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.
Highlights in UCL’s 200-year history
University College London was established in 1826 with a new vision: to make higher education accessible to all. As London’s first university, UCL challenged convention by admitting students regardless of faith, introducing practical subjects, and later granting women access to higher education alongside men.
Over two centuries, UCL has remained at the forefront of research and innovation, achieving numerous firsts and shaping disciplines from medicine and science to the arts and humanities.
UCL timeline
This UCL timeline presents milestones that have marked UCL’s journey - moments of progress, discovery, and transformation that influenced the university and the wider world.
Key people
Nobel laureates
There have been 33 Nobel Prize laureates amongst UCL’s alumni and current and former staff, to date.
Renowned alumni
Prominent graduates from University College London include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more.
Faces of UCL
In recognition of UCL’s bicentenary in 2026, we present Faces of UCL, a powerful snapshot of the people who have contributed to 200 years of ground-breaking research, innovation, education and impact.
Explore further
In 2018, UCL Press published a book charting the history of UCL from 1826 through to the present day - ‘The World of UCL’ available as a PDF.
New books are now available on the occasion of UCL’s bicentenary. Find out more below.
UCL’s Bicentenary
2026 marks UCL’s 200th Anniversary and the start of a year of Bicentennial activity and celebration.
UCL200 Publications
Three new books have launched for UCL's bicentenary, tracing two centuries of ground-breaking discoveries, architectural history, and generational stories of staff and student life.
