Key Facts

University of London External system

The University of London has played an historic and pioneering role in extending university education to all regardless of race, religion, gender or country of residence.

The University of London was the first university in the world to offer distance learning degrees – more than a century before the open universities were founded – through its External System established in 1858.
Now one of the oldest and most reputable distance learning providers in the world, the University of London External System has a truly international character with more than 40,000 students in over 180 countries worldwide
Ranging from education to management, and from law to philosophy, it offers over 100 qualifications to suit all interests.
As a family of world-class institutions the University has a reputation of academic distinction in the UK and internationally.
University of London academics are responsible for the academic direction of all our distance learning programmes.
Whatever you study, you’re examined to the same high standard as students attending one of the University of London’s Colleges.
Exams are held in approved centres in over 150 countries worldwide.
You can choose to study independently, at a pace that suits you, or opt to pay for additional educational support at a local institution – and benefit from the face-to-face support this offers.
In 2005, the External System was audited by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), the UK’s independent body for safeguarding the quality and standards of Higher Education. The QAA confirmed that confidence can be placed in the University’s management of the quality of programmes and of the standards of awards made through the External System.
Famous distance learning students include Nelson Mandela, who studied law during his incarceration on Robben Island. Our oldest graduate was Bernard Herzberg, who gained his BA German degree in 2000 at the age of 91.