Brand narrative

Who we are and what we stand for...

UCL is a diverse global community of world-class academics, students, industry and external partners, and alumni. Our powerful collective of individuals and institutions work together to explore new possibilities. 

Since 1826, we have championed independent thought by attracting and nurturing the world's best minds. Our community of more than 50,000 students from 159 countries and over 16,000 staff pursue academic excellence, breaks boundaries, and makes a positive impact on real-world problems. 

We are consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010 – 2024) and are one of only a handful of institutions rated as having the strongest academic reputation and the broadest research impact.  

We have a progressive and integrated approach to our teaching and research – championing innovation, creativity, and cross-disciplinary working. We teach our students how to think, not what to think, and see them as partners, collaborators, and contributors.   

For almost 200 years, we are proud to have opened higher education to students from a wide range of backgrounds and to change the way we create and share knowledge.  

We were the first in England to welcome women to university education and that courageous attitude and disruptive spirit is still alive today. We are UCL.