A Degree of Excellence - The Commonwealth

Students studied for examinations and received degrees either in London or as external students overseas. By 1937, examination centres for University of London degrees were spread around the globe in 79 different places. In 1943, a Commission was set up to investigate higher education in the Colonies - except India where 15 universities already existed. In the 1940s, the University of London entered into 'Special Relationships' with colleges in eight colonial countries with the objective of making available the experience of the University to bring about eventual autonomy and degree-giving status.

By the end of the Special Relationship period (1970), seven new universities had been founded in the Commonwealth and continued to develop as centres of postgraduate research in their respective countries. These were in Sudan, Uganda, the West Indies, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania.

The challenge was to adapt London syllabi into courses relevant to each country's requirements, without diminishing the University's academic standards. The University made regular inspections of the colleges and local teachers were appointed as examiners. Between 1938 and 1960 the number of teaching staff in the Commonwealth rose from 1,000 to 30,000; and the number of students from 238,000 to 1,200,000.

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies was founded in 1949. It specialises in postgraduate teaching and research in the social sciences and humanities of the Commonwealth and maintains the strong link between the University of London and the academic staff of Commonwealth universities.