Richmond becomes first university in UK to award British and US degrees

Graduation: Students could come out with British or US degrees
PA Wire/PA Images

Students at a London university will become the first in the UK to be given both British and American degrees.

Richmond, the American International University, already has the authority to award US degrees and has now been granted the same power by the UK authorities. From August, students will be handed two certificates at graduation for their degree course.

The university has been operating in London for nearly 50 years and has campuses in Richmond and Kensington. It is a private university but charges £9,250 a year for UK and EU citizens, the same as other British universities.

The Privy Council granted the university “taught degree awarding powers” following an 18-month review by the UK Quality Assurance Agency, which maintains standards in higher education. It holds US degree-granting authority from the State of Delaware.

John Annette, president of the university, said: “This is a significant milestone in Richmond’s history. We’re delighted that we can now award our own UK degrees. The dual accreditation in the UK and US offers a unique and international education for students which is an ideal preparation for a range of careers.

“Richmond is a liberal arts university, offering students the breadth of study and induction into a range of disciplines that is the hallmark of the liberal arts tradition. We are the only UK university where all undergraduate degrees can be studied within this framework.

“Blending the US expectations of a broad curriculum with the British system of specialisation means that our students graduate with a multi-disciplinary knowledge of the world together with in-depth study in a specific area of interest — something we regard as a winning combination.”

Separately a college in Greenwich has been granted university status. Now known as Ravensbourne University London, it specialises in digital media. Professor Linda Drew, the university’s director, said: “The awarding of university status acknowledges Ravensbourne’s academic integrity as a higher education institution with rigorous standards and academic governance. It’s a further endorsement of the quality and breadth of learning offered here.”

Jonathan Drori, chairman of the board of governors, said: “This is great news and a just reward for the drive and ambition of the whole institution.

“In a landscape of hectic change, Ravensbourne is well positioned for the future. We already have tight relationships with industry and our new university status will help us to become even more intimate with the creative sector that is so important to London and the wider economy.”

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