The former City, University of London has merged with its fellow London institution, the healthcare specialist St George’s, to form a new institution — City St George’s — from summer 2024. For now, the two universities will operate “dual running” until full integration is achieved — which is why we are continuing to list them separately in the Good University Guide. Current and prospective students are members of City St George’s, University of London, from the start. Students here have their eye on the prize: developing a career will remain central to the experience.

City was founded more than 125 years ago and joined the University of London in 2016, bringing a longstanding commitment to business and the professions. Its union with St George’s will produce a multi-faculty “health powerhouse” intended to bring “significant advantages in terms of scale, reach, capability, and resilience” and to become a significant supplier of London’s health workforce. 

What is City, University of London’s reputation? 

Academic life is structured around six schools: policy and global affairs; communication and creativity; health and psychological sciences; science and technology; Bayes Business School; and the City Law School. The MBA from Bayes — formerly Cass Business School — was ranked seventh in the UK by the Financial Times in 2024, and attracts high-profile visiting lecturers. The university opened the UK’s largest augmented reality/virtual reality design learning centre in 2023 in a partnership with the ARuVR Extended Reality (XR) training platform. The technology is available for engineering, computer science and applied mathematics students.

Impressive results for City in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) paved the way to 37th place in our research quality rating, up 14 places year-on-year. Overall, 86 per cent of the university’s submissions within 13 subject areas were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent — a marked improvement on its performance in the previous REF 2014. 

In a remarkable turnaround for student satisfaction, City has leapt from 116= in our previous edition to 37th for the wider undergraduate experience, according to our analysis of the National Student Survey. Such results are unusual among the constituent parts of the University of London, which tend to fare less well than campus-based institutions, and perhaps reflects City’s recent investments in student-facing resources. Satisfaction with teaching quality has risen 24 places but remains outside the top 100 (102nd). 

City garnered a range of ratings in Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023): silver overall, underpinned by bronze for the student experience and gold for student outcomes. The panel commended the university’s “tailored approaches that are highly effective in ensuring students succeed in and progress beyond their studies” as “outstanding”. The rates of successful progression for City students – “particularly those from underrepresented groups – and courses” gained the same level of praise.  

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

New for 2024 are degrees in business analytics (with or without finance); music performance with production; media and communications; media production; and communication, PR and advertising. From 2025 mathematics with business joins the curriculum.

There are no degrees closing in 2024 or 2025.

City’s portfolio of degree apprenticeships had about 350 students on programmes within business and administration, digital, law and health. The university has introduced degree apprenticeships in creative leadership, enhanced clinical practice, and health science practice from September 2024 – which should bring the number of trainees on courses to about 800 by September 2025.

What are City, University of London’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Degrees expect applicants to achieve from CDD up to AAA, although entry to foundation courses is lower. Applicants who are eligible for a contextual offer may have their requirements undercut by one or two A-level grades. New student enrolments are the highest to date, with almost 5,500 new undergraduates accepted onto courses – around a quarter of them through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

One of City’s strongest performances is its graduate outcomes, for which it ranks 45th for the proportion of leavers in high-skilled jobs or on postgraduate courses 15 months after finishing their degrees. The Career Activation Programme means all students undertake an embedded placement module as part of their degree. Micro-placements, industry projects, summer internships and social action tasks are among the professional experience options. The university’s mentoring service connects students with experienced industry professionals.

What is City, University of London’s campus like?

The university has invested more than £140 million in developing its sites since 2012. Most of it has gone on improvements to the main campus in Clerkenwell where resources include a 240-seat lecture theatre, students’ union facilities, a cafeteria and multifaith area. New for autumn 2024 is the £10 million Student Gateway Project that has upgraded student-facing support services including IT, health and wellbeing, and careers.

The City Law School’s new home at Northampton Square features a technology-led mock courtroom, law library and a legal advice clinic. Elsewhere, journalism students have access to a dedicated learning space, modelled on a broadcast newsroom designed for multiple channels, and with radio studios and digital newsrooms.

The revamp of the Bayes Business School — recognised as a Centre of Actuarial Excellence — on Bunhill Row followed the refurbishment of the school’s newest building on Finsbury Square in the heart of the City of London, where contemporary educational and social spaces occupy seven floors. 

Broadening the subject reach, Urdang, the performing arts and musical theatre school, joined City in 2022. Based in the Old Finsbury Town Hall, near Sadler’s Wells in Clerkenwell, Urdang is part of the Department of Performing Arts alongside City’s established music programmes.

Everything you need to know about City, University of London’s student life and wellbeing support

Some of London’s most fashionable and fun neighbourhoods surround the university, from Old Street, Islington, Clerkenwell and beyond. Dedicated facilities for performing arts span recording studios, performance space and dance studios add to the university’s cultural life.

Students get discounted access to the CitySport gym in Islington, which has more than 120 stations, a Sport England-standard sports hall and five studios used for dance, yoga, spin and more.  

Within City’s health and wellbeing services are practical, emotional and specialist disability support delivered by professionally trained counsellors, advisers and tutors. Students can access guidance, workshops, counselling and referrals to external services. They also have use of the Togetherall mental health self-help app and a sensory room.

What do the students say?

“Learning isn't just confined to lecture halls; it is an experience that blends academics with business, practice and the professions. Our hackathons fuel innovation and creativity, while our tailored career support ensures you're ready to conquer the professional world.”
Akanksha Kumar, students' union president and business management with marketing graduate

What about student accommodation at City, University of London?

There are 1,136 rooms in university-endorsed halls and first-years are guaranteed a spot as long as they accept an offer and get their housing application in before June 30. The university subsidises rents but it’s London so be prepared to spend between £195 and £295 a week.

How diverse and inclusive is City, University of London?

City is the second-most ethnically diverse university in our analysis, and overall one of the more socially inclusive institutions within the University of London, placing 73=, rising seven places year-on-year. The university launched an Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusion in 2023. Outreach activities include tutoring and mentoring programmes for students from underrepresented groups.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at City, University of London

The Bayes Undergraduate Scholarship for Black British students is a means-tested award that covers home-level tuition fees, pays a £6,000 annual stipend for three years of study and includes mentoring support from second or third-year students — for ten Bayes scholars per year. The City Education Grant is a bursary of £1,500 per academic year for those from households with zero income, as assessed by Student Finance England.