Royal Holloway, University of London is a pioneering institution steeped in history, dedicated to innovative education and transformative research. Founded by social reformers with the vision of making education accessible to all, it continues to evolve while remaining committed to its founding principles.
| Acronym | RHUL |
| Motto / Slogan | To be, rather than to seem (to be) |
| Colour | Orange, Slate gray |
| Founded | 1849 |
| Location | City of London, England, United Kingdom |
| Address | Royal Holloway, University of London Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX |
Royal Holloway's mission is to be a forward-thinking University of Social Purpose, dedicated to outstanding educational and student experiences, world-leading research and innovation, and local and global engagement to drive social change for a better future.
Royal Holloway's vision is to be a "University of Social Purpose," focusing on excellence in education, research, and student experience to create a more inclusive and better future.
Royal Holloway's primary objective is to be a forward-thinking University of Social Purpose. This means they are committed to: outstanding education, research and innovation, and strong global and local engagement to drive social change.
At Royal Holloway we’re all about making sure you leave university with more than just a degree, with the skills you need to stand out to employers and succeed in your future career.
We’ll be by your side from day one, and up to two years after you graduate, helping you identify and build up the skills that employers are looking for. Everything you do here, from your academic work to activities outside your studies, such as getting involved with our volunteering or even starting up your own business, can help enhance your skillset and build your confidence.
You’ll be encouraged to prepare for your future career, with guidance from your academic department perfectly complemented by our expert Career Services team. Together they’ll give you practical support on writing applications, preparing for interviews, finding placements and part-time jobs, along with the chance to network with employers and former students who’ve gone on to great things.
You can find plenty of examples of careers our alumni have gone into by looking at our individual academic department webpages in the Department and Schools section. If you're a recruiter interested in attending one of our Careers Fairs or want to find out more about the benefits of employing a Royal Holloway graduate, you can find out more here.
Our students come from many different countries. We accept a wide range of qualifications. We assess every applicant on their individual merits, but there are minimum qualifications.
International Student:
We welcome applications from international students whose qualifications match our entry requirements for courses.
Check your country’s entry requirements.
If you don’t meet our typical entry requirements, we have a list of alternative entry qualifications that we accept.
These include:
For further information check the UCAS course listing or contact us using Unibuddy.
For Postgraduate Diploma: The entry requirement depends on the programme. Refer to the individual course details for specific requirements.
If you studied your undergraduate degree in an English-speaking country, or in English, you may not need to take another test.
Find out what’s needed here.
International Student:
We welcome all applications from international students. Do make sure your qualifications are equivalent to the entry requirements for your chosen postgraduate course.
See the entry requirements for your country.
UNDERGRADUATE:
Applying through UCAS
Use the UCAS online system, which can be done independently or through your school or college.
You will need to enter your personal and academic information as well as write your personal statement.
You can choose up to five institutions or courses to apply to. Royal Holloway’s institution code is R72. Individual course codes are listed on the Course finder.
POSTGRADUATE:
Applications for 2026 Postgraduate entry are now open.
We also offer a January 2026 start for selected courses. The application deadline for this intake is 8 December 2025.
Scholarship deadlines are usually different, so please check our scholarship pages for individual deadlines.
To create an application for one of our postgraduate programmes please click the button below.
Please follow the instructions on Royal Holloway Applicant Portal and be sure to provide the following documentation in support of your application. Submitting an application without the following will result in a delayed outcome:
Please note that you must submit your initial application in order to proceed to the next stage to upload your documents. You will be able to upload your documents on the Supplemental Items page on your Applicant Portal.
Before you start, take a look at the entry requirements for your chosen postgraduate course using our Coursefinder.
Phone : +44 (0)1784 414944
Apply For Admission
Accommodation: Heading to university is exciting. Finding the right place to live will get you off to a good start. There are lots of options for you, both on and off campus, so you can find a place that’s ideal for every stage of your studies. If you choose to stay in university accommodation, you can use our portal to apply once you have accepted an offer to study with us.
Sport: We're one of the top sporting University of London institutions with more than 80 sports teams and fantastic facilities. You can play sport competitively against other universities, keep fit in the gym, or just enjoy casual activities with weekly drop-in sessions.
Library: Our extensive library has more than 450,000 books and over 500,000 ebooks, as well as a vast array of academic journals. In addition to this main collection, we have a number of rare and valuable items, archival works, internal publications, and major subject databases. Students and staff can access our digital materials from wherever they are, on any device. The Library space offers a variety of study seats, with different zones for silent and collaborative work. Our dedicated team are continually developing new and improved ways to support you throughout your learning journey. We place a high priority on listening to and working with you to remain valuable, responsive and relevant.
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In 1886, Royal Holloway College in Surrey was opened by Queen Victoria. By 1900, the colleges became part of the University of London, later merging in 1985 to form what is now Royal Holloway.
Our history of championing social change and inclusion underpins everything we do today. Fast forward to the present day, Royal Holloway is ranked 34th in the UK, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.