Inquiry into the History of Eugenics at UCL

In 2018, UCL's then President & Provost, Professor Michael Arthur, commissioned an inquiry led by Professor Iyiola Solanke of the University of Leeds, to look at UCL’s historical role in, and the current status of, the teaching and study of the history of eugenics, as well as the current status of UCL’s benefit from any financial instruments linked to the study of eugenics.

On 28 February 2020, as the Inquiry's report and recommendations were published, UCL announced a range of measures aimed at acknowledging and addressing the university’s historical links with the eugenics movement. As a next step, UCL established a working group to consider the university's response to the recommendations. On 7 January 2021, UCL issued a UCL issued a formal public apology for its history and legacy of eugenics, as part of a range of actions to acknowledge and address its historical links with the eugenics movement.

Find out more below about the inquiry and follow-up activities.