UALL Members
UALL members are institutions and individuals who share a commitment to lifelong learning, and who have and understanding of the importance of access to higher education at all times of life.
We are colleagues, researchers, thinkers, administrators and academics working together to share the knowledge and resources needed to serve adult learners in higher education. Institutional members are listed below.
UALL Members
Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth University is a public research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The university has over 8,000 students studying across three academic faculties and 17 departments.
Bangor University
Established in 1884, Bangor University (Welsh: Prifysgol Bangor) has a long tradition of excellence for academic standards and student experience. It is a research-led University of and for North Wales, providing transformative learning experiences and nurturing a positive impact on society regionally, nationally, and internationally. Ensuring economic, social, and civic impact through lifelong learning, Strategy 2030 highlights some of the key strategic priorities as:
- social and economic prosperity; working collaboratively with regional partners.
- supporting business and skills; offering upskilling opportunities through Short Courses and CPD and collaborating across tertiary education to champion employability and commercialisation across North Wales.
- cohesive, resilient communities; embedding civic engagement as a fundamental aspect of core institutional activities.
- accessibility; prominent in the life of its local communities and enabling the success of future generations through embedding widening access and participation in day-to-day operations.
Birkbeck University of London
Birkbeck University of London provides high quality, flexible education through a blend of face-to-face events and modern digital learning, meeting the changing educational, cultural, personal and career needs of students of all ages (particularly those who live or work in the London region) as well as those who combine study with work, caring or other commitments. The university provides access routes for students of all ages from diverse social and educational backgrounds to participate fully.
Brunel University London
Brunel University London is a public research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. Brunel’s three constituent Academic Colleges include the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences; the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences; and the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. The university has over 16,150 students and 2,500 staff, and an annual income of £271.3 million (2021-22), of which £22.4 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £311.9 million. BUL is ranked as one of the top 350 universities in the world by QS World University Rankings and in the top 100 by the 2023 Annual Impact Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Cardiff University
Cardiff University (Welsh: Prifysgol Caerdydd) is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales.The 26 academic schools of the university are divided into three colleges: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; and Physical Sciences.In 2022, it had 33, 985 students enrolled, making it the 16th largest university in the UK. It has a dedicated programme of funded, lifelong learning.
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff Met) is a progressive university, working with purpose, impact and compassion to make economies more prosperous, societies fairer, cultures richer, environments greener and communities healthier. We work in partnership with our students and staff to transform individual lives and the wider world through high-quality, high-impact education informed by our cutting-edge research and innovation. Our vision embodies a commitment to education, research and innovation undertaken in partnership with our students, governments, business and industry and with tangible benefits for individuals, society and the economy.
Durham University
Durham University is located in Durham, England. It is made up of 17 colleges, offering over 330 undergraduate and postgraduate courses via 26 departments, to its 20, 268 students.
Goldsmiths, University of London
Goldsmiths, University of London, is a constituent research university of the University of London. It was originally founded in 1891 as The Goldsmiths’ Technical and Recreative Institute by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in New Cross, London. It was renamed Goldsmiths’ College after being acquired by the University of London in 1904, and specialises in the arts, design, computing, humanities and social sciences. The main building on campus, known as the Richard Hoggart Building, was originally opened in 1844 and is the site of the former Royal Naval School.
Its mission is generating knowledge and stimulating self-discovery through creative, radical and intellectually rigorous thinking and practice underpinned by the following values:
- Achieving academic excellence
- Radical and innovative thinking
- Respecting the individual
- Promoting access and diversity
- Supporting our students and staff
- Creating change, locally and globally
Harris Manchester College
Harris Manchester College is Oxford’s only college exclusively for students aged 21+. We accept students for undergraduate and postgraduate study on a wide range of courses. For some this is a first degree after other adventures; for others it is a second or third chance at higher education; and for yet others it is a rethinking of their life path and a much-valued opportunity to consider what they want to do next.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Established by the Hong Kong Government in 1989 as a provider of distance education, HKMU began offering full-time programmes in 2001. Over the years we have grown into a leader in open and flexible education in the Asia Pacific region, and our full-time face-to-face programmes for qualified secondary school leavers are on par with other established universities across Hong Kong. HKMU today is a young, dynamic, full-fledged university.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is the only UK university to focus entirely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Our international reputation for excellence in teaching and research sees us consistently rated in the top 10 universities worldwide.
The Imperial Institute of Extended Learning will extend Imperial’s offerings beyond degrees to provide flexible, lifelong advanced STEMB training. Leveraging academic excellence and interdisciplinary capacity, it will equip individuals and organisations with skills for emerging fields like AI, cleantech, quantum, and climate science. For individuals, cutting-edge short courses will open new career paths, while customisable programs will meet organisational needs.
Kellogg College
Lincoln Bishop University
For over 150 years Lincoln Bishop University has been an integral part of Lincoln. Deep in the heart of this historic city, just a few minutes’ walk from the Castle and Cathedral, we have evolved from humble roots as an Anglican teacher training college into a renowned institution awarded first place for Teaching in the National Student Survey 2025.
Our story started in the 1860s as an Anglian teacher training college for women. Since then, we’ve grown, adapted and modernised over time to become the leading and thriving university we are today, educating over 2000 students in subjects ranging from primary education to psychology; foundation degrees to a PhD, and much more in between.
Though much at Lincoln Bishop University has changed in the course of this progression, our commitment to providing first-class education and turning out graduates of the highest calibre who go out into the world to change people’s lives for the better has never wavered.
From our top-of-the-line teaching and study facilities, to our on-site cinema, we’ve worked hard to ensure our beautiful and peaceful campus has everything a student could need to succeed. More importantly, at the heart of all these services, we boast a team of educators and staff dedicated to advancement of our students through academic, professional and emotional support whenever and wherever it might be required.
Widely recognised for student support, teaching quality, and student satisfaction, we are committed to being a leader in learning, to inspire excellence and innovation and to enrich the lives of our students, staff, and the communities we serve. You can find out more about what we have to offer, and see why students rate us so highly, at one of our open days.
LSE
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a world-leading university specialising in social sciences. LSE was ranked top in the UK for 2025 and 2026 by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. Based in the heart of London, we are a global community of people and ideas that transform the world.
Middlesex University London
Middlesex University London is a public research university in Hendon, northwest London, England. Middlesex has a student body of over 19,000 in London and over 37,000 globally. The university has student exchange links with over 100 universities in 22 countries across Europe, the United States, and the world. Courses are delivered by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of the Arts and Creative Industries.
Newcastle University
Newcastle University is a UK public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England with overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university subdivides into three faculties: the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; the Faculty of Medical Sciences; and the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. The Education for Life strategy puts an increased emphasis on lifelong learning and flexible learning provision for a diverse learner population. With the establishment of the Lifelong Learning and Apprenticeship Hub, the University is committed to develop innovative and flexible apprenticeships, part-time and short courses in partnership with employers and FE colleges.
Open University
The Open University (OU) is a public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU’s undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off-campus; many of its courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate) can also be studied anywhere in the world. With more than 205,420 students enrolled, including around 34% of new undergraduates aged under 25 and more than 8,802 overseas students,it is the largest academic institution in the United Kingdom (and one of the largest in Europe) by student number, and qualifies as one of the world’s largest universities.
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University has over 150 years of history. We started out as a small School of Art in borrowed teaching rooms and have grown into one of the UK’s top modern universities with a local, national and international reputation for teaching and research excellence. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive learning environment within which all students are supported to enable them to achieve their ambitions and beyond. As well as our wide range of full-time on campus degrees, many of our courses can be studied part-time and some are available via distance learning. We also work with other organisations to deliver our degrees within local communities across the UK. Our partners include further education colleges and large national providers. Through our apprenticeships we support individuals to work alongside gaining a higher level qualification, and in this way provide a route into degree level study for those who would not otherwise be able to access it.
Queen's University Belfast
Queen’s University Belfast is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history. Since 1845, inspirational researchers, pioneering students and dedicated alumni at Queen’s have been making a difference to society in Belfast and across the world.
Renowned for cutting-edge research, Queen’s experts have developed ground-breaking technologies from life-saving cancer treatments and sustainable engineering solutions to advancing conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
The University is ranked 2nd in the UK for entrepreneurial impact (Octopus Ventures, 2022) and 117th in the world for research quality (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025).
Over 25,000 students fill the beautiful and vibrant campus at Queen’s, set at the heart of the dynamic and diverse city of Belfast, which has the lowest cost of student living in the UK (NatWest Student Living Index 2024).
Queen’s is an anchor institution in Northern Ireland, taking pride in social and civic responsibility. The university is a lead partner in the Belfast Region City Deal, which will unlock £1 billion of transformative co-investment, bringing forward projects in advanced manufacturing, clinical research and secure, connected digital technologies.
By delivering transformative education, global impact and life-defining student experiences, Queen’s University continues to shape a better world for all of society.
Saïd Business School
Saïd Business School is a vibrant and forward-looking business school at University of Oxford, combining the heritage of one of the world’s leading universities with a spirit of innovation and global engagement.
The School offers accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas, alongside a broad portfolio of executive education programmes delivered both on campus and online.
It educates business leaders, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators from across industries and sectors worldwide. Through world-class teaching and groundbreaking research, the School develops individuals who go on to transform organisations, shape economies and create positive change in communities around the world
SOAS University of London
Located in central London, SOAS is one of London’s top universities, with a friendly, cosmopolitan community of students.
SOAS is home to the leading research and expertise on the global issues of today. Its students engage with academics on these issues throughout their study. It is uniquely placed to inform and shape current thinking about the economic, political, cultural, security and religious challenges of our world.
They challenge perspectives, broach debate, and empower students to question the global status quo and find solutions to the issues facing the world today. Their programmes are taught by respected international academics with inter-disciplinary expertise who are engaged in fieldwork and research that influences governments, industries and communities across the world.
University College London (UCL)
UCL is a global top 10 university, set up in London 200 years ago to offer education for all.
Today, we gather 60,000 staff and students, from over 150 countries, to create a unique city within a city – a research and innovation powerhouse that leads the world in subjects spanning the arts, sciences, technology and the humanities. We’ve nurtured 33 Nobel Prize winners, because here, brave ideas have the scale and the support they need to succeed. We are University College London. And here, it can happen.
University of Bristol
Bristol is one of the most popular and successful universities in the UK, ranked 55th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2024. We aim to equip our students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their chosen career in a competitive global market. Our mission is to make a positive impact locally, nationally, and globally by addressing society’s greatest challenges through our distinctive education, innovative research and the value we place on excellence, inclusivity and partnership.
University of the Built Environment
University of the Built Environment is the leading specialist education provider for the built environment sector, including construction, real estate, urban planning, architecture and sustainability.
Established in 1919, the University offers professionally accredited degrees, apprenticeships, and professional development courses. All programmes are delivered online apart from the master’s in architecture, which is taught through studio-based learning at the institution’s London School of Architecture.
Partnering with over 500 industry organisations, the University ensures strong graduate employability and delivers education aligned with sector needs. This collaboration and integrated academic portfolio prepare skilled professionals with the knowledge and leadership required to shape a sustainable and inclusive built world.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. The university has a department dedicated to providing continuing education, the Institute of Continuing Education. Its award-bearing programmes include both undergraduate certificates and part-time master’s degrees.The institute (ICE) has an annual enrolment of over 6,000 students, including around 1,000 students from over 60 countries who attend the University of Cambridge’s annual international summer programme. Students can choose from around 250 different courses across three broad disciplinary themes: Arts and Sciences; Creative Writing and English Literature; and Professional Studies.
University of Chester
The University of Chester is a public university located in Chester, England. The university originated as the first purpose-built teacher training college in the UK. As a university, it now occupies five campus sites in and around Chester, one in Warrington, and a University Centre in Shrewsbury. It offers a range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking academic research. With 14,900 students, it also welcomes adult learners and professionals through its offer of Professional Development and Business Growth.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Open Learning (COL) is home to the University of Edinburgh’s Access Programme, English Language Education, International Foundation Programme, International Summer School and Short Courses provision. We lead the way in the provision of outstanding yet accessible opportunities and support to learn – on campus, online and within both local and global communities. We welcome all, regardless of background or destination, and champion pathways to participation and education by connecting with colleagues and students within Edinburgh and beyond.
University of Glasgow
Established in 1451, Glasgow University is a world top 100 Universities with eight Nobel Laureates connected to it. Its six cross disciplinary areas of world-class research are shining examples of what Glasgow do best, each one combining a drive for pushing the boundaries of knowledge with a commitment to making a positive impact on the world:
- addressing inequalities
- cultural & creative economies
- precision medicine & chronic diseases
- one health
- future life
- the nano & quantum world.
Glasgow University researchers show curiosity, openness, a strong social commitment and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Its six cross disciplinary areas of research illustrate the breadth and depth of expertise, ability to work together to address global goals and commitment to deliver economic and societal change, both locally and internationally.
The University of Glasgow is the home of the Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning (CR&DALL) was established in 2004 under the auspices of the former Department of Adult Education, and is located now within the School of Education in the College of Social Sciences. Throughout its existence, CRADALL has provided an important focus for research and development in adult and continuing education globally.
The Centre aims to make a real difference through the contribution that adult education and lifelong learning research can make to the challenges of socio-economic justice, social inclusion, social cohesion, sustainable development and poverty reduction. It ultimately seeks through its work to enable capabilities, improve the life chances of all individuals and to create better places for them to live. In particular CR&DALL targets people and places most at risk in the world, both in the global south and north.
University of Hertfordshire
For more than 70 years, Herts has been an innovative educational force. From our start in training aerospace engineers for Britain’s aviation industry to our extensive offering today, our focus has always been on understanding what employers want, and today, our vision remains unchanged.
We are a modern, dynamic, and enterprising university, and an anchor institution in the region, supporting its growth as a top destination for a range of industries and professions.
Our vibrant community of nearly 35,000 students from over 110 countries benefit from high-quality teaching delivered by experts engaged in cutting-edge research. We offer more than 700 career-focused degrees, strong industry connections, industry standard facilities and opportunities to study at more than 170 universities worldwide, to prepare our students to succeed in a competitive global market.
Through partnerships with key employers, professional bodies, and government, we ensure our teaching and research respond to real-world challenges. We collaborate to drive great opportunities that lead to positive outcomes regionally, nationally, globally; from Herts to the world.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds Lifelong Learning Centre is both a multi-disciplinary school running undergraduate courses, and a specialist service supporting mature and part-time learners across the University. We deliver courses that encourage and support student diversity, with a focus on students from under-represented groups or who don’t have traditional qualifications. We also offer support to current and prospective mature, part-time and Foundation level students, and apprentices. This is done through offering one-to-one advice and guidance sessions, open days and subject events to help adult learners decide pathways into higher education.
University of Lincoln
Situated in the heart of a historic city on the beautiful Brayford Pool Waterfront, the University of Lincoln is proud of its reputation for putting students at the heart of everything it does. We are ranked in the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction in the Guardian University Guide 2023, listed in the world’s top 130 universities in the Times Higher Education’s (THE) Young University Rankings 2022, and hold a top five-star score overall in the QS Stars rating system of global universities.
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a founding member of the Russell Group, a group of 24 research-led universities in the UK. Today it is a community of over 31,000 students, drawn from the UK and across the globe. Known for being “the original redbrick”, its ethos is rooted in excellent teaching and world leading research combined to create life-changing experiences for students and to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. It was awarded TEF gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, and 91% of its research was deemed world leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. It comprises three faculties, spanning a broad range of teaching and research in the arts and sciences. The University’s commitment to lifelong learning is reflected in its vibrant Continuing Education Department and Open Languages programme, the highly successful Go Higher Humanities Access Diploma and Health and Life Sciences Foundation, as well as other offers for mature learners.
University of Manchester
We’re on a mission to create lifelong flexible learning that is inclusive, accessible and international, preparing our graduates for an increasingly digital world that demands agility, creativity, and digital proficiency.
We’re expanding our lifelong learning portfolio, working with partners to give learners the skills they need to progress throughout their careers.
University of Nottingham
Based in Nottingham, England, University of Nottingham is organised into five constituent faculties, within which there are more than 50 schools, departments, institutes and research centres. Nottingham has more than 46,000 students and 7,000 staff across the UK, China and Malaysia. The University of Nottingham traces its origins to the founding of an adult education school in 1798. In 1875, an anonymous donor provided £10,000 to establish the work of the Adult Education School on a permanent basis, and the Corporation of Nottingham agreed to erect and maintain a building for this purpose and to provide funds to supply the instruction.
University of Oxford
Oxford University Department of Continuing Education provides opportunities for people from a wide variety of backgrounds to benefit from the University’s resources. More than 15,000 adult learners annually are enrolled on flexible, part-time courses at the University of Oxford, on more than 1000 courses and programmes offered through this Department. Oxford’s collegiate home for lifelong learning is Kellogg, whose 300 full-time students are joined by over 1000 studying for their degrees on a part-time, flexible basis.
University of Sheffield
The Department for Lifelong Learning plays a central role in the University of Sheffield’s continued commitment to mature learners. We offer degrees with a foundation year to students aged 21 or over, who don’t have the standard entry qualifications needed to apply for most degree courses. Our students can choose from over 40 different degree pathways, across the Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We also support prospective mature learners through our outreach and events programme, enabling applicants to build confidence and skills prior to entry to our programmes. Our staff have many years experience teaching and advising mature students, and are passionate about seeing them succeed whatever their background and educational journey.
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow is a vibrant multicultural city and the University of Strathclyde is at the heart of its city centre. It is home to over 30.000 students from more than 140 countries. Strathclyde is proud of its commitment to adult learning through its Centre for Lifelong Learning, Age-Friendly University status and its founding principle as a ‘place of useful learning, open to all’.
It is a socially progressive, technological university and is the only University to have won the Times Higher Education University of the Year award twice (2012 and 2019). Over the years it has been recognised across a variety of categories at the Times Higher Education awards. These include the coveted Business School of the Year and Workplace of the Year. It was also was named University of the year in 2024 by Daily Mail and it is recipient of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 1996, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Its priorities are values-led excellence, collaboration, creating impact locally and globally and providing learning opportunities for all regardless of age or stage in life or career.
University of Wales Trinity St David
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) was formed on 18 November 2010 through the merger of the University of Wales Lampeter and Trinity University College Carmarthen, under Lampeter’s Royal Charter of 1828. The University’s main campuses are situated in various locations in and around Swansea’s city centre as well as in the rural towns of Lampeter and Carmarthen in South West Wales.
University of Warwick
University of West London
In 1860, the Lady Byron School was founded. It merged with more institutions over the years becoming later the University of West London.
The University has played, and continues to play, a significant role in the educational, cultural, and economic life of its region. Over the years, leading academic institutions, career-specific training providers, and industry specialists have come together to make us what we are today – a university dedicated to your career.
Its vision is to be a model institution in the preparation of graduates who are economically, socially, and ecologically impactful. A university that challenges, inspires, transforms, and achieves wit values of:
- Excellence: we commit to excel in all that we do.
- Innovation: we commit to be creative, responsive, and progressive.
- Integrity: we commit to be honest, ethical, authentic, and accessible.
- Inclusivity: we commit to respect and embrace equality and inclusion.
- Social responsibility: we commit to act for the public good.
- Courage: we commit to take the risks necessary to achieve our goals.
University of York
York is a collegiate university and has eleven colleges. All colleges have equal status, and each has its own constitution. The colleges are deliberately assigned undergraduates, postgraduate students and staff from a wide mixture of disciplines. The Centre for Lifelong Learning offers a range of courses for learners who are looking for an accredited course or to study for pleasure.
Associate Institutional Members
Nation-Building International Institute (NBII)
Nation-Building International Institute (NBII) aims to be the world’s leading institute on nation-building and an independent think tank that focuses on regional governance, lifelong learning, and strategic political-socio-economic development toward a holistically developed nation.
NBII’s mission has been to engage the nation’s leaders of the public, private and civil sectors in order to instil nation-building ideology, concepts and strategies needed for the sustainable development of the country towards a nation of civility, and to effectuate real social impact on a national level.
The School of Innovation
The School of Innovation (TSOI) is a new, globally scalable, in-person university focused on mobilising students to solve global challenges, launching first in Manchester, in 2025. The School of Innovation is set to provide groundbreaking projected-based degrees in collaboration with employers that focus on tackling real problems. In parallel, students will immerse themselves in a comprehensive life curriculum designed to nurture practical life skills, essential workplace soft skills, and holistic mental and physical well-being.
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