The Courtauld Institute features in a new publication from London Higher, the voice of the capital’s higher education sector, which aims to demonstrate the ways in which London’s higher education provision combines a scale, diversity and excellence unmatched among its global peers. The Courtauld Institute was also recently named the world’s top institution for the study of History of Art according to QS World University Rankings 2026.
Their new publication marks the launch of a broader campaign, with London stakeholders joining forces with the capital’s universities, conservatoires, specialist institutions and research centres to make the case for London as the Higher Education Capital of the World.
In a foreword to the publication, the Mayor of London describes London’s higher education sector as a critical national asset, helping to drive growth, opportunity and international influence for the UK. The report shows that:
- London is the world’s leading higher education city by scale, diversity and global influence.
- The capital combines a concentration of universities, specialist institutions and research centres found nowhere else on earth.
- London’s higher education institutions contribute more to the UK economy than the Premier League and employ more people than Sainsbury’s nationwide.
- The benefits generated by London’s higher education sector extend well beyond the capital through research collaboration, graduate talent, business creation and international investment.
These findings reflect the Courtauld’s long-standing position as a leading global centre for the visual arts. Founded in London in 1932 by Samuel Courtauld as an academic centre devoted to the serious study of the history of art, the Courtauld Institute has been an independent college of the University of London since 2002.