Colleges within universities in the United Kingdom

The two ancient universities of England, Oxford and Cambridge (collectively termed Oxbridge), both started without colleges (in the late eleventh and early thirteenth century respectively).

While college life and membership is an important part of the Oxbridge experience and education, only the central university body has degree-awarding power.

Historically the colleges were created as a way of ensuring discipline among the notoriously unruly students.

[5][6] In addition to accommodation, meals, common rooms, libraries, sporting and social facilities for its students, most colleges admit undergraduate students to the university and, through tutorials or supervisions (but not necessarily classes), contribute to the work of educating them, together with the university's departments/faculties.

The faculties at each university provide lectures and central facilities such as libraries and laboratories, as well as examining for and awarding degrees.

They are explicitly defined in the university's statutes, meaning that permission of the Privy Council is needed to create (or abolish) colleges.

Hild Bede also surrendered its teacher training duties to the university on becoming a maintained college in 1979.

Although the colleges do not have any teaching duties as part of the university, they do provide meals, common rooms, libraries, sporting, scholarships and social facilities for their members.

Two colleges previously based at the Queen's Campus in Stockton-on-Tees relocated to Durham over 2017–2018.

Ushaw College, a few miles west of Durham, remains a licensed hall of residence but has not taken students since closing as a seminary in 2011.

The undergraduate colleges consist of: Bowland; Cartmel; County; Furness; Fylde; Grizedale; Lonsdale and Pendle, all of which have their own bars with different themes.

[12] Colleges are independent of university education, instead providing on-campus accommodation, social events and sporting teams.

Currently there are 21 leagues with weekly fixtures, in addition a number of one day events are organised as well.

Each college has a Master, who is responsible for enforcing University regulations and ensuring safe student conduct.

The University of Roehampton, London has its roots in the traditions of its four constituent colleges – Digby Stuart, Froebel, Southlands and Whitelands – which were all formed in the 19th century.

For most practical purposes, ranging from admissions to funding, the member institutions operate on a semi-independent basis, with many having awarded their own degrees whilst remaining in the federal university since 2008.

As originally established in 1836, London was an examining board and degree awarding body for affiliated colleges.

Starting with UCL and King's, which were named in the original charter, the list of affiliated colleges grew to include everything from grammar schools to the universities of the British Empire by 1858, when the affiliated college system was abandoned and London's degree examinations thrown open to anyone.

Following a campaign led by UCL and King's in the late 19th century, the university became a federal body in 1900.

The Constitution evolved during the 20th century, with power shifting towards the central University and then back towards the colleges.

In the mid-1990s the colleges gained direct access to government funding and the right to confer University of London degrees themselves, and from 2008 those colleges that held their own degree awarding powers were allowed to use them while remaining part of the federation.

A few universities, while operating as unitary institutions, have associated colleges in federal relationships.

[37] The University of South Wales encompasses the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.