Victorian London - Education - Universities -University of London

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, SOMERSET HOUSE. A government institution, established 1837, for conferring degrees, after careful examinations, on the graduates of University College, London; King's College, London; Stepney College, Highbury College, Homerton College, &c.

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

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University of London.-- Originally incorporated by Royal Charter in the first year of the reign of her present Majesty. The original charter conferred upon the governing body the power after examination to confer the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Doctor of Laws, Bachelor of Medicine, and Doctor of Medicine. In the 13th Victoria their powers were enlarged. Further letters patent were issued in the 21st Victoria giving the governing body tower to confer the degrees of Bachelor, Master, and Doctor in Arts, Laws, Science, Medicine, Music, and also in such other departments of knowledge, except theology, as the governing body should from time to time determine. In 1863 the present charter was granted with a view to “ascertaining by means of examination the persons who have acquired proficiency in literature, science, arts, and other departments of knowledge by the pursuit of such course of education, and of rewarding them by academical degrees and certificates of proficiency as evidence of their respective attainments and marks of honour proportioned there-unto,” Provision is also made by the present charter for granting the additional degrees of “Master in Surgery, and for the improvement of medical education in all its branches, as well in medicine as in surgery, midwifery and pharmacy.” Provision is further made for the granting the degrees of Bachelor and Doctor in Music. A supplemental charter of 27th August, 1868, gave the governing body the power to hold special examinations for women being candidates for certain certificates of proficiency, and to grant such certificates. These powers were further extended by another supplemental charter, dated March 4, 1878, under which the governing body has power after examination to grant to women any degrees or certificates of proficiency which they have the power to grant to men. Women, however, are not in all respects on an equality with men, inasmuch as it is provided that “no female graduate of the said University shall be a member of the Convocation of the said University, unless and until such Convocation shall have passed a resolution that female graduates be admitted to Convocation.” The governing body consists of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, 36 Fellows, and graduates.
There are two examination for matriculation in each year, one commencing on the second Monday in January, and the other on the last Monday in June. In and after the year 1880 the summer examination will commence on the third Monday in June. Candidates must have completed their sixteenth year. These examinations may be held not only at the University of London, but also, under special arrangement, in other parts of the United Kingdom, or in the Colonies. Candidates for any degree granted by this University (with the exception of such as have graduated in arts either in the University of Sydney or in that of Melbourne) are required to have passed the matriculation examination. This examination is accepted (1) by the College of Surgeons in lieu of the preliminary examination otherwise imposed on candidates for its fellowship (2) by the Incorporated Law Society, in lieu of its preliminary examination. It is also among those examinations of which some one must be passed (1) by every medical student on commencing his professional studies; and (2) by every person entering upon articles of clerkship to an attorney —any such person matriculating in the first division being entitled to exemption from one year’s service. If in the opinion of the examiners any candidates for matriculation in the honours division of not more than an years of age at the commencement of the examination shall possess sufficient merit, the first among such candidates shall receive an exhibition of £30 per annum for the next two years; the second shall receive an exhibition of £20 per annum for the next two years; and the third shall receive an exhibition of £15 per annum for the next two years; such exhibitions to be payable in quarterly instalments, provided that on receiving each instalment the exhibitioner shall declare his intention of presenting himself either at the two examinations for BA., or at the two examinations for B.Sc., or at the first LLB. examination, or at the preliminary scientific and first M. B. examinations, within three academical years from the tune of his passing the matriculation examination. There are also minor prizes.
The Gilchrist Scholarships are awarded as follows:
1.—BRITISH SCHOLARSHIPS.
(a) For Male Candidates.— £50 per annum for three years to the candidate from the Royal Medical College, Epsom, who at the June matriculation examination stands highest among the candidates approved by the head master, and who passes either in honours or in the first division. A similar amount to the highest candidate at the same examination from Owens College, Manchester, provided he pass in honours. Should no candidate so pass, two scholarships of £25 per annum each are awarded to the two candidates from that college who shall stand highest in the first division.
(b) For Female Candidates.— An exhibition of £30, and one of £20, tenable for two years, will be awarded to the two female candidates who pass highest in the honours division; and two further exhibitions—one of £40 and the other of £30 per annum, tenable for two years—will be awarded to the two female candidates who pass highest at the first B.A. examination. A gold medal (or books) of the value of £20 will be awarded In the female candidate who passes highest in the second B.A. examination, provided she obtain not less than two-thirds of the total number of marks.
II. INDIAN SCHOLARSHIPS.
Two scholarships, each of the value of £100 per annum, and tenable for four years, are annually awarded to the two candidates who pass highest in the matriculation examination carried on at the three presidential capitals; provided that such candidates pass either in the honours or in the first division.
III. COLONIAL SCHOLARSHIPS.
a. A scholarship of £100 per annum, and tenable for three years, is annually awarded to the highest among those candidates at the matriculation examination carried on in the Dominion of Canada, who pass either in the honours or in the first division.
2. A similar scholarship, under the same conditions, is annually awarded to the candidate who
passes the highest at the matriculation examination carried on in the West India Colonies.
3. A similar scholarship, under the same conditions, is biennially awarded to the candidate who passes highest at the matriculation examination carried on in Hobart Town, Tasmania.
4. A scholarship of £100 per annum, tenable for three years, is annually awarded to the Bachelor of Arts of one of the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne (alternately) who may be nominated by the authorities of those universities. All these scholarships are given on the understanding that the candidate is desirous of prosecuting his or her studies at certain universities or collegiate institutions. Further information respecting them may be obtained on application to the secretary to the Gilchrist Educational Trust, University of London, Burlington-gardens W
The West Scholarship of the value of £30, tenable for one year, is awarded by the Council of University College, London, to that candidate at the June matriculation examination who distinguishes himself the most in English. Particulars may be had of the secretary at the College, Gower-street.
The above information has been given in detail as being useful to intending matriculating students. It is unnecessary to give in this place the very long list of exhibitions and prizes which are open to matriculated students who distinguish themselves in the further examination for honours in the various degrees. All further information may be obtained from and all communications should be addressed to, “The Registrar of the University of London, W.”
EXAMINATIONS IN 1879-80.
The following are the dates at which the several examination in the University of London for the year 1879-80 will commence:
MATRICULATION. — Monday January 13, and Monday, June 30, 1879 and Monday, January 12, 1880.
BACHELOR OF ARTS. — First B.A., Monday, July 21; Second B.A., Monday, October 27.
MASTER OF ARTS.—Branch I., Monday, June 2; Branch II., Monday, June 0; Branch III, Monday, June 16.
DOCTOR OF LITERATURE.— First D.Lit., Monday, June 2; Second D.Lit., Tuesday, December 2.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMINATIONS.— Tuesday, November 25.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE—First B.Sc, Monday, July 21; Second B.Sc., Monday, October 20.
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE.—Within the first twenty-one days of June.
BACHELOR OF LAWS. — Firs LL.B. and Second LLB, Monday January 6, 1879, and within the first fourteen days of January, 1880.
DOCTOR OF LAWS.—Thursday January 16, 1879, and in the week following the LL.B. Pass Examinations in January, 1880.
BACHELOR OF MEDICINE.— Preliminary Scientific, Monday July 21 First M.B., Monday July 28; Second M.B., Monday, November 3.
BACHELOR OF SURGERY. —Tuesday, November 25.
MASTER IN SURGERY.—Monday, November 24.
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE.—Monday, November 24.
SUBJECTS RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH.—Monday, December 8
BACHELOR OF MUSIC —First B. Mus., Monday, December 8; Second B. Mus., Monday, December 15.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

 'The London University Building, Burlington Gardens', The Graphic, 1870

LONDON UNIVERSITY ... BURLINGTON GARDENS. This building is one of the finest and most original modern edifices in London; completed in 1869 from designs by Pennethorne. The Library is rich in works of science and classical literature.

Reynolds' Shilling Coloured Map of London, 1895

Victorian London - Publications - History - The Queen's London : a Pictorial and Descriptive Record of the Streets, Buildings, Parks and Scenery of the Great Metropolis, 1896 - London University

London University - photograph

LONDON UNIVERSITY.

London University faces Burlington Gardens, and lies at the back of the Royal Academy. Although founded in 1836, the University had no habitation of its own until the erection thirty-three years later of the present building, after designs by Pennethorne. The façade of this Renaissance structure is very striking, and the statues with which it is decorated are noteworthy. The figures over the portico are those of Milton, Newton, Harvey, and Bentham, representing the faculties of arts, science, medicine, and law, in which the University grants degrees. The rest of the statues in the series are counterfeit presentments of other great men of various nationalities, from the time of Plato to that of Sir Humphry Davy. Inside the building are a large theatre and many spacious rooms.