London Mechanics Institute

Birkbeck, University of London

Coat of arms of Birkbeck, University of London
Latin: Collegium Birkbeck Londiniense
Motto	In nocte consilium
Motto in English	"Study by night"
Type	Public
Established	1823 – London Mechanics' Institute 1866 – Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution 1907 – Birkbeck College 1920 – Constituent College of University of London
Endowment	£4.3 m
Chancellor	HRH The Princess Royal (University of London)
President	Baroness Bakewell
Vice-Chancellor	Sir Adrian Smith (University of London)
Master	David S Latchman
Students	12,245 (2015/16)
Undergraduates	8,200 (2015/16)
Postgraduates	4,045 (2015/16)
Location	London, England United Kingdom
Colours
Affiliations	University of London Association of Commonwealth Universities European University Association
Website	www.bbk.ac.uk

Birkbeck, University of London (formally, Birkbeck College; informally, Birkbeck), is a public research university located in Bloomsbury, London, England, and a constituent college of the federal University of London.

Established in 1823 as the London Mechanics' Institute by its founder, Sir George Birkbeck, and its supporters, Jeremy Bentham, JC Hobhouse and Henry Brougham, Birkbeck has been one of the few institutions to specialise in evening higher education. Birkbeck's main building is based in the Bloomsbury zone of Camden, in Central London, alongside a number of institutions in the same borough. In partnership with University of East London, Birkbeck has an additional large campus in Stratford, next to the Theatre Royal. Birkbeck offers over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all lectures are given in the evening. Birkbeck's academic activities are organised into five constituent faculties which are subdivided into nineteen departments. It also offers many continuing education courses leading to certificates and diplomas, foundation degrees, and short courses. Research at Birkbeck in 11 subject areas is rated as ‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world leading’ while over 90 percent of Birkbeck academics are research-active. Birkbeck, being part of the University of London, shares the University’s academic standards and awards University of London degrees. In common with the other University of London colleges, Birkbeck has also secured its own independent degree awarding powers, which were confirmed by the Privy Council in July 2012. The quality of degrees awarded by Birkbeck was confirmed by the UK Quality Assurance Agency following institutional audits in 2005 and 2010.