University Profile
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University, Mile End
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
About Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is a Russell Group university with a distinctive self-contained campus in Mile End, East London. Founded in 1885 as the People's Palace, it was created to bring education to London's East End communities. Today it's a research-intensive university with particular strengths in law, medicine, English and drama, and materials science.
QMUL is notable for having a genuine campus in London — most London universities are spread across buildings with no defined centre. Queen Mary's Mile End campus has a library, Students' Union, sports facilities and accommodation all in one place, giving it a community feel unusual in the capital.
For North American students, QMUL offers a Russell Group London education at a somewhat lower entry point and cost than UCL, KCL or Imperial, with the advantage of a proper campus. East London has undergone massive regeneration and is now one of the city's most exciting areas — close to the Olympic Park, Stratford and the thriving Shoreditch creative scene.
Key Highlights
- 1Russell Group university with a self-contained campus in London — rare for the capital
- 2Law school ranked among the top 10 in the UK
- 3Strong medicine and dentistry (Barts and the London School of Medicine)
- 4Materials science research ranked in the UK top 5
- 5East London location: close to the Olympic Park, Shoreditch and Canary Wharf
- 6One of the most diverse student bodies of any Russell Group university
Campus & Student Life
QMUL's Mile End campus is a green, self-contained space in the middle of one of London's most vibrant areas. The campus has its own accommodation, library, gym and Students' Union — which means you get the campus community feel within London. East London is the city's creative and diverse heartland: Shoreditch (street art, coffee culture, tech startups) is 15 minutes away, Stratford and the Olympic Park are next door, and Canary Wharf (finance) is a short Tube ride. The student body is one of the most diverse in the UK.
For North American Students
Min. GPA (indicative)
Not specified
SAT/ACT Accepted
Not typically required
Application Route
Via UCAS
English Requirement
Check university website
QMUL accepts AP scores (typically 4-5), IB diploma (32-36 points) and Canadian qualifications. Entry requirements are slightly more accessible than UCL, KCL or Imperial, making it a strong option for North American students who want a Russell Group London experience. The campus model will feel more familiar to North American students than the scattered-building approach of other London universities.
Research Strengths
Notable Alumni
Sir Peter Mansfield
Nobel Prize winner, co-inventor of MRI scanning
J.G. Ballard
Author (Empire of the Sun, Crash)
Lord Phillips
First President of the UK Supreme Court
Dame Athene Donald
Physicist and Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
Key Facts
- Founded
- 1785
- Total Students
- 25,000+
- International Students
- 38%
- Tuition (Int'l UG)
- £22,000 – £35,000/yr
- Campus Setting
- City campus
📍 About London
Mile End is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, one of the city's most diverse areas. Shoreditch, Brick Lane (famous curry houses), the Olympic Park and Victoria Park are all nearby. The Tube provides fast access to central London (15 minutes to the West End). Living costs are London-level but slightly lower than Zone 1 — budget £800-1,100/month for accommodation.
Ready to Apply?
UK undergraduate applications are made through UCAS. Postgraduate applications go direct to the university.
Visit University Website →Check UCAS Points →