School Overview

Queen Mary University of London is a leading research university located in London and a member of the prestigious Russell Group. It is known for combining academic excellence with a strong commitment to social mobility, inclusion, and public impact. Queen Mary offers a wide range of programmes across the humanities and social sciences, medicine and dentistry, and science and engineering, giving students access to both specialist strength and interdisciplinary opportunity.

History

Queen Mary has a long, distinctive history built on four historic institutions stretching back to 1785 and beyond. These include foundations in medical education, public service, and access to higher education in East London. Over time, these institutions developed and merged into the modern Queen Mary University of London, creating a university with deep roots in academic excellence and civic mission.

Notable Strengths

Queen Mary is particularly well known for medicine and dentistry, law, humanities, social sciences, engineering, computer science, and the natural sciences. It has built a strong academic reputation in areas such as public health, biomedical science, law, politics, literature, and data-driven scientific research. Its location in London also strengthens its profile in disciplines connected to healthcare, public policy, global affairs, and business.

Academic Structure

The university is made up of three faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences, Medicine and Dentistry, and Science and Engineering. Within these faculties are a number of schools and institutes that support both subject depth and cross-disciplinary research.

Distinctive Features

Queen Mary stands out for its combination of research intensity, diversity, and strong connection to London. It offers students a campus-based experience in one of the world’s most dynamic cities, while also maintaining a clear institutional mission focused on inclusion, opportunity, and public engagement. This gives the university a distinctive identity among major UK research universities.

Admissions

Undergraduate admission to Queen Mary is competitive and holistic. The university considers all the information in an application before making a decision, including academic qualifications, English language qualifications, the personal statement, the academic reference, any additional requirements such as interviews or portfolios, and relevant widening access information. Meeting the entry requirements allows an applicant to enter the selection process, but does not guarantee an offer.

Summary

Queen Mary University of London is a research-led, globally connected university with a strong social mission, broad academic strengths, and a distinctive London identity. It is especially attractive to students seeking a balance of academic ambition, diversity, and real-world engagement.

What are Queen Mary University of London looking for?

Queen Mary University of London is looking for applicants with strong academic potential, appropriate preparation for their chosen course, and evidence that they are ready to succeed in a demanding university environment.

First, Queen Mary places significant importance on academic qualifications. Applicants need to meet, or be predicted to meet, the required entry standards for their chosen degree programme. If required subjects are not met, the application cannot normally be considered further.

Second, the university considers the full application rather than relying on a single measure. This includes academic qualifications, English language qualifications, the personal statement, the academic reference, and any additional requirements such as interviews or portfolios where relevant.

Third, Queen Mary values subject fit. Applicants should show that they are genuinely interested in the course they are applying for and that their studies, skills, and experiences have prepared them well for that subject.

Fourth, the university also takes contextual and widening access information into account where relevant. This reflects its commitment to fairness, inclusion, and recognising achievement in context.

Finally, Queen Mary is looking for students who can contribute to a diverse and intellectually engaged university community in London. Academic readiness is central, but so is the ability to thrive in an inclusive, research-led, and globally connected environment.

In summary, Queen Mary is looking for students who are academically capable, well prepared, genuinely motivated for their subject, and ready to succeed in a diverse and ambitious university setting.

Admissions Statistics

ADMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Additional essay questions of the application.