City University London was originally founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute to provide for the education and welfare of the local population. There were six departments in the 1890s focusing on Engineering, Physics, Electronics and Chemistry. The Institute was awarded full university status in 1966 and adopted 'The City University' as its name.

Because of its traditional links with the City of London and the active role it has always played in the business and professional life of the capital, the University continues to use the name 'City University London' as its official title. Today, as a modern academic body and research centre, the University also takes pride in its close contacts with other leading professional institutions, both academic and commercial, throughout the world. These professional links are reflected in the high academic standing and professional qualifications of their teaching and research staff.

The success of City University London is demonstrated by their graduate employment record, which is one of the best in the country. That is one of the reasons why it is the sixth most popular university in the UK for student applications and an attractive choice for people coming from abroad: of almost 10,000 City University London students, more than 40 per cent are international, the majority of these from outside the European Union.

Research plays an integral role in the activities of the University: one of the principal aims is to carry out high quality research that influences strategy, policy and practice. In particular, City staff conduct research in the fields of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Computer Design, Community and Health Sciences and Business. The quality of this research is reflected in the excellent results achieved in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). At both the undergraduate and graduate level, the University offers substantial expertise in: Health, Business, Law, Mathematics, Engineering, Informatics, Social Sciences and Cultural Studies.

Today City University London remains committed to its core values: the pursuit of innovative excellence, serving the needs of its community and stakeholders, and contributing to practice and policy in the world outside the university. For more information visit: http://city.ac.uk/