The University of West London (UWL) is a model of reinvention in the higher education sector, having transformed from the former Thames Valley University (which finished bottom of our league table in 2001) into today’s top-60 institution (top 50 last year). Its success is secured by a knack for finding out what makes students tick — demonstrated by consistently elevated results in successive National Student Surveys (NSS). UWL ranks 13th for satisfaction with teaching quality and 12th for positive feedback about the wider undergraduate experience in our latest NSS analysis. It was first for both in our previous edition.
An inclusive approach to admissions starts a supportive journey through university for UWL students. During the selection process, non-academic experience is given weight as well as exam results and widening participation is ingrained at the university. UWL recruits the sixth-highest proportion of mature students in England and Wales, representing three-quarters of the intake in 2023.
A new initiative — the MyUWL App — gives students access to their timetable and room-by-room campus navigation. The university has a burgeoning research profile on which UWL hopes to build under an ambitious five-year strategy, Impact 2028. The new School of Medicine and Biosciences, opened in April 2024, is taking a research-led approach to teaching while the Digital Futures Lab, established the same month, is introducing a number of esports degrees. UWL and its antecedent institutions have their share of high-profile alumni — including the politician James Cleverly and musicians Freddie Mercury and Pete Townshend. The Who co-founder has gifted the university music synthesizers and instruments, which will be housed in the Townshend Studio, opening on the Ealing campus in October 2024 with a talk from the rock legend himself.
What is the University of West London’s reputation?
In its earliest years, the campus housed the Lady Byron School from 1860. By 1928 it was known as Ealing Technical College and School of Art, and in 1975 became the Ealing College of Higher Education. University status came in 1992.
UWL’s strong record on rates of student satisfaction has twice made it our University of the Year for Student Experience. High staffing levels are another standout feature (and probably help to maintain student satisfaction). UWL’s student-to-staff ratio of 12.9:1 puts it in the top ten.
Assessors from the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) rated the university silver overall. Their report commended “outstanding teaching, feedback and assessment practices that are highly effective and tailored to support students’ learning, progression and attainment”. The TEF panel awarded UWL gold for the student experience but only bronze for student outcomes. Our analysis also shows the university ranks 110= for its continuation rate (88.2 per cent). However, the TEF report highlighted “educational gains that are relevant to students’ ambitions, and consistent with the institution’s goals as an engine for social mobility”.
The university has been investing in research, creating more than 20 research centres including the Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up and the Institute for Policing Studies, which draws on UWL’s experience in police training and aims to help shape the future of policing worldwide. The newest centre, opened in the summer of 2024, is the Hellenic Institute of Maritime Studies, a partnership with the Business College of Athens. It will offer programmes in shipping business, finance, marine engineering, logistics and supply chain management, and maritime cybersecurity, logistics and law, and will co-ordinate research on areas such as decarbonisation and marine policy.
UWL reached our top 100 for research in our previous edition and remains 93rd, based on the results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) in which nearly 80 per cent of its submission was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses have been added?
No courses are listed for withdrawal. New for 2024 are degrees in contemporary theatre and performance; interior architecture; early childhood studies; sociology; business studies (top-up); fashion: design and accessories; esports management with event production; AI (with foundation); and a foundation degree in coaching for eplayers. Launching in 2025 are degrees in esports and livestreaming; sports management; data science; business analytics; social sciences; sports psychology; and sports and exercise science.
What are the University of West London’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?
Degree courses demand from 96 to 120 Ucas tariff points (CCC to BBB at A-level). Foundation years have lower requirements. Applications are welcome from those who meet the entrance criteria through experience rather than academic qualifications.
What are the graduate prospects?
An employer-led curriculum and career-focused activities are central to UWL’s employability drive. In our graduate prospects index, UWL has risen six places year-on-year but is still outside our top 100 at 103=. The latest figures show that 69.4 per cent of graduates were in high-skilled jobs or further study 15 months on from finishing their degree.
What is the University of West London’s campus like?
As well as campuses in Ealing and Brentford, UWL has the Berkshire Institute for Health in Reading, a base for nursing and midwifery students in the city centre.
The two west London sites are linked by a free shuttle bus. An extension at Ealing now offers more social space as well as housing the Institute of Policing. Campus developments have incorporated sustainable building methods and UWL’s environmental efforts have earned it 13th place in the latest People & Planet university league. Specialist learning facilities at UWL are designed to prepare graduates for the world of work: they include a Boeing 737 flight simulator with commercial airline software and a flight management system. The university also has a mock courtroom at Ealing and a wide-ranging hospital simulation centre at Brentford in the landmark high-rise Paragon building.
Everything you need to know about student life and wellbeing support
The university’s £13.8 million leisure centre in Gunnersbury Park is one of London’s largest outdoor sports facilities. In addition to eight tennis courts, two floodlit pitches for all weather and ten grass pitches for football, rugby and cricket, the centre has a gym and group exercise rooms. The Freddies social space has been newly refurbished for a packed schedule of events including live bands on Tuesday’s from UWL’s own London College of Music.
Students can find support for their mental wellbeing whether they are in crisis or have long-term needs. UWL’s counselling service has no waiting list: students are able to speak to a counsellor, often within 24 hours of registering for the service.
What do the students say?
“Our students’ union is renowned for its dedication to student voice, and hundreds of students work as course reps and school reps to collect feedback. As an international student, it was incredibly helpful to have the UWLSU Advice Service help me. We regularly put on free wellbeing activities and cultural events that help students to really enjoy uni life.”
Yash Arora, VP activities, psychology conversion master’s graduate
What about student accommodation?
There are 826 spaces in halls — but most students live nearby and commute.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of West London?
More than half of the intake are the first in their immediate families to go to university (ranking UWL 23rd) and 41.5 per cent of students are from black or ethnic minority backgrounds (37th). UWL’s black awarding gap (minus 11.4) is in the top 20. Overall, UWL is 32nd in our social inclusion index, a big drop from sixth in our previous edition, due largely to UWL’s relatively low record on recruitment and retention of students from deprived areas (78th and 72nd), and of white working-class male students (101=).
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries
The university invests more than £3 million a year to fund bursaries, scholarships and targeted student support designed to promote access to education and to encourage students to fulfil their potential. About half of full-time undergraduates qualify for financial assistance such as the UWL Aspire Bursary of £100 for books and £1,000-a-year undergraduate bursaries for those from low-income households.
