London is a major global educational centre, with one of the largest populations of overseas students of any city in the world.
The federal University of London hase over 120,000 students, and it is the largest contact teaching university in the United Kingdom (smaller only than the distance-education Open University) and one of the largest Universities in Europe. And there are other universities not part of the University of London, most of which were polytechnics until UK polytechnics.
There are also a number of colleges in London which provide education leading to degrees validated by universities, but which are not actual universities themselves. Some of these colleges are private institutions very similar to actual universities, such as European Business School, London School of Business and Management and Regent’s College.
Education and research
Imperial College London, King’s College London, LSE and UCL are important centres of at least same level with MIT, Berkeley, Princeton, Yale and other US universities in terms of international reputation.
Almost of the leading British learned societies are based in London. The Royal Institution is a historic and important repository and proponent of the acquisition of scientific knowledge through research and study.
Further education
London also has many further education colleges funded by the Learning and Skills Council. Traditionally these were clearly separated from the higher education system, and offered vocational education below university level, but this distinction is breaking down and many further education colleges now offer university level courses validated by a local university and prepare students for university entrance, as well as providing vocational courses.
Arts education
London is Britain””s leading centre for arts education. London’s four music conservatories are the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Other drama schools include Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (“RADA”), and the Central School of Speech and Drama. Art & Design schools include Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts, Wimbledon School of Art and London College of Communication and London College of Fashion (all part of the University of the Arts London), and Goldsmiths College, University of London and the Slade School of Art (both part of the University of London), and the Royal College of Art. The former Hornsey College of Art is now part of Middlesex University. The University of East London has an Institute for Performing Arts Development – IPAD.
Medical education
London is an important centre of medical education. The city””s medical schools are attached to the leading hospitals and some of them are several centuries old. The number of schools has been reduced to five by a recent series of mergers:
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
- King””s College London School of Medicine and Dentistry (formerly Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas”” School of Medicine)
- Imperial College School of Medicine
- University College London Medical School
- St George’s Hospital Medical School
Schools
Public schools in Greater London include Harrow, City of London School, University College School, Westminster, Highgate School, St Paul’s School and The American School in London.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.
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