Students have formed a significant part of London’s population since the foundation of its first university in 1826. This talk centres their experiences in the city’s history and is based on the book Student London: a new history of higher education in the capital (UCL Press, 2026), by our speakers, Georgina Brewis and Sam Blaxland. Their book offers a detailed examination of life at the original London University (known as University College London since 1836) alongside many other institutions that eventually joined with UCL. It captures a diverse range of higher education experiences across medical schools, teacher training colleges and specialist institutes. A sweeping history of an ever-changing city, the book engages in much greater depth with London’s imperial history than earlier studies of higher education.  First, Georgina and Sam will show a short film that explores the making of Student London. Their talk will examine some of the book’s core themes including students’ everyday lives, fees and funding, collegiate cultures, social and political engagement, physical and mental health, recreation, sports and leisure.

Georgina Brewis is Professor of Social History at UCL, and Sam Blaxland is Lecturer in Education at UCL.

Admission: Free to CHS members. Non-members welcome (£2 at the door).