Royal Holloway and Bedford New College

An intimate campus university located in the sleepy surroundings of Egham, Royal Holloway's dominant feature is the beautiful late nineteenth-century Founder's Building. Located in leafy Windsor parkland, the University is half an hour away by train from the heart of London, and only five minutes away from nearby Windsor.

Background and History

Founded as a women's college in 1879, Royal Holloway became an official part of the University of London in 1900, when it admitted men for the first time. A member of the 1994 group of smaller, research intensive universities, it has a long history of both teaching and research excellence.

Location and Accessibility

By rail: Just five minutes walk away from Egham Station, which is half an hour away from London Waterloo, with trains every quarter of an hour or so.

By road: Located just outside the M25, reachable via the A30 whether coming up from the south or down via the North. There a range of parking options are available.

Most major facilities are wheelchair accessible, and there is a range of disabled-friendly accommodation for the visually and hearing impaired as well as those with mobility issues.

What's on Offer

BA, BSc, MA, MSci, MMus, MBA, Graduate (Conversion) Diploma, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate.

Entry Requirements

For Sciences, Management, and Economics: ABB, 35 Points in the IB, 3 Distinctions in BTEC or Diploma. For Humanities and Social Sciences: AAB, 35 Points in the IB, Distinctions in BTEC or Diploma.

University Accommodation

Accommodation varies from the picturesque olde worlde', such as that in the Founder's Building, to the state-of-the-art. Student satisfaction with on campus accommodation is high. There is also a range of annual lets for postgraduate students.

Private Accommodation

Average rent is between £350 and £410 per person per month for multiple occupancy houses, rising slightly for one- or two-bedroom flats. Lodging in a room costs between £210 and £280 a month.

Faculties and Departments

Royal Holloway, University of London is divided into three main faculties: The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Management and Economics and the Faculty of Science.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

The History, Geography, Earth Sciences, and Physics departments are all ranked in the Global Top 200. Royal Holloway is a highly rated research university; it is 3rd in the UK for academic citations.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees vary depending upon the course of study and whether you wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Fees for international students are also likely to be considerably higher than those for UK/EU students. For a full list of fees it is advisable to contact the university directly or visit their website.  

Financial Support

There is a variety of means-tested bursaries, bursaries for academically able (AAB and above) students who pick Royal Holloway as their first choice, plus several musical and sporting bursaries.

Academic Facilities

Royal Holloway has a state-of-the-art lecture complex in the Windsor Building, and two libraries: the Founder's Library, which houses arts and humanities books, and the Bedford Library, which houses science, economics and history books. Both libraries are open seven days a week, and as members of the University of London, Royal Holloway students can use the wider University's facilities including Senate House. 24-hour computer labs and a campus-wide wi-fi network mean you'll never struggle to connect to the Internet or to use a computer, while all campus rooms are fitted with wired Internet.

 

Other on-site Amenities

The campus site has everything you'll ever need: an on-site branch of NatWest with an attached ATM, gym facilities, running track and sports fields. There are a variety of places to eat and hang out including an on-campus bar, while there are societies and associations for everything ranging from politics to knitting.

 

Medical and Social Care

The student union runs a confidential Student Advice Centre, while the on-site Health Centre means you're never far from medical help. There is a non-denominational chapel, and a fully fitted Islamic prayer room.

 

What's on in the Area

While the local town of Egham is a useful place to visit for amenities, you'll have to venture further afield for nightlife; although trains to Reading, Windsor, Staines and London are all frequent. Nearby Staines is a great place to visit to see a film at the Staines Vue, while Reading's Friar and Gun Street areas are a hotspot for clubbing and bars, as well as having a wide selection of restaurants and theatres. For the theatre, the National Theatre in London is just half an hour away, while the Theatre Royal Windsor is worth a look.

 

Moving On

As members of the University of London, Royal Holloway graduates and students have access to the largest Careers Service in the UK. In addition, the Careers Service runs CV-writing, skill-building, on-campus recruitment fairs and application coaching. The designated Entrepreneurship Careers Advisor is on hand to assist with social enterprise and start-up needs, while departing students have the option to join GradClub' and continue to gain the benefits of the Careers Service after graduation.

The ITV drama Trinity used the Founder's Building as its main building. Royal Holloway is named after Thomas Holloway, a self-made millionaire who founded the institution to further the cause of women's education. Mark Strong, KT Tunstall and the musician Example all studied here. The Student Union has an award-winning radio station, Insanity'.

Is Royal Holloway the place for you?

If you like an intimate campus environment with everything you need close to hand, you'll love Royal Holloway. It has an excellent reputation for History, English and Physics. If you're into bright lights and big cities, this isn't the place for you. Why not try Manchester or Bristol?