Royal Holloway, University of London
A University of London college on a 135-acre parkland campus in Surrey, built around the Victorian Founder's Building.
- Students
- 12,662
- International
- 14%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £23,000
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1849
About Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway grew from two pioneering 19th-century colleges for women: Bedford College, founded in London in 1849 by Elizabeth Jesser Reid, and Royal Holloway College, founded in 1886 by the entrepreneur Thomas Holloway. The two merged in 1985. The college is part of the University of London and sits in 135 acres of parkland in Egham, Surrey, 19 miles from central London, with a smaller central London base in Bloomsbury.
Its landmark is the Founder's Building, a huge red-brick Victorian building arranged around quadrangles and home to the college's famous Picture Gallery. Academically, Royal Holloway is research-intensive for its size: it is in the top 25% of UK universities for research rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021), and its Information Security Group is a government-recognised Gold Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education. Departments range from Computer Science, Economics and Psychology to History, Music and the Law School.
Typical offers for 2027 are published as ranges, from ABB-BBB for History to AAA-AAB for Psychology. The college suits students who want a campus experience within reach of London and a mid-sized, research-led university.
Esse quam videri
“To be rather than to seem” — university motto
Why students choose Royal Holloway
The Founder's Building and its Picture Gallery make the campus one of the most striking in the UK, set in 135 acres of parkland.
The Information Security Group holds the UK Government's Gold Award as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education.
International undergraduates starting in September 2027 with BBB or equivalent get an automatic £3,000 off their fees every year.
New undergraduates who make Royal Holloway their firm choice and apply by the deadline are guaranteed accommodation, and can choose their own room.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Royal Holloway does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers are given as ranges, for example AAB-ABB for Computer Science and Law and AAA-AAB for Psychology.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | 2027 typical offer ranges: ABB-BBB (History), AAB-BBB (Economics), AAB-ABB (Computer Science, with Computer Science, Mathematics or Physics and GCSE Mathematics at 6; Law), AAA-AAB (Psychology) |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 32-30 points (History), 34-30 (Economics), 34-32 with 6,6,5-6,5,5 at HL (Computer Science, Law), 36-34 with 6,6,6-6,6,5 at HL (Psychology) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 Most courses ask for IELTS 6.5 overall: Computer Science with no subscore below 5.5; Law, Psychology and History with 6.0 in writing and at least 5.5 in each subscore. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. Royal Holloway's how-to-apply page listed 2 September 2025 to 14 January 2026 for the 2026 cycle.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS, independently or through your school. A-level, BTEC and IB results are usually verified through UCAS; after applying you use the Royal Holloway Applicant Portal to check your provisional fee status and offer.
What admissions looks for
- Grades within the published offer range for the course.
- Required subjects where listed, such as Computer Science, Mathematics or Physics at A-level for Computer Science.
- GCSE English Language and Mathematics, with higher Mathematics grades for some courses (grade 6 for Computer Science).
- A personal statement and reference submitted through UCAS.
Tips for applying to Royal Holloway
- 1 Offers are quoted as ranges, so aim for the top of the range; contextual factors can bring the lower end into play.
- 2 International applicants who reach BBB (or 30 IB points) receive £3,000 a year off tuition automatically.
- 3 Make Royal Holloway your firm choice and apply for halls by the deadline to secure the accommodation guarantee.
- 4 Modern Languages and Translation applicants must list their chosen languages in the further details section of the UCAS form.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
The Royal Holloway International Undergraduate Scholarship gives international students starting in September 2027 £3,000 off tuition in every year of study if they achieve BBB at A-level (or 30 IB points, or equivalent), awarded automatically. Home students receive automatic bursaries based on circumstances, such as £3,000 a year in cash for care leavers and estranged students.
- £3,000 off tuition each year (BBB or equivalent)
- International Undergraduate Scholarship 2027
- £3,000 cash per year
- Care leavers and estranged students bursary
Academics
Computer Science (BSc)
AAB-ABB, with pathways in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Software Engineering linked to the Information Security Group.
Psychology (BSc)
The most demanding offer of the main courses, AAA-AAB, with 36-34 IB points.
Economics (BSc)
AAB-BBB, with modules from game theory to the economics of war and data visualisation.
Law (LLB)
AAB-ABB, taught in the Law School, with an accelerated LLB also offered in central London.
History (BA)
ABB-BBB (32-30 IB points), in a college founded by pioneers of women's education.
Information security and cyber security pathways
Computer Science students can specialise in Cyber Security, drawing on the Information Security Group, a Gold-rated Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education.
Research
- Royal Holloway is 15th in the UK for the quality of research outputs in THE's analysis of REF 2021, and in the top 25% of UK universities overall.
- The Information Security Group is an interdisciplinary department covering all aspects of information and cyber security.
- Recent research includes work on hidden privacy concerns in menopause-tracking technology.
Schools & faculties
- Department of Computer Science
- Information Security Group
- Department of Economics
- Law School
- Department of Psychology
- Department of History
- Department of Music
Royal Holloway's overall National Student Survey positivity score was 85% in 2026, up from 83% in 2025.
Student life
Student life centres on the Egham campus: the Founder's Building quadrangles, lawns and woodland, the Picture Gallery and the campus halls, with the college's mascot, Colossus, part of its lore. The grounds are a popular film and TV location. Most first-years live in halls on or near campus and can pick their own hall, flat and room during their guarantee window. Central London is 19 miles away and Heathrow seven miles.
- The Founder's Building and its Picture Gallery.
- Colossus, the college's much-loved mascot.
- A frequent location for film and TV productions.
- A second base in Bloomsbury, central London.
Housing. New undergraduates who make Royal Holloway their firm choice and apply by the deadline are guaranteed accommodation and can self-select their room during their guarantee window.
Location
Egham is a small town in Surrey, 19 miles from central London and seven miles from Heathrow Airport. Students get a quiet, green campus in 135 acres of parkland while staying within reach of London for internships, culture and nights out, and the college also has a central London base in Bloomsbury.
Nearest airport: London Heathrow (LHR)
Notable alumni
- GE George EliotNovelist, author of Middlemarch (Bedford College)
- ED Emily DavisonSuffragette
- MS Mark StrongActor
- CA Cathy AshtonFormer EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs
- DB David BellamyBotanist and broadcaster
- SC Sophie ChristiansenParalympic equestrian and triple gold medallist
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Royal Holloway?
Typical 2027 offers are ranges: ABB-BBB for History, AAB-BBB for Economics, AAB-ABB for Computer Science and Law, and AAA-AAB for Psychology. IB offers run from 30 to 36 points.
How much are Royal Holloway's fees for international students?
For 2027/28, international fees are £23,000 to £27,900 a year depending on the course, for example £24,600 for Economics and £27,900 for Computer Science. Students with BBB or equivalent get £3,000 a year off automatically.
Is Royal Holloway in London?
It is a college of the University of London, but its main campus is in Egham, Surrey, 19 miles from central London. It also has a central London base in Bloomsbury.
Does Royal Holloway guarantee accommodation?
Yes, for new undergraduates who make it their firm choice and apply for accommodation by the deadline.
When is the Royal Holloway application deadline for 2027?
Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for equal consideration. UCAS forwards later applications until 30 June 2027.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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