Colleges
At the heart of Roehampton are our four historic Colleges - Digby Stuart, Froebel, Southlands and Whitelands - each bringing its own history, values and traditions to campus life.
At Roehampton, a College is your smaller community within the wider University. It's where you'll find support, meet people, take part in events and traditions, and build friendships throughout your time here.
When you join the Roehampton community, you will be assigned a College. If you choose to live on campus in your first year, then you will automatically become a student at the College in which your accommodation is based. You will remain part of this College throughout your degree, even if you move off campus.
If you are living at home, or anywhere else not on our campus, when you start your studies, then the College you join will be determined by where the majority of your teaching takes place. Again, you will be a member of the College you join throughout your time at Roehampton no matter where you might live in later years.
The best thing about being part of a College is that it gives you opportunities to get to know people and make friends outside of your course of study. So, even if you are living off campus, the social events you are invited to will give you the chance to feel part of a close-knit community of students, from all kinds of backgrounds.
Our Colleges run student events throughout the year, including student-led parties, formal dinners, award ceremonies, exhibitions and much more. We have a range of inter-college competitions, including sports matches. Each of our Colleges has its own history and traditions, but all four are committed to helping you feel part of our community, grow in confidence and thrive.
“Roehampton has such a warm and loveable community where everyone feels welcome. Studying here really feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Margaritis, BSc Psychology student
Digby Stuart College
Digby Stuart College was first established in 1874 as a women's teacher training college. It was founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, an order of French religious women who settled at Roehampton in 1850 having first arrived in England in 1846.
Today Digby Stuart is home to some of our newest facilities, including our Welcome Centre, based in Elm Grove. The ethos of the College is based on social justice and equality, and all Digby Stuart students can expect to be treated with dignity and kindness.
Froebel College
Founded in 1892, Froebel has for many years been a college in which high academic achievement, profoundly influenced by its tradition, has produced outstanding success in academic life. The ethos of the College is based on the philosophy of Friedrich Froebel.
The College is based within and around Grove House, which dates back to 1792 and was designed by architect James Wyatt for Sir Joshua Vanneck. Froebel is also home to the School of Education - renowned for being one of Britain’s major centres for teacher training and educational research.
Southlands College
Southlands College opened in Battersea on 26 February 1872 as a training college for women teachers. In 1997, Southlands moved into new premises designed by architects Sheppard Robson on the current Roehampton campus.
Southlands has a rich history and maintains a strong commitment to the ethos of its Methodist foundation, which is seen in the lives and actions of its members and their relationships with one another and the community around us. The College is committed to the causes of equality, social justice and community engagement.
Whitelands College
Whitelands College has a long and distinctive history. Founded in 1841 as a teachers’ training college, it is among the oldest higher education institutions in England, and one of the very first to provide education for women.
Whitelands was established by the Church of England, and continues to retain its Anglican ethos and links with the church, whilst welcoming students of all faiths or none. Today it occupies a beautiful 14-acre site overlooking London’s Richmond Park.