Wednesday 25 May - 5pm @ Richmond campus
Join us for drinks on campus and see some of your former classmates. Any alumni interested in attending should contact us at alumni@richmond.ac.uk
Happy Birthday Richmond!
This year, 2022, marks Richmond’s 50th anniversary and begins a year of celebration for the University.
“I’m honoured to be President and Vice Chancellor of Richmond as we celebrate our 50th year in 2022 and would like to welcome all our students, alumni, staff, faculty and our wider Richmond community to join us in our 50th anniversary celebrations.”
Professor Phil Deans
President and Vice Chancellor
Richmond, The American International University in London
Get involved
Throughout 2022 we will be running a series of initiatives and events to celebrate our 50th birthday.
There are plenty of ways to get involved. Attend an event, discover something new, share your memories, make a difference.
If you are interested in attending either of the graduation events, contact our team to book a ticket: studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk
Hear from our Alumni
“Richmond has proved itself home for the past three years of my life. I will forever be grateful for the supportive environment and the life-long friends I have made here. Being a Richmond student is something I will be proud of for many years to come.”
“There are two best takeaways for me from the University: the learned Professors in the Maths and Economics departments from whom I had the pleasure of learning and the goodwill, care and support that the students draw from an exceedingly painstaking management team of Student Affairs, led by Ms Allison Cole-Stutz whose kindness and concern has simply overwhelmed me.”
“Overall, the Richmond experience has helped me to develop both hard and soft skills that I still use on a day-to-day basis in Investment Banking and also I have picked up the teaching style of my Finance professor, Dr Cohen, which I currently use as a professor in the MSc Finance (Banking & Finance) at King’s College London.”
“More than anything, Richmond is a community which supports and grows together. It is a great place to fulfill your dreams, the only thing needed is determination and the willpower to make your dreams a reality.”
“Since graduating from Richmond, I have had the amazing opportunity to intern and work for institutions like The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, The Smithsonian’s branch in Pittsburgh, The Senator John Heinz History Center and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. I truly believe my time at Richmond aided me in my ability to perform the tasks and jobs I have held since graduating.”
“I studied abroad at Richmond in the spring of 2011 as a history student from the University of South Carolina. People often say that their time studying abroad is one of the best in their lives; in my case, I can genuinely say that my time at Richmond changed the course of my life. The supervision I received from the academic staff gave me the confidence to pursue history at a more advanced level.
Similarly, I enjoyed studying in London so much I was inspired to return for both a Masters and PhD. To this day, I am still connected to Richmond through the mentorship of Prof Dominic Alessio, who has helped to guide me through a lot of major academic decisions and offered me the opportunity to publish with him. I owe my current life direction and many successes to the experience I had at Richmond all those years ago.”
“Studying here at Richmond has definitely given me that international environment I was looking for and has been truly and amazing experience!”
“When I signed up for Richmond little did I realise what an exceptional experience this would be; a multi-cultural bubble with fantastic faculty and inspiring students all in the heart of London.
The three years I spent at Richmond were invaluable and laid a strong foundation for both my personal development and professional career. From an academic standpoint, the quality of teaching and range of courses as well as the diverse inputs from its international students, all contribute to making Richmond superior to many of the top European universities.”
“At Richmond, the quality of instruction, class size, and diverse community of students helped make me uniquely prepared for my career. “
“I had the best academic and personal experience at Richmond University. The liberal arts degree, close relations with professors and the international environment provided a rigorous academic training and development opportunities.
“From the first time I stepped on campus, I knew the experience would be different to that back home in the US. Football is life over here in the UK and that’s exactly what I wanted to be around.”
“One of the greatest aspects of studying at Richmond was the liberal arts element to my International Relations degree. As well as being able to study my main subject, I was able to supplement this with other courses that I would not have necessarily been able to study in a typical British university.”
“I am truly grateful and proud to be part of Richmond with its unique and diverse community. Through the Student Government Association, I have been gifted an experience that I could not have received anywhere else. It has given me great pride in calling Richmond my home.”
“Richmond’s classes were unique to other institutions due to their dual degree program, allowing students to receive both an American degree and a British degree. I made lifelong friends from Tulane and Richmond University, and I learned so much about myself and the world around me!”.
“My time at Richmond has been more valuable to me than I could have ever previously expected. It is an absolute joy sitting in lectures and seminars and genuinely enjoying, not only the professors and my classmates, but the material.”
“Moving to London to complete my MBA was a once-in-a-lifetime-experience. The Richmond University MBA programme challenges students to think critically about pressing business issues in a fast-paced global market. Students gain hands-on experience through prestigious guest speakers and site visits – and have the opportunity to learn about business through a diverse lens of perspectives – both inside and outside the classroom.”
“My year at Richmond was challenging and exciting. One thing I treasure the most about my experience at Richmond is the deep connections I was able to build. Richmond offered me the perfect experience: an international campus with a diverse student body, and the possibility to engage in one-to-one sessions with my professors. In my opinion, Richmond’s key advantage is the support that all the students receive, from the open day to the day they receive their degree.”
“Guest speaker and specialist sessions with Condé Nast are truly complementary to my studies of Luxury Brand Management. Condé Nast College shows us the real side of luxury and helps to deepen our knowledge. In addition, Richmond courses are very hands-on with loads of case studies.”
Share your memories
As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we are asking students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends to tell us what ‘Unity in Diversity’ means to them. Please send us your memories, videos, photos, artwork and ideas to alumni@richmond.ac.uk
Tried & True
In 2020 we launched the ‘Tried and True’ campaign to showcase that Richmond has and will forever carry the same values. Our brand of Student focused, Liberal Arts education has been at the core of our University for 50 years.
We re-visited some of those alumni and students in 2021 to talk about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and just to say hi.
Download your copy of that updated campaign publication and read more from those students.
Donate and make a difference
The theme of our 50th year giving campaign and indeed, the focus of Richmond today and tomorrow is to find ways to bring international students together to challenge one another in a supportive learning environment where diversity, equity and inclusion are at the root of everything we do. Can you help us stay united in diversity?
Research and Innovation
Can you help fund our passions for creativity and enterprise for future generations?
Student Employability
Skills for employment are woven into our curriculum, but not all of our students are able to take part in work-related experience to build their careers.
Student Support
International education shouldn’t be a luxury for a select few. Can you help us encourage international students to join us during this time of uncertainty?
Study Abroad
Do you remember your first international experience? Can you help create this experience for others?
International Student Mobility
Unfortunately, not every student has the opportunity to take part in the transformative educational opportunities offered at an international university.
The Richmond General Fund
Your help is vital to deliver our vision of being a leading liberal arts university and our mission to educate and inform future generations.
A history of Richmond
1972
Richmond is founded
Richmond was founded by social entrepreneur and politician Sir Cyril Taylor, chairman of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), as Richmond College, The American College in London
1972 - September
Richmond begins teaching
The University began teaching on the site of the former Richmond Theological College, part of the University of London, founded in 1843 as a Methodist theological college
First Board of Academic Governors included some highly prestigious academic including Professor Brian Cox of Manchester University, Professor Leonard Schapiro of the LSE, Sir Edward Maitland Wright of the University of Aberdeen, Lord Asa Briggs, the leading historian
1972 - 1973
The Interim Year Abroad
The ‘Interim Year Abroad’ was launched for international students to be followed in subsequent years by a two-year Associate of Arts programme and a four-year BA
1973
Programme portfolio extended
Further courses were added to the Study Abroad programme including History, Business and Latin, as well as ecology and horticulture
1975
First graduates
The developing two-year Associate of Arts programme produced its first graduates in 1975
1977
Art History programme
An Art History programme started with courses being taught at the National Gallery and then at Senate House, University of London before moving to Kensington
1978
Kensington campus opens
A second campus opened on St Albans Grove (Atlantic House) in Kensington for third and fourth year students as well as the University’s US Study Abroad Programme – Atlantic House had a Blue Plaque commemorating Richard Ansdell (1815-1885), the painter who lived there from 1862 to 1884
Richmond’s first Studio Art programme began at the Kensington campus
Richmond’s credited Internship programme began, giving students the opportunity to gain invaluable workplace experience
1981
Formal accreditation
Richmond able to award US undergraduate degrees from the Washington DC Board of Education and formal accreditation from the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges
There were three degree programmes initially – Business Administration, British Studies and English Literature and another 10 majors were developed during the 1980’s
1988
Kensington expands
An expansion of the University’s Kensington campus on Young Street was officially opened by Diana, Princess of Wales
1995
AIFS partnership
AIFS made the University a non-profit educational institution
1996
UK accreditation
From 1996 to 2018 Richmond issued British degrees validated by the Open University
1998
Postgraduate degree launch
Richmond inaugurated its first postgraduate degree with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree
2009
RIASA joins Richmond
Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA) founded in Leeds with Mark Ellis, Director and Co-founder of RIASA
2011
Professor John Annette becomes president
Professor John Annette became the 8th President of Richmond
2018
Richmond granted TDAP status
Richmond granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP) by the Privy Council, meaning that the University could award its own UK degrees in addition to US degrees
2018 - May
Professor Lawrence Abeln becomes president
Professor Lawrence Abeln became 9th President
2019
Professor Phil Deans becomes president
Professor Phil Deans became 10th President
2019 - September
Kensington expands further
New Kensington High Street facility added, location for the University’s Masters students
2020
CEG partnership
The University signed a partnership agreement with the China Education Group (CEG)
2022
A new home for Richmond
Move of main campus facility to the award-winning and innovative Chiswick Park
