London Met was created by the 2002 union of London Guildhall University and the University of North London, the first merger between two UK universities. It has never placed higher than 100th in our main academic table, but the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) recognised the glowing evaluations of London Met students with a gold rating for the student experience, underpinning a silver award overall (up from bronze in the previous assessment six years before). The panel credited the university’s course content and delivery with inspiring students “to actively engage in and commit to their learning, and stretch students to develop knowledge and skills to their fullest potential.”

What is London Metropolitan University’s reputation?

A commitment to higher education prevails at London Met, where mature students account for three-quarters of undergraduates. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) it placed 90th in our research quality index, with 60 per cent of its research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent. Maths produced the best result.

However, completion rates are an issue, with only 79.1 per cent of students projected to finish their degrees. The university was awarded bronze for the student outcomes aspect of the TEF assessment, and the Office for Students (OFS) has since issued London Met with an improvement notice, highlighting that it has failed to meet its standards on student outcomes. Responding, Lynn Dobbs, London Met’s outgoing vice-chancellor, criticised the data used in the OfS benchmarks for being too old and not contextualised. London Met said that despite cost-of-living challenges, it is confident that continued investment in teaching and learning and in student services will have a positive impact on future metrics. 

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

In September 2024 it launched three degrees: architectural technology; physiotherapy, and real estate, and closed its top-up degree in public health and health promotion and its undergraduate programme in youth work (with Joint Negotiating Committee recognition). 

What are London Metropolitan University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

If applicants fall short on their first choice of course, London Met will consider an application for an alternative one. 

What are the graduate prospects?

London Met is on a mission to grow talent to create local jobs. The first nursing students began in September 2023 after a £5.8 million boost from the Office for Students. A BSc in adult nursing has been introduced and the university has ambitions to expand this and provide 1,500 healthcare workers by 2028. New undergraduates have started courses in construction project management, building surveying and real estate to fill skills gaps in the property and construction sectors. 

A Careers Education Framework has been set up to enhance employability, enabling students to find a work placement. Its Empowering London: Working Within the Community module is an innovation that enables students to work with a community project or organisation to address a challenge.  

The fresh crop of professionally focused degrees may help to continue the university’s upward trajectory in our graduate prospects table (121st, up three places year-on-year after a five-place rise in our previous edition). However, it remains in the bottom ten, with 63.4 per cent of graduates in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months. 

What is the London Metropolitan University’s campus like?

Most of London Met life takes place at the university’s largest campus, on Holloway Road in north London, where the angular, steel-clad graduate centre designed by Daniel Libeskind is a standout feature. Holloway Road also hosts the Science Centre’s superlab, one of the largest teaching laboratories in Europe. The School of Art, Architecture and Design is four miles east in Aldgate, while Accelerator (a business start-up hub) is in Shoreditch, on the capital’s tech doorstep. Over the next decade the university plans to spend £180 million on modernising and digitising its facilities. It has already opened a new skills and simulation suite for nursing and allied health students at the Holloway Road campus. It features an immersive virtual reality room, clinical consultation rooms, general and paediatrics wards and community settings.

Everything you need to know about London Metropolitan University’s student life and wellbeing support

London Met aims to ensure that more than 90 per cent of students stick with their course, and offers emotional and practical solutions online and face-to-face including counselling, help with disabilities and dyslexia, and a hardship fund. Gym membership is free and comes with access to modern equipment in the sports centre on Holloway Road and unlimited exercise classes at Aldgate.

What do the students say?

“We are dedicated to building a vibrant community that enables you to not only live but truly thrive.”
Awesome Olasope, student governor, students’ union president, and data analytics master’s graduate

What about student accommodation at London Metropolitan University?

Most London Met students live at home and commute to their studies. The university does not own halls of residence, but its website points students towards private halls with affordable rooms, if needed.

How diverse and inclusive is London Metropolitan University?

Two pro vice-chancellors for student experience — professors Nona McDuff and Marcia Wilson — were appointed in 2023 to continue London Met’s drive to make its courses fairer and more diverse. The university’s Centre for Equity and Inclusion drives its overarching aim of putting social justice into action across its activities.

Almost all London Met students went to non-selective state schools (97.3 per cent, the tenth-highest proportion) and more than half (51.9 per cent) come from ethnic minority backgrounds (26th). And with more than three-quarters aged over 21 when they enrol, London Met’s mature student population is outdone by only six universities. However, its usually high overall social inclusion ranking has been dragged down to 73= this year, due to a poor record on retaining its students from deprived areas, as well as the relatively low proportions of white working-class male students and disabled students. 

Long-term projects to widen participation target pupils aged 9-19 as well as adult learners. London Met takes part in national Saturday clubs and the Upward Bound programme that aims to raise GCSE attainment.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at London Metropolitan University

Bursaries of £1,500 a year benefit students who have left care and the university offers grants to help those with children or adult dependents, disabled students and active or former members of the armed forces. There are also a limited number of bursaries for social work students that are not means-tested.

EU Transition Scholarships provide tuition fee reductions for the duration of a degree to eligible EU students with overseas fee status starting a degree in September 2024 or January 2025. Two sanctuary scholarships provide a full fee waiver, maintenance loan and mentorship.