at UCL.
History
From its foundation in 1826, UCL embraced a progressive and pioneering spirit. Find out about UCL's history and its contributions to society in Britain and around the world, over the past 200 years.
Faculties and departments
We lead the field across our 11 faculties, and work together across disciplines to solve the world's biggest problems.
UCL's Bicentenary (UCL200)
2026 will mark UCL's 200th Anniversary and the start of a year of Bicentennial activity and celebration. Find out more
