Regent's University London

For the college in New York previously named Regents College, see Excelsior College.
Regent's University London
Former name
Regent's College
Type Private (Registered charity)
Established 1984 (1984)
Chancellor Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE, DCL (Feb 2017)
Vice-Chancellor Aldwyn Cooper
Academic staff
253
Administrative staff
285
Students 3,591 FT
Location Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NS, United Kingdom
51°31′34″N 0°09′18″W / 51.526°N 0.155°W / 51.526; -0.155Coordinates: 51°31′34″N 0°09′18″W / 51.526°N 0.155°W / 51.526; -0.155
Campus Urban
Affiliations Universities UK, Erasmus+, Independent Universities Group
Website www.regents.ac.uk

Regent's University London is a private non-profit university located in London, United Kingdom, created in 1984, and granted taught-degree conferring status from 2012-2013. It is one of five private universities (and one of two non-profit) in the country, and is one of six private institutions in the United Kingdom to have been granted taught degree awarding powers.[1] The university has an international student body with 15 per cent of applicants from within the UK, 10 per cent from the United States, and the rest from all over the world.

The university has its campus in Regent's Park, central London. It is one of the two largest groups of buildings in the park, along with the London Zoo, and was built on the site of South Villa, one of the original eight Regent's Park villas.

RUL is a member of the Independent Universities Group, set up in January 2015 with the objective of differentiating their academic credentials from the more commercial elements of the alternative sector.[2]

History

The main entrance of Regent's University London

In 1984 the lease on the South Villa Estate in Regent's Park was taken by the Illinois-based liberal arts college Rockford College, as the campus for the newly established Regent's College, a higher education college intended to primarily provide American students with a study abroad programme.[3]

In 1985, Regent's College acquired the former campus of the University of London's Bedford College in Regent's Park. The site was leased by Bedford College in 1908, and a new set of buildings designed by the architect Basil Champneys was opened by Queen Mary in 1913. The buildings were modified and added to over the years, especially after bomb damage during the Second World War. Bedford College merged with Royal Holloway College (another college of the University of London) in 1985 and moved to Royal Holloway's campus at Egham in Surrey, vacating the premises in Regent's Park. Regent's College gradually expanded and the European Business School London moved to the College campus in 1987.[3]

In July 2012 it was announced that Regent's College had been awarded taught degree-awarding powers (TDAP) from 1 September 2012.[4] Institutions that have degree-awarding powers in the UK are known as "recognized bodies" of which there are over 150. In February 2013 Regent's College agreed to acquire American InterContinental University London from Career Education Corporation.[5] In March 2013 the UK's Department for Business Innovation and Skills announced that Regent's College had met the criteria to become a university.[6]

Organisation and administration

Governance

Regent's University London is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital.[7] It is a registered charity, registered at the Charity Commission under charity number 291583. The company's directors are also the Trustees and members of the charity.[7]

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the stewardship of the charity's assets, strategic decision-making and ensuring compliance with charitable objectives.[7] The newly appointed chair is Dr. Diana Walford CBE, formerly Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford. Day-to-day operational management is delegated to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior management employees.[7]

Finances

In the financial year ended 31 July 2014, Regent's University London had a total income of £53.17 million (2012/13 – £48.196 million) and total expenditure of £55.659 million (2012/13 – £46.466 million).[8] 85% of the total income generated was from tuition fees, and 50% and 45% of total expenditure were for operational costs and staff costs respectively.

At year end Regent's University London had total net assets of £21.115 million (31 July 2013 – £24.628 million).[8] Cash surplus for the period was £17.776 million vs. £20.189 million in the previous year.

The university offers means-tested bursaries, merit awards and awards from the Kevin Spacey Foundation Scholarships . In 2014/15 417 scholarships were granted to individuals. Scholarship awards at Regent's University London are based on merit, for which anyone can apply. The accounts ending 31 July 2015 show that £1.83 million were paid out versus £1.459 million the previous year.

Staff

Regent's University London had an average of 538 full-time equivalent staff during the year ended 31 July 2015 (561 in 2014), of whom 253 were academic staff and 285 were management and administration staff.[8]

Academic profile

Schools

Regent's University London is composed of seven specialist schools.

Courses

Regent's University London offers a wide range of courses in Business and Management & the Arts and Humanities, including American and British degree programmes.[9] Undergraduate fees are currently about £16,000 per annum.[9] The University has a student-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.[9]

The University has recently started to offer MPhil and PhD programmes in selected fields that are validated by University of Northampton.

Library Services

The university has libraries at both its Park Campus and its Marylebone Campus.

Student life

Regent's University London currently has around 3,600 full-time students.[9] The Regent's University Student Union organises a range of clubs and societies, including Film Production, Finance and Investment, Model United Nations and Scandinavian.[10] The Union also organises the Students in Free Enterprise initiative.[10]

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Regent's University London include:

References

  1. "Private college to award its own degrees". BBC News. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  2. Morgan, John (8 January 2015). Private providers create 'Russell Group of the alternative sector'". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Regent's College". The Independent. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. "Degree powers for Regent's College welcomed by Willetts". Times Higher Education. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  5. "Regent's College snaps up for-profit provider". Times Higher Education. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  6. "Regent's College given green light on university title". Times Higher Education. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Report and consolidated financial statements - 31 July 2011" (PDF). Regent's College London. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Report and Consolidated Financial Statements" (PDF). Regent's University London. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "London College Steps Up to University Level". The New York Times. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Regent's Business School London guide". The Telegraph. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  11. "Bhutan king to wed Sanawar girl". Times of India. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
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