Bedford College, in London, opened its doors in 1849, and Royal Holloway College's stunning Founder's Building was unveiled by Queen Victoria in 1886 – it’s still the focal point of the campus.
In 1900, the colleges became part of the University of London and in 1985 they merged to form what is now known as Royal Holloway.
Royal Holloway, University of London, is a community of inspiring individuals.
As a research-intensive university, operating across science, the arts, management and social science, our purpose is to advance knowledge and, by sharing it, to inspire others to do the same.
Through this world-class research that expands minds and changes lives, the dedication of our teachers and the feel of the Royal Holloway experience, we help you to succeed academically, socially and personally.
Our research helps tackle real-world problems, seeking creative solutions to complex challenges and throwing new light on the world we live in.
We’re home to some of the brightest minds across the globe - academics who are collaborating with businesses, government bodies and charities to understand environmental changes, find treatments for diseases and alleviate poverty.
Our work has real impact, generating new understanding and insights. Recent research at Royal Holloway has led to:
A community of over 88,000 alumni
From the very beginning, Royal Holloway has uniquely supported the careers of brilliant individuals – from the first female doctor in the western world to politicians, surgeons, scientists and sportspeople.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 24 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 477 | 461 | 485 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 801 | 801 | 801 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 96 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 861 | 913 | 817 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 401 | 401 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
The Student Services Centre provides a central point of contact for enquiries and services in a way that is accessible to all. We are dedicated to responding to queries sensitively, fairly and efficiently; if we don’t have the answer to your query we'll work with you and our colleagues across the College to find the best solution.
Undergraduate halls
Our extensive library has more than 450,000 books and 36,000 journals in both print and digital format.
In addition to this main collection we have a number of rare and valuable items, archival works, internal publications, and major databases. Students and staff can access our digital materials from wherever they are, on any device.
The Royal Holloway residential and campus wide network - CampusNet - is available wired or wirelessly.
There are CampusNet plug-in points both in halls of residence and also in some of the PC Labs and libraries. Using a network (Ethernet) cable, plug your device into the Ethernet port on the wall in your room. Then open your web browser - see 'connecting to the network' for the next step.
What happens if you fall ill while you’re studying at Royal Holloway? Here you can find out if you’re eligible for free UK healthcare.
We have a unique best-of-both-worlds location; a safe, leafy campus in Egham, Surrey - less than 40 minutes by train from central London and just seven miles from Heathrow airport, creating the environment where a close-knit community thrives.
Our campus is one of the most beautiful in the world with numerous teaching and study spaces, bars and cafés, high-quality accommodation, and sports facilities. All this is set in 135 acres of stunning parkland.
Most teaching and social activity takes place on campus and, with the exception of Kingswood Hall, this is where most undergraduates live in their first year. It’s a friendly place, with a strong sense of community as new students soon become familiar faces.
The hub of sporting life is the Sports Centre on the main campus. Refurbished in 2013, it provides a multi-use sports hall, a 46-station fitness suite, aerobics area and changing facilities. There’s personal training and fitness classes.
We recently unveiled our world-class, floodlit outdoor pitches and courts, with all-weather playing surfaces.
Our Students’ Union has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the best in the UK.
It puts on a dazzling array of entertainment from top bands and comedy acts to cabaret, film nights, socials and even a visit from real reindeer at Christmas.
The Students’ Union also runs a weekly market where you can buy delicious artisan bread and other food plus books, clothes and plants. And if you like dogs, don't miss the puppy therapy sessions!
Other services run by the Students’ Union include an independent advice centre, the popular Tommy’s Kitchen burger bar, two shops and three bars.
Royal Holloway, University of London | AACSB Accredited
Based on 60 reviews
7/10 would recommend. Royal Holloway is a welcoming, helpful and tight-knit campus uni. What it lacks in nightlife and city life within its surrounding areas of Egham, it makes up for in its ever-active campus lifestyle. The Students' Union is one of the most active and attentive i've ever encountered. There are always events to attend - many of them free or low-cost. Sadly, there is only one club - that is the SU club, however this proves itself useful at times as everyone is in one place and you are bound to stumble into people you know and have a good chat. I've never witnessed a campus with so many societies, ever - and they are all pretty active. Varsity is fun, also. There are coffee shops, pubs and a student shop (although the prices are extortionate). When it's spring/summer and everyone's on the founder's quad, it feels like an american college. A downside to Egham is its price, luckily you get a London loan but you also have to pay London prices without being remotely close to central London. All-in-all, you are guaranteed to have a true uni-experience at Royal Holloway if you get stuck in and make the most of it. Plus, don't forget to take lots of photos of Founders.
I went to Royal Holloway a while ago, 20 years ago in fact. Gosh...it hurts to say that. It was an amazing experience - meeting new people, living independently, learning and planning your own development. Founders is truly a lovely sight for sore eyes, as princely as you see in the pictures. The campus would have changed since I was there, but likely not enough to diminish the natural beauty it possesses. The professors seem to care intently about students and the university was full of students who actually want to learn. Win-Win
From a distance, Royal Holloway looks like Hogwarts� effortlessly glamorous cousin. The Founders Building is all red brick, turrets, and drama, the kind of architecture that convinces you you�re about to have a life changing academic experience before you�ve even stepped inside. Then you do step inside. The magic fades quickly in the seminar rooms and lecture halls, where harsh white lighting and narrow corridors reign supreme. There is something uniquely humbling about power walking to a lecture while carrying a bag heavy enough to alter your posture, squeezed through corridors that feel actively hostile to students with books. Still, the campus has its charms. The cats are undeniably adorable, lounging in libraries, sunbathing like they pay rent, at least until you witness one mid hunt at night, at which point the whimsy is replaced by a strong urge to never emotionally recover. What Royal Holloway gets right, though, is its people. There�s a genuine sense of community here: familiar faces on the way to lectures, quick chats in the library, shared eye contact during the daily mission to find a free seat. It�s comforting in a quiet, understated way. Royal Holloway might not sustain its Hogwarts illusion indoors, but between the beauty, the chaos, and the community, it gives you something arguably better: a place that feels lived in, slightly absurd, and oddly grounding.
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