University of London External System

The University of London is one of the world’s leading academic institutions, internationally recognised as a centre of excellence.

Our alumni and academics shape the world that they inhabit. They include over 57 Nobel Prize winners and over 35 past or present Heads of State.

The University comprises 19 world-class Colleges, many with famous names, and a number of acclaimed Institutes.

The University of London External System is the oldest distance learning programme in the world – our degrees have been accessible to students worldwide since 1858. Today, we have over 40,000 students in more than 180 countries studying 100 different courses.

The University maintains a robust quality assurance process for all its courses. The External System draws on the expertise of the University’s Colleges and its examinations are set and marked by the same academics that assess College-based students. So, while External students receive specially designed courses to suit their needs, they achieve exactly the same internationally recognised qualification as those who attend the University itself.

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.