University of West London

HISTORY

The University of West London (UWL) is a public university in the United Kingdom which has campuses in Ealing and Brentford in London, as well as in Reading in Berkshire.

The university has roots back to 1860, when the Lady Byron School was founded, which later became Ealing College of Higher Education. In 1990, Ealing College of Higher Education, Thames Valley College of Higher Education, Queen Charlotte’s College of Health Care Studies and the London College of Music merged to form the Polytechnic of West London. In 1992, the Polytechnic of West London became a university and adopted the name Thames Valley University. In 2004, Thames Valley merged with Reading College and School of Arts and Design. A former campus in Slough was closed in 2010.

In August 2010, the university announced that it had been granted permission to change its name to the University of West London, to reflect a focusing of operations onto its Ealing and Brentford campuses. The new name was formally adopted on Wednesday 6 April 2011.

In 1990, Ealing College of Higher Education, Thames Valley College of Higher Education, Queen Charlotte’s College of Health Care Studies and the London College of Music were merged to become the Polytechnic of West London. Two years later, the polytechnic became a university under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, and adopted the name Thames Valley University.

In 2004, the university merged with Reading College and School of Arts and Design (which had been founded in 1947 as Reading Technical College). Reading College’s sites at Kings Road and Crescent Road became TVU sites.

In 2009, the university decided to divest itself of its further education courses, together with its Kings Road site, that it had inherited from the Reading College and School of Arts and Design.

In August 2010, it was announced that the university would change its name to the University of West London, with the Privy Council subsequently granting permission for the change. The university unveiled a new logo in April 2011. Vice-Chancellor Peter John stated that the changes reflected the university’s development since 1992 and new focus on its Brentford and Ealing campuses.

COURSES

The University of West London comprises eight schools. These are:

• Claude Littner Business School
• London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism
• School of Computing and Engineering
• London College of Music
• College of Nursing, midwifery and Healthcare
• School of Law and Criminology
• School of Human and Social Sciences
• London School of Film, Media and Design

The Graduate School (based in Ealing) co-ordinates and provides support to research activities and research degree courses. The University offers traditional Phd programmes and Professional Doctorates.

The university also works with the Met Film School, a private film school that is based at Ealing Studios in London, United Kingdom. The school, which launched in 2003, offers two and three year Bachelors programs as well as various master’s degree programs, which are accredited through the University of West London.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Average entry requirements range between 112 UCAS tariff points (A level BBC, BTEC DMM) and 128 UCAS points (A level ABB, BTEC DDM).

They welcome applicants with vocational qualifications, and mature applicants.

The university’s primary concern when considering an application is that the candidate demonstrates potential to succeed on their chosen course.

Entry requirements differ for each course and candidates are advised to visit course pages on their website for full details.

ACADEMIC STRENGTHS

96% of their graduates are in employment within 6 months of graduation. UWL is the top modern university in London for the employment of graduates and outperformed the employability rates of all Russell Group institutions.

The London College of Music (London’s first all Steinway school) and the London School of Film, Media and Design deliver excellence in the Creative Industries; the Claude Littner Business School capitalises upon the unique business environment of West London to provide contemporary insights into business, management & finance.

The College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, and School of Human and Social Sciences combine practical experience and research with teaching excellence to provide skilled health practitioners.

The London College of Hospitality and Tourism supports the dynamic growth of the hospitality and tourism sector in London specifically in airline and airport management, events, hospitality management and culinary arts.

Ealing Law School has a distinct focus on law in action, a mock court room, and encourages students to get involved in the provision of legal advice to the local community.

The School of Computing and Engineering provides world-class education and research in the fields of computing, built environment and engineering.

TEACHING STANDARDS

In 2011 the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) audit reported confidence in the university’s management of academic standards and the quality of the learning opportunities for its students. The QAA also identified UWL’s promotion of employer engagement and employability across the curriculum as a features of good practice.

In 2012 the university was awarded the QAA Quality Watermark for all its courses.

The university has a range of courses accredited by professional bodies, for example the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) review reported all categories as good. All recent accreditation visits have been successful, with numerous examples of good practice cited, for example the engagement of students positively in their learning and placement activities.

Recent QAA reviews of university academic partners have all produced positive outcomes, and the university’s role in fostering good partnership relations has been cited as a feature of good practice.

The most recent Ofsted report for FE provision in 2014 rated the university as ‘Outstanding’, both as an overall judgement, and in every category of the inspection.

The university’s NSS scores have shown an overall incremental improvement in a number of areas, based on a strengthened student vote.

60% of the university’s academic staff are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

CAREERS GUIDANCE

The students will have access to comprehensive careers information, advice and guidance from the careers service. Students can receive direct notifications from the Employment Service team regarding the latest part-time vacancies, tailored to their interests and subject areas.

Their Placements Service offers students placement opportunities (internal and external to the University of West London) and support with securing a placement and the volunteering team has a great range of volunteering opportunities that the student can fit into a busy schedule.