Universities in the United Kingdom

British universities and the British higher education is partly very different from those of continental European countries.

The oldest institutions are the University of Cambridge which was founded in the 13th century and the Scottish University of St Andrews, founded in the 14th century. Until the 19th century, no other universities were founded in England. The list of Ancient Universities therefore comprises mainly Scottish universities:

• Cambridge University - founded in 1209
• Oxford University - founded in 1329
• University of St Andrews - founded in 1411
• University of Glasgow - founded in 1451
• University of Aberdeen - founded in 1494
• University of Edinburgh - founded in 1583

Characteristic of the English universities, the college system: One is primarily a member of a college, and thus a member of the University.

The Scottish universities (St Andrews, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh) are ecclesiastical foundations (except Edinburgh, urban foundation ), in them there is no college system, although some colleges are incorporated and these have a special character (examples: St Mary's in St Andrews and New College, Edinburgh (both theological faculties) ). While there were only two universities in England until the 19th century, Scotland had four universities, where access to the accounts open to all men.

The University of London, founded in 1836, is an entity of its own kind: On the one hand includes colleges ( Listed Bodies ), which prepare for a degree from the University of London, on the other hand, even in institutions with their own right to audit ( Recognised Bodies ), including such world famous as the London School of Economics and Political Science. Impetus for the founding of the University of London was among other things the insistence of Oxford and Cambridge on a theological examination, which was until 1875 a prerequisite for graduation for the Master of Arts and the de facto Jews and Dissenters excluded from higher studies.