Richmond, The American International University in London

Richmond American University London stands on the western edge of London in the London Borough of Hounslow. Its main campus sits inside Chiswick Business Park, a modern business district of glass-fronted office blocks and landscaped walkways. The university began in 1972 as Richmond College, the American College in London, on the site of the former Richmond Theological College founded in 1843. Cyril Taylor, a British educator and social entrepreneur, created the college to offer American-style liberal arts degrees to students from around the world. Over the years the university expanded into Kensington, where it ran programmes until 2023. Today the Chiswick campus is home to all undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

The university is worth the journey because it awards both a UK and a US degree from one four-year programme. Students graduate with qualifications recognised in Britain and America, giving them a distinct advantage in the job market. Richmond is governed by a board of trustees chaired by William Durden and led on a day-to-day basis by president Phil Deans. The university employs around 160 staff and teaches a broad range of subjects across six schools. It also runs the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy in Leeds, combining sports training with academic study.

Visitors to the Chiswick campus find a compact, modern university set among office buildings and green spaces. The campus contains lecture halls, seminar rooms and quiet study areas for students from more than forty countries. Outside, wide paths connect the buildings and lead to nearby bus stops and rail stations. The sports academy in Leeds offers football pitches and classrooms for those who want to combine sport with study. Both sites provide a focused environment where students can learn and live without leaving the city.