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
Established 1984
Type Private (Registered charity)
Chancellor Prof. John Drew
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Aldwyn Cooper
Academic staff
 257
Administrative staff
 304
Students 3,418 FT
Location Regent's Park, London, United Kingdom
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. It is one of four 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 is the most international of all universities in the UK 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. Through its programmes Regent's has a focused international-outreach initiative.

Regent's University London 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 one of eight members of the newly formed Independent Universities Group, whose objective is to differentiate their academic credentials from the more commercial elements of the alternative sector.

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.[2]

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.[2]

In July 2012 it was announced that Regent's College had been awarded taught degree-awarding powers (TDAP) by the Privy Council, and would have the power to grant its own degrees from 1 September 2012.[3]

In February 2013 Regent's College agreed to acquire American InterContinental University London from Career Education Corporation.[4]

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.[5]

Organisation and administration

Governance

Regent's University London is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital.[6] 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.[6]

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the stewardship of the charity's assets, strategic decision-making and ensuring compliance with charitable objectives.[6] Day-to-day operational management is delegated to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior management employees.[6]

Finances

In the financial year ended 31 July 2014, Regent's University London had a total income of £53.17 million (20012/13 – £48.196 million) and total expenditure of £55.659 million (2012/13 – £46.466 million).[7] 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).[7] 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 2012/13 over 150 students received bursaries and scholarships ranging from a 25% discount in tuition fees to full fee waivers. Scholarship awards at Regent's University London are based on merit, for which anyone can apply. The accounts ending 31 July 2014 show that £1.459 million were paid out versus £0.85 million the previous year.

Strategy

Regent's University London will tackle growth through four core elements: organic growth, growth by acquisition, development of an internationlisation strategy, and to a lesser degree development of a federal model. Student number is anticipated to reach 6,000 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) by 2020 by which time it hopes to be the leading private 'not for profit' university in Europe.

It is quoted in The New York Times (20th Jan 2013) that the University has ambitions to open campuses in Hong Kong, Eastern Europe and South America, and to acquire a design school as well as a law school.

As of 13 October 2014 Regent's University London appears in a list of higher education institutions maintained by the Chinese Education Department, which makes recruitment of mainland Chinese students easier.

Staff

Regent's University London had an average of 561 full-time equivalent staff during the year ended 31 July 2014 (509 in 2013), of whom 257 were academic staff and 304 were management and administration staff.[7]

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.[8] Undergraduate fees are currently about £15,000 per annum.[8] The University has a student-faculty ratio of 13 to 1,[8] and it is therefore able to provide small tutorial style classes in which students have at least twenty hours of contact a week with academic staff. In all the programmes that are on offer one of the key focus of the University is the employability of its graduates.

Applications can be made either on-line direct to the University or through UCAS, and from 2015 also via the Common Application. For some programmes there is a September and a January in-take every year.

The University was granted taught degree awarding powers (TDAP) in 2012. Institutions that have degree-awarding powers in the UK are known as "recognized bodies" of which there are over 150. By 2020 Regent's University London intends to have gained American degree awarding powers and will offer both English and American degree programmes, many of which will be dual validated. RUL is also working towards gaining research-degree awarding powers, which are anticipated by 2025.

Student life

Regent's University London currently has around 3,500 full-time students.[8]

Student Union

The Regent's University Student Union organises a range of clubs and societies, including Film Production, Finance and Investment, Model United Nations and Scandinavian.[9] The Union also organises the Students in Free Enterprise initiative.[9]

Sports

Sports facilities at the Regent's University London campus include a gym and fitness studio and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts.[9] In 2014, the Gym on campus was closed down, students now use off campus gyms for student fee

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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Regent's College". The Independent. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Degree powers for Regent's College welcomed by Willetts". Times Higher Education. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Regent's College snaps up for-profit provider". Times Higher Education. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Regent’s College given green light on university title". Times Higher Education. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Report and consolidated financial statements - 31 July 2011" (PDF). Regent's College London. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Report and Consolidated Financial Statements" (PDF). Regent's University London. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "London College Steps Up to University Level". The New York Times. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Regent's Business School London guide". The Telegraph. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Bhutan king to wed Sanawar girl". Times of India. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

External links