Our History since 1878

In our history we have grown from a single teacher training college in north London to a global university supporting over 37,000 students and apprentices across London, Dubai, and Mauritius.

1878: Laying our foundations

Our story begins with St Katherine's College, one of Britain's pioneering teacher training institutions. Located in central north London, this founding college established our enduring commitment to serving local communities and preparing graduates who would shape the future of their professions.

1901-1904: Innovation from industry links 

In 1901, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan opened the Ediswan Institute to provide lifelong learning opportunities for his factory workers. In 1904, Professor Ambrose Fleming developed the thermionic valve here, which became crucial in Colossus, the world's first electronic computer, that helped crack the German Enigma code during World War II.

1963: Study with real-world experience

The expansion of sandwich courses in UK higher education during the late 1950s and early 1960s was a shift towards practical industry-centred learning. Enfield College of Technology responded to growing demand by launching one of the first BA Honours in Business Studies featuring integrated work placements, with eight women and around 50 men studying on the course.

Image: © Henry Grant Collection/London Museum.

1968: Student artists make history 

Our students at Hornsey College of Art, known for its progressive approach to art education, staged a protest against the withdrawal of funding for the Students' Union. What began as a one-night sit-in became a six-week occupation helping establish students’ rights and leading to important arts education reforms across the UK.

Image credit: Associated Press / Alamy.

1973: Joining the polytechnic movement 

Enfield and Hendon Colleges of Technology merged with Hornsey College of Art to create Middlesex Polytechnic. Led by George Brosnan from Enfield College, we became a new type of educational institution emphasising practical skills and directly serving our local communities.

1992: Becoming Middlesex University 

After nearly 20 years, Middlesex Polytechnic became Middlesex University with the ability to award our own degrees. We maintained our distinctive approach to education, remaining committed to education for all, practical learning, and community engagement—values that continue to define us today.

1996-2000: Prize winning research and discovery

Three Queen's Anniversary Prizes recognised our academic excellence: Higher and Further Education (1996), Education Technology (1998), and our Flood Hazard Research Centre (2000). Researcher Peter Johns also achieved a significant breakthrough he invented Argentium silver, the most important development in silver technology for centuries.

2005-2011: Going global on three continents

Our international presence began with the opening of our Dubai campus in 2005, now home to over 3,200 students. In 2009, we established our second overseas campus in Mauritius, which continues to teach around 1,000 students annually. Our European campus in Malta also operated from 2011 until 2022.

2011-2013: One outstanding London campus

Our £80 million Grove building opened in 2011, housing state-of-the-art creative facilities. In 2013, we consolidated all our London operations onto a single campus, making us one of the few London universities offering a campus with everything in one place.

2017-2022: Investment in advanced STEM facilities

We invested £18 million in the Ritterman building with the UK's first cyber factory and a further £24 million for a high-tech training centre for healthcare and sports science at StoneX Stadium, home of Saracens Rugby. We were one of the first UK universities to use VR, AR and simulation to teach professional skills.

2021: Knowledge into Action

Our Strategy to 2031, ‘Knowledge into Action,’ was developed through over 4,000 contributions from our global community. This living document reflects our commitment to staying responsive to the changing needs of our students and society.

2024: New leadership for a new era

Professor Shân Wareing joined us as Vice-Chancellor in April 2024. Together, we began the transformation of our University for the future and refreshed our Strategy 2031 to ensure we remain ambitious and relevant across all our campuses.

2025: Student recognition

Our students voted us London University of the Year (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025), reflecting our continued focus on providing education that truly serves student needs and prepares graduates for meaningful careers.