The university traces its roots to 1890, when Britain’s second polytechnic was opened near the Thames at Woolwich to teach practical and commercial skills to London workers. An innovator from the start, the polytechnic pioneered the country’s first part-time day-release and sandwich courses.

Over the years a range of specialist organisations have joined the institution, giving it diverse strengths in subjects such as teacher training, architecture, engineering and history. The name Thames Polytechnic was adopted in 1970 and the institution became the University of Greenwich when it was awarded university status in 1992. The university today is proud of its diverse student body. People from more than 100 countries choose to study at Greenwich, part of an international student community of 4,000.