We have some of the best new academic, library, sports, arts and accommodation facilities of any university in the UK, as well as one of the most envied Professional Training placement programmes in the world. This combination of prestige, expertise, resources and lifestyle is unique, and it’s all to be found here in the beautiful countryside of the Surrey Hills just half an hour from central London. The University of Surrey was established on 9 September 1966 with the grant of its Royal Charter but its roots go back to a late 19th century concern to provide greater access to further and higher education for the 'poorer inhabitants' of London. The forerunner of the University, the Battersea Polytechnic Institute (founded 1891, first students admitted 1894) began concentrating on science and technology from about 1920 and taught day and evening students for degrees of the University of London. Its academic reputation steadily grew to the point in 1956 where it was one of the first colleges to be designated a 'college of advanced technology'. It was renamed Battersea College of Technology in 1957.By the beginning of the sixties the College had virtually outgrown its main building in Battersea Park Road and in 1962 it had already decided to move to Guildford. Shortly afterwards (1963), the Robbins Report proposed that Battersea College, along with the other colleges of advanced technology, should expand and become a university awarding its own degrees. The greenfield site for the University-designate was acquired from Guildford Cathedral, Guildford Borough Council and the Onslow Village Trust in 1965, and the move from Battersea was completed in 1970. Current reminders of the University's origins include the street signs displayed in Union House and the houses in Battersea Court Hall of Residence, which are named after Chairmen of the Governing Body and Principals of the Battersea Polytechnic. The University of Surrey first validated courses at the Roehampton Institute London in 1980. Following the University's accreditation of Roehampton's taught course provision in 1991, the Institute was granted Taught Degree and Research Degree awarding powers by the Privy Council in 1993 and 1998 respectively. In 1998, as a result of the continuing development in the relationship between the University of Surrey and the Roehampton Institute London, the two institutions decided to form an academic federation. In November 1999, the Privy Council approved the necessary changes to the University's Charter and Statutes and the Roehampton Institute became The University of Surrey Roehampton at the beginning of 2000. The University of Surrey and Roehampton worked together as the Federal University until 1st August 2004 when Roehampton became a University in its own right, thus ending a unique partnership although the two Universities continue to support collaborative activities.