A supportive atmosphere and career-led curriculum prevail at the University of West London’s dual-site west London campus in Ealing and Brentford, alongside UWL’s health-focused centre in Reading. It is the poster university for reinvention, having staged an extraordinary turnaround over the past 20-plus years, transforming from the former Thames Valley University (which finished bottom of our league table in 2001) into today’s top-70 institution (top-50 two years ago).
Beefing up its research profile is among UWL’s ambitions under its Impact 2028 strategy. At the recently opened School of Medicine and Biosciences a research-driven approach is focused on reducing inequalities and delivering hyper-local social and care initiatives. London life is ingrained in the UWL student community as most live nearby and commute to university.
The Townshend Studio — a large permanent collection of iconic music synthesizers, gifted to the university by the Who’s Pete Townshend, adds a rock’n’roll edge. UWL hits the right notes with its students too, demonstrated by consistently top-end results in successive National Student Surveys (NSS).
What is the University of West London’s reputation?
UWL and its antecedent institutions have their share of high-profile alumni — including Freddie Mercury the politician James Cleverly.
UWL ranks 11th for satisfaction with teaching quality and joint fifth for positive feedback about the wider undergraduate experience in our latest NSS analysis. It was first for both only two years ago. It has twice been our University of the Year for Student Experience. 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 bronze for student outcomes. Our analysis also shows the university ranks 103= for its continuation rate (85.4 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”.
UWL reached our top 100 for research (92nd), 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. It has been furthering its scope, opening 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 Hellenic Institute of Maritime Studies, a partnership with the Business College of Athens, opened in 2024, offers postgraduate programmes and co-ordinates research on areas such as decarbonisation and marine policy.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses have been added?
No courses are listed for withdrawal. New for 2025 are degrees in film, screen and content production (with or without foundation year); fashion design — new practice (with or without foundation or placement year); esports and livestreaming; sport and exercise science; sport psychology; adult nursing (with foundation); learning disabilities nursing (with foundation); and children’s nursing (with foundation).
What are the University of West London’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Degree courses demand from 120-96 Ucas tariff points (BBB-CCC 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 work-ready drive. Yet in our graduate prospects index UWL is outside our top 100 at 102=, based on 69.4 per cent of graduates who 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 the Ealing and Brentford sites — which are linked by a free shuttle bus — UWL has the Berkshire Institute for Health in Reading, a base for nursing and midwifery students in the city centre. An extension at Ealing 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 third 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.
When can I visit?
uwl.ac.uk
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 and ten grass pitches for football, rugby and cricket, the centre has a gym and group exercise rooms. The Freddie’s 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 via UWL’s counselling service which 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?
“UWL has been transformative. The welcoming atmosphere, excellent facilities and caring staff have made this journey truly special.”
Sarbesh Shrestha, computer science student
What about student accommodation?
There are 621 spaces in halls. Most students live nearby and commute, but the university guarantees a place to those who want one.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of West London?
UWL ranks 68= overall in our social inclusion index, a big drop from 32nd last year due largely to UWL’s relatively low record on recruitment and retention of students from deprived areas (7.8 percent and 84=), and of white working-class male students (103=). However, its recruitment of ethnic minority students remains a strength (56.5 per cent, the 28th-highest proportion), and around four in ten undergraduates are aged 21-plus when they enrol (a top-25 proportion of mature students).
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries
About half of full-time undergraduates qualify for financial assistance, which includes £1,000-a-year undergraduate bursaries for those from low-income households and £500 a year for care leavers and estranged students. There are also 55 donor-backed awards, from £150 performance prizes to £6,500-a-year subject scholarships. Most undergraduates are eligible for the UWL Aspire Bursary, worth £100 a year towards books and other study equipment.
