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.
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.