Colleges Within Universities in The United Kingdom

Colleges Within Universities In The United Kingdom

A number of universities in the United Kingdom are composed of colleges. These can be divided into three broad categories. In the case of the 18 constituent colleges of the federal University of London, the colleges operate largely as self-governing universities, with teaching and research activities and control over their over finances and admissions, and some have their own degree awarding powers. In the case of Durham University, the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, the constituent colleges have the legal status of 'listed bodies' and have some academic activities but are primarily centres of student life. In the case of Lancaster University, the University of Kent and the University of York, colleges are primarily residence halls.

In the past, many of what are now British universities with their own degree-awarding powers were colleges which had their degrees awarded by either a federal university (such as Cardiff University) or another university (for example many of the post-1992 universities).