University of West London

History

• First founded as the Lady Byron School in 1860, the education institution as it exists today was originally formed from the merger of Ealing College of Higher Education, Thames Valley College of Higher Education, the London College of Music and Queen Charlotte's College of Health Care Studies.
• In 1991, this new entity was inaugurated as the Polytechnic of West London. In 1992 the Privy Council bestowed full university status and it became Thames Valley University (TVU).
• TVU grew through a number of mergers, including that with the Northwick Park School of Nursing, Riverside College of Nursing and the North West Thames Regional Health Authority's AIDS Unit in 1994, Berkshire College of Nursing and Midwifery in 1995, and with Reading College and School of Art and Design in 2004.
• In July 2010 the University’s Further Education provision in Reading successfully transferred into a new partnership (Oxford & Cherwell Valley College and the Learning and Skills Network).
• The University of West London has eight specialist Schools, which offer courses in a wide range of subject areas. We design all of our courses to meet our students’ needs, balancing both academic knowledge and the practical skills valued by employers. The schools are: Ealing Law School; Ealing School of Art, Design and Media; College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare; London College of Music; London School of Hospitality and Tourism; School of Computing and Technology' School of Psychology, Social Work and Human Sciences.

Location and transport

• The University is in West London on its sites in Ealing and Brentford and unified through its new name the University of West London.
• The University is in the heart of one of the UK’s most successful business regions.
• A new specialist teaching hub has opened in Berkshire. This will enable the University to continue delivering its Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare programmes across the region to students alongside completing their placements in the local area..
• Students benefit from excellent road and rail links. Central London and Heathrow Airport are less than 20 minutes away.
• There is a free shuttle bus service between the Ealing Broadway stating and our two West London sites.

Entry standards

• Students require the minimum of one of the following for an honours degree: 200 UCAS points normally in a minimum of two subject areas, plus GCSE English and Maths or equivalent. Visit uwl.ac.uk/courses for individual course entry requirements.
• International undergraduate students must meet the English language requirement of IELTS at 5.5 or above (this will depend on the course that you are applying for).

• Flexible learning options are offered, including distance learning, full- and part-time and work-based learning.

Teaching standards

• In 2009, we were the only university to win the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for outstanding achievement and excellence in hospitality education – and we regularly win awards from major industry bodies.

Academic strengths

• University of West London Careers and Employment Service is a member of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services and has been awarded the Matrix Standard for Quality.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• There is a Library on each site,  which bring together our library, media and computing facilities, providing fully-networked, open access work stations
• Each centre is staffed with advisers and subject-specialist librarians, dedicated to helping students gain the maximum benefit from resources.
• Whether on campus or learning remotely, you can access wide-ranging support as a student through our One Stop Shop. It’s the place to go for information and support for all students studying in West London and also for all distance-learning students.
• Students can access advice, free and confidential professional advice to students and prospective students, advice on practical issues such as sources of funding, money management, state benefits, housing rights, international student issues, including immigration advice.

Disability services

• Freddie’s Bar at Ealing is the main venue for entertainment and events
• The West London Student’s Union offers a wide range of sports activities, such as football, netball, basketball, yoga, and fencing
• There are more than 30 student-run societies, such as law, student radio, extreme sport, gaming, cheerleading, Islamic, Chinese, and Entrepreneur societies. New societies include Women’s Rugby Appreciation, Bollyaerobics and the Jewish society.

Recent/prospective new builds

• Our dedicated Accommodation Service can help you find a place to live, whether in our award-winning Halls of Residence or private rented accommodation.

Availability of part-time work

• There is a careers advice and employment service to help students find part-time work while they study.
• The Careers Service offers advice on job hunting and assessment and selection procedures, careers workshops, comprehensive careers resource area and specific careers support for international students.
• The Employment Service offers information about a wide range of vacancies, regional, national and international, direct notification of new part-time and graduate vacancies, employment advice and employer presentations.
• The Volunteering Service offers leadership and management training and development, weekly notifications of new volunteering placements, various one-off volunteering opportunities, an annual volunteer awards ceremony, a reference for future employess dependent upon various conditions.

Notable alumni

• Ian R. Carter, BA Business Administration, 1984 – President of Global Operations and Development for Hilton Worldwide.
• Sunil Sheth, graduated from UWL in 1979 with an LLB – Partner at Fladgate LLP and Founder and former chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers in the UK. Sunil is Chair of Sense International, Trustee of One World Media.
• Karon Monaghan QC, LLB in 1988 – Barrister at Matrix Chambers and principally specialises in equality and human rights law. She was an adviser to the government's Women and Equality Unit on the Discrimination Law Review which preceded the Equality Act 2010.
• Pete Townshend, LCM, Ealing Art College (UWL) – English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author.
• Chris Galvin, BSc International Culinary Arts – Galvin Restaurants (Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, Galvin at Windows, Galvin La Chapelle, Galvin Cafe a Vin).

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