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Royal Holloway started as a philanthropic mission to support education for all – help us continue it

Give now to help the next generation of Royal Holloway students.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in the history of the College.

Royal Holloway was founded by two Victorian social pioneers who were committed to providing education and knowledge to everyone – especially women, as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College were among the very first colleges in the UK to give women access to higher education.

Elizabeth Jesser Reid, a pioneering social reformer, founded Bedford College in 1849 as the first college in Great Britain for the higher education of women.

Thomas Holloway, a self-made multi-millionaire who made his fortune in patent medicines, founded Royal Holloway in 1886 after he took his wife’s advice that a college for women would prove ‘the greatest public good’.

Today, the generosity of our donors continues to ensure that our students can access a rounded university education, achieve their goals and go on to pursue successful careers.

Explore Royal Holloway

Get help paying for your studies at Royal Holloway through a range of scholarships and bursaries.

There are lots of exciting ways to get involved at Royal Holloway. Discover new interests and enjoy existing ones.

Heading to university is exciting. Finding the right place to live will get you off to a good start.

Whether you need support with your health or practical advice on budgeting or finding part-time work, we can help.

Discover more about our 21 departments and schools.

Find out why Royal Holloway is in the top 25% of UK universities for research rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Royal Holloway is a research intensive university and our academics collaborate across disciplines to achieve excellence.

Discover world-class research at Royal Holloway.

Discover more about who we are today, and our vision for the future.

Royal Holloway began as two pioneering colleges for the education of women in the 19th century, and their spirit lives on today.

We’ve played a role in thousands of careers, some of them particularly remarkable.

Find about our decision-making processes and the people who lead and manage Royal Holloway today.