LONDON UNIVERSITY, England, es tablished as a joint-stock company in 1826, re ceived in 1836 two charters, one for an associa tion retaining the name of London University and having power to examine candidates and grant degrees, and the other for a teaching body — the University College — entitling it to prepare students for the degrees conferred by the university. The object was to render aca demic honors accessible to all without distinc tion of creed or class. The university became purely an examining body, granting degrees to all who passed the prescribed examinations but not undertaking any teaching functions. In 1878 women were admitted to degrees. An in fluential movement in favor of the establish ment of a teaching university in the metropolis arose, however; from 1888 commissions had the matter in hand and in 1898 the London University Act was passed to give effect to their recommendations. A commission appointed to draw up statutes and regulations for the uni versity in accordance with the act had its work formally ratified 29 June 1900, and the newly constituted university was established, the gov ernment granting the eastern and central por tions of the Imperial Institute building to the university for its accommodation. The eight faculties comprise arts, science, law, medicine, theology, music, engineering and economics and political science and the degrees conferred are LL.D., LL.B., M.D., M.B., M.S., B.S., D.Sc., B.Sc., D.Lit., M.A., B.A., D.Mus., B.Mus. Can didates for any degree must first pass the ma triculation examination, for which the subjects are Latin, English, mathematics, general ele mentary science and one other subject selected from a prescribed list, including Greek, French, German, Sanskrit, Arabic, elementary mechan ics, chemistry, sound, heat and light, magnet ism and electricity and botany. For the ordi nary degrees of B.A. and B.Sc. two other ex aminations must be taken. In the faculty of arts the highest degree is doctor of literature. Examinations are held at provincial centres as well as in London. The incorporated colleges and schools of the university are 36 in number and include University College and King's College in all faculties; Hackney College, New College, Regent's Park College, Wesleyan Col lege (Richmond), London College of Divinity in theology; Royal Holloway and Bedford Col leges in arts and science; the Royal College of Science; the South-Eastern Agricultural Col lege, Wye; the medical schools of Saint Bar tholomew's, the Landon, Saint Thomas's, Saint George's, the Middlesex, Saint Mary's, Char ing Cross and Westminster hospitals; the Lon don School of Medicine for Women; the Cen tral Technical College of the City and Guilds Institute; and the London School of Economics and Political Science. The supreme governing
body is the senate, consisting of the chancellor, 4 members appointed by the Crown. 17 mem bers elected by convocation, 1 of them being the chairman of convocation, 2 each elected by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Sur geons, I appointed by each of the four Inns of Court and 2 by the Incorporated Law Society, 2 each chosen by University and King's Col leges, 1 representing the Corporation of London, 2 appointed by the London county council, 1 representing the City and Guilds Institute and 16 elected by the faculties/ The senate is de barred from imposing any religious test, or from imposing any disability on the ground of sex. There are three standing committees of the senate, namely, the academic council, the council for external students and a board to promote the extension of university teaching. The chancellor, vice-chancellor and chairman of convocation are ex officio members of all three committees. Convocation consists of the chancellor, the vice-chancellor, the members of the three standing committees and the registered graduates of the university of prescribed stand ing. The Parliamentary representative of the university is elected by the duly qualified male members of convocation.
In 1909 a royal commission was appointed to enquire into the affairs of the university, under the chairmanship of Mr. (now Lord) Haldane. The commission's report, issued in 1913, expresses the view that the entire organ ization of the university is radically defective; recommends certain limitations in the admis sion of external students to its examinations; the creation of a small executive senate pre dominatingly lay in character; organization by faculties; and effective control of the medical schools by the university. Steps are now being taken to carry out these recommendations.
The library of University College contains 150,000 books and pamphlets. In 1913-14 the total number of students who appeared for ex amination at London University was 11,920, and the total of internal students was 4 • : • : . There are 1,078 accredited teachers.