The University of West London is career focused university with over 10,000 students which is nationally recognised for its commitment to its students and their higher education experience. We were voted number 1 in the UK for student satisfaction, student voice and academic support in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2022; and University of the Year for Student Experience and University of the Year for Teaching Quality in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. Our engagement with partners from across sectors is one of our defining strengths. We have long standing relationships with over 6000 industry partners as well as with local, regional and national government.

Extending higher education opportunities to learners from all backgrounds and ages is engrained in the mission and culture of the university. Over half of our full-time undergraduates come from low- income backgrounds and are over the age of 21. In 2021 we merged Ruskin College Oxford with the university. Ruskin was founded in 1899 with the mission of the college to provide educational opportunities to adults who are excluded and disadvantaged. Over its long history it has been a driver of widening access to higher education and specifically into the University of Oxford for older learners.

As lifelong learning becomes pivotal to our ability as a society to respond to the challenges of the early 21st century the university aims to place itself at the forefront creating new and innovative provision to allow those from across the life course to develop the skills they need.