Royal Holloway, University of London

Esse quam videri – to be rather than to seem

Featured Programs

Studying at one of the UK's most dynamic English departments will challenge you to develop your own critical faculties. Learning to write creatively and critically analyse in tandem, you'll be exposed to a huge variety of literature while you develop your own writing practice. Studying English will allow you to place your writing within a wider cultural context of literature throughout history, considering key texts and acquiring a sound understanding of significant periods, genres, authors and ideas.

Modules are taught by nationally and internationally known scholars, authors, playwrights and poets who are specialists in their fields who write ground-breaking books, talk or write in the national media and appear at literary festivals around the world.  This means the course you take covers the most up-to-date ideas, whether in Creative Writing, Victorian Literature, Shakespearean studies or contemporary literature.

Find your voice as a writer and develop writing techniques, learn how to create, criticise and shape an artistic work: a valuable life skill with uses beyond writing poetry, plays or novels. From journalism and website creation to advertising and academic publishing – you'll be able to use the skills you pick up in character, voice, ambiguity, style and cultural context.

Psychology is the study of how people think, react and interact. It is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivations that underlie such behaviour. It is an important subject because it relates to the whole range of human experience, from visual perception to complex social interactions.

Study psychology at Royal Holloway University of London and you’ll develop a thorough understanding of theories and approaches to the understanding of human behaviour across different core areas of Psychology, without limiting study to any specific area. Royal Holloway's Department of Psychology is among the best-equipped psychology departments in the country where students may benefit from the department's advanced technology. This includes an on-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for studying brain structure and activity, instruments for recording electrical changes in the brain (EEG) and other cutting-edge facilities to augment your learning.

Join our three-year course and you will be able to customise your learning in your final year, selecting from a number of optional modules including Consciousness & Cognition, Human Neuropsychology and Criminal and Forensic Psychology.

Studying History is exciting and rewarding; it encourages you to appreciate the human experience in other places and at other times. Exploring what people have felt, thought and done in the past expands our self-awareness. It will help to satisfy your curiosity about the past, acquire understanding of specific periods and problems, and make discoveries.

Our internationally renowned academics are developing the very latest thinking on historical problems; this cutting edge knowledge informs the curriculum and will enhance your learning experience. By studying History at one of the largest and most influential departments in the country you will be able to choose from an exceptionally broad range of subjects, enabling you to spread your studies across the medieval and modern worlds, from Ancient Rome through to modern China, from Saladin through to Margaret Thatcher.

Politics and International Relations looks at political ideas and processes, as well as global issues such as war and security, diplomacy and development. You will gain a solid foundation in politics, the history of international relations and IR theory, studying subjects such as democracy, decolonisation, democratisation, international organisations, foreign-policy making, human migration and human rights. As you progress, the flexible nature of the course allows you to specialise in those aspects of domestic politics, political theory and international relations that most interest you, for example, the recent global economic crisis, changes in the European Union, human migration and the threats posed by terrorists and new communications technologies. Ours is an active and engaged student community, and there are opportunities to take part in debating, Model United Nations and party political societies on campus.

Gain a thorough grounding in the basis, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease by studying Biomedical Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London. This comprehensive course will prepare you to join the ranks of biomedical researchers at the forefront of human health investigation. You’ll study biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, molecular biology and genetics before choosing from a range of optional modules in years 2 and 3, allowing you to specialise and follow your own particular interests.

You’ll benefit from facilities that include state-of-the-art equipment for bioinformatics, mass spectrometry and protein and gene sequencing, as well as our excellent imaging facilities, including confocal laser scanning microscopes for 3D live-cell imaging.

Through your studies you will gain an impressive portfolio of transferable skills, making you an attractive prospect for potential employers. Invaluable lab experience, specialist learning and communication skills will help you to join our alumni in sectors including medical research, biotechnology and clinical trials coordination.

  • Explore the function and integration of selected human physiological systems in normal physiology and disease.
  • Become familiar with molecular biology techniques.
  • Develop an understanding of the theory, technology, and clinical practice of human molecular genetics.
  • Carry out an individual laboratory or theoretical investigation under supervision.

BA Drama and Theatre at Royal Holloway is about more than the stage. You’ll study how performance engages with big ideas like identity, politics, power, and protest.

Learn to analyse, question, and make theatre that responds to the world around you. Balancing creative practice with critical thinking, this degree equips you to grow as a confident, versatile artist – on stage and beyond.

Take to the stage –

  • Learn from a teaching team with extensive experience in the field
  • Explore diverse performance forms, from classical drama to contemporary, digital, and global practice
  • Access professional facilities including the Caryl Churchill Theatre, Boilerhouse Theatre, rehearsal studios, and production labs

In your first year at Royal Holloway, you’ll take part in our Skills Lab module, designed to give you career-focused learning from the start. You’ll take part in skills workshops by staff from across the university, on topics ranging from careers and academic skills to technical theatre and digital performance.

In your final year, you’ll apply your skills in industry-focused modules like Radio Drama and Theatre for Young People. These help you reflect critically and prepare for your next steps.

Launch your career in areas such as theatre, TV, education, arts management, cultural policy, and teaching.

Through Science and in everyday life we understand that climate change is happening all around us. As our planet continues to warm up and climate patterns change, bringing extreme and unpredictable weather, environments will become hotter, drier or wetter, and the natural resources we rely upon will become increasingly threatened and all life of Earth will be severely impacted.

BSc Earth, Climate and Environmental Change is a new degree designed to develop a strong scientific understanding of Earth system science and how it has shaped today’s world. You’ll experience teaching that is research-led, quantitative science based and underpinned by the world-leading expertise of the academics in the Department of Earth Sciences. We offer a broad range of optional classes to allow you to tailor your degree to your own learning interests. You’ll study a hands-on degree with over 60% of timetabled study time taken up by hands on practical classes and the chance to participate on fieldtrips. Study in a department consistently ranked among the top 10 in the country and home to an inspiring research culture that informs our teaching.

About Us

Established in 1886, Royal Holloway, University of London was opened by Queen Victoria as one of the first all-women colleges in the UK. Today, we are proudly co-educational and open to students from all genders and backgrounds. Our main campus in Egham, Surrey, is just 40 minutes from central London and set within 135 acres of beautiful parkland. It is home to the iconic Founder’s Building, 25 academic departments, student residences, and a full range of support services – creating a close-knit, vibrant community. Here, students enjoy the best of both worlds: the benefits of a traditional campus experience alongside the cultural and professional opportunities of nearby London. In addition, some of our postgraduate programmes are delivered at our Central London campus in the heart of Bloomsbury, an ideal location for accessing the city’s world-class resources, networks, and attractions.

A member of the University of London, Royal Holloway has a distinguished reputation for research excellence and innovation. We are known for our strengths in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, and law, with research specialisms in areas such as cyber security, music, and creative writing.

Royal Holloway is home to over 12,000 students from more than 130 countries, with a strong international focus and approximately 25% of international students. Teaching is research-led and delivered by academics at the forefront of their fields, supported by modern facilities including cutting-edge laboratories, performance spaces, and a state-of-the-art modern library.

Through global research collaborations, exchange partnerships, and a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment, Royal Holloway equips students with a truly international outlook and the skills to succeed in a globalised world.

University Stats

Total Enrolment:
12,356
Undergraduate numbers:
10,831
Male/Female split:
59% Female - 41% Male
Location:
Egham, Surrey
International student numbers:
2,222
Notable alumni:
Novelist George Eliot; the Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison; the actor Sir Lenny Henry CBE; the first woman doctor: Dr Elizabeth Blackwell and Actor Mark Strong (Kingsman films and Cruella)

Entry Requirements

Royal Holloway operates a test-flexible admissions policy. We consider a combination of qualifications (as listed below) and assess each application on a case-by-case basis, admitting students based on their academic suitability for the programme they are applying to.

We are typically looking for one of the following:

  • Advanced Placement Tests (AP’s)  - Grades of 3+ in at least 2 AP tests*
  • SAT – Score of 1040-1200 overall in the New SAT reasoning test + one AP* with a grade 3+
  • ACT – Composite score of 21-27 in the ACT Examinations (including the ACT writing test) + one AP* grade 3+

* We can consider honors or college level classes in place of an AP test where we have subject specific requirements.

  •  International Baccalaureate (IB) – If you have taken the IB Diploma you will be considered for direct entry onto our undergraduate programmes. Specific grade requirements are in the course finder entry for your chosen course.
  • Associate Degree – Associate Degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 (year 1 entry; year 2 entry may be considered by a case by case basis).
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Quick Facts

Set on 134 acres of beautiful parkland, our Egham campus is often voted one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK
An alumni of Royal Holloway was the first female professor at Harvard
Royal Holloway is famous! Our campus has been seen on Downtown Abby (ITV) The Crown (Netflix), You (Netflix), Heartstopper (Netflix) and Avengers: Age of Ultron
Royal Holloway was opened by Queen Victoria on 30 June 1886
The Founder's Building is an impressive Victorian masterpiece based on a French chateau and home to a famous picture gallery and beautiful chapel. It can also be your home as one of our housing options for undergraduate students!
Eight subjects are ranked in the top 20 of the Guardian League Table 2025. These are Languages, Physics, Film Production, Classics, Creative Writing, Environmental Science, Geography and Music
Want to earn whilst you learn? Royal Holloway employs as many as 1 in 7 of its students! These student jobs integrate well with study timetables and help increase employability whilst learning new skills