Royal College
Encyclopedia
A Royal College in some Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

 countries is technically a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

 which has received permission to use the prefix Royal. Permission is usually granted through a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...

. The charter normally confers a constitution with perpetual succession and the right to sue or be sued independently of the members. The charter also usually provide for rights of recourse to the Queen in Council. Although incorporation is now cheaply and easily obtainable by registration, the distinction of a Royal Charter means that such charters are still sought by and granted to institutions considered to be in the public interest, typically learned professional societies.

Although many institutions are formally Royal Colleges, such as the three royal public schools
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...

 of Westminster
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...

, Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...

 and Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....

, the phrase "The Royal Colleges" is commonly applied to the medical professional societies, such as the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...

, and the Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...

 and similar institutions in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, and elsewhere.

These colleges enjoy a special status whereby they can confer recognised post-nominal titles comparable to degrees, e.g. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and they are frequently granted statutory licensing, regulatory and disciplinary powers over their own members and even others.

Royal College Colombo is the leading public school in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

 established by the British government.

Australia and New Zealand

Professional bodies
  • Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
    Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
    The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia is a medical organization that promotes the science and practice of pathology. It has members in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia....

  • Royal College of Nursing of Australasia
  • Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
    Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
    The Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons or RACDS is a professional college established in 1965 that administers Fellowship Exams for both general and specialist dental practitioners in the Australasian region...

  • Royal Australasian College of Physicians
    Royal Australasian College of Physicians
    The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, or RACP, is the organisation responsible for training, educating, and representing over 9,000 physicians and paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand. It was founded in 1938....

  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
    Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
    The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the body responsible for training and examining surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. The head office of the College is in Melbourne, Australia....

  • Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
    Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
    The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is the body responsible for training and examining obstetricians and gynaecologists in New Zealand and Australia...

  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
    Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
    The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists is responsible for training, examining and representing ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand...

  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
    Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
    The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists is the leading professional organisation for the promotion of the science and practice of the medical specialties of diagnostic and interventional radiology and radiation oncology in Australia and New Zealand...

  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
    Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
    The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand and has responsibility for training, examining and awarding the qualification of Fellowship of the College to medical...


  • Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
    Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
    The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners is the professional body for General Practitioners in Australia.The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian...

  • Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons

  • Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
    Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
    The Royal New Zealand College Of General Practitioners is the professional body for General Practitioners in New Zealand.The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in New Zealand...

  • Royal New Zealand Police College
    Royal New Zealand Police College
    The Royal New Zealand Police College is the central training institution for police recruits and police officers in New Zealand. It is located at Papakowhai, approximately 2 km north of Porirua City....



Military
  • Royal Military College, Duntroon
    Royal Military College, Duntroon
    The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...

  • Royal Australian Naval College

Canada

Professional bodies
  • Royal College of Dentists of Canada
    Royal College of Dentists
    The Royal College of Dentists of Canada administers examinations for qualified dental specialists as part of the dentistry profession in Canada....

  • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
    Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
    The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ' , French: Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada, is a national, private, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee the medical education of specialists in Canada...

  • Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
    Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
    -The Organization:The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, more commonly known as RCDSO, was established on March 4th, 1868 by Ontario Statute...

  • Royal Canadian College of Organists
    Royal Canadian College of Organists
    The Royal Canadian College of Organists , founded in 1909,is a national association of organists and church musicians in Canada, with 32 centres from Victoria, British Columbia to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.The National Office is in Toronto....



Military
  • Royal Military College of Canada
    Royal Military College of Canada
    The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...

  • Royal Military College Saint-Jean
    Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean
    Royal Military College Saint-Jean is a Canadian military academy located on the site of Fort Saint-Jean , originally built 1666, which is now part of the town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 40 km south of Montreal, Quebec...


Ireland

  • Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
    Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
    The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland , was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows...

  • Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
    The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...

  • Royal College of Science for Ireland
    Royal College of Science for Ireland
    The Royal College of Science for Ireland was created as a result of a decision of HM Treasury in 1865 to merge a number of science-oriented education bodies including the Museum of Irish Industry and Government School of Science applied to Mining and the Arts. It was originally based at 51 St...


United Kingdom

  • The old Royal Colleges;
    • Eton College
      Eton College
      Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....

      , Windsor
      Windsor, Berkshire
      Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....

    • Winchester College
      Winchester College
      Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...

      , Hampshire
      Hampshire
      Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...

    • Westminster School
      Westminster School
      The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...

      , London
      London
      London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...



Conservatoires
  • Royal College of Music
    Royal College of Music
    The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...

    , London
  • Royal College of Organists
    Royal College of Organists
    The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...

    , Birmingham
  • Royal Northern College of Music
    Royal Northern College of Music
    The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...

    , Manchester
    Manchester
    Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

  • Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
    Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
    The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is a conservatoire within the University of Glamorgan Group located in Cardiff, Wales....

    , Cardiff
    Cardiff
    Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...



Universities
  • Royal College of Art
    Royal College of Art
    The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...

    , London
  • Royal College of Science and Technology
    Royal College of Science and Technology
    The Royal College of Science and Technology, situated at 138 George Street in Glasgow, Scotland was the principal predecessor institution of the University of Strathclyde, and now serves as one of the main educational buildings of the campus.-History:...

    , Glasgow
    Glasgow
    Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

     (now the University of Strathclyde
    University of Strathclyde
    The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...

    )
  • Royal Agricultural College
    Royal Agricultural College
    The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...

    , Gloucestershire
    Gloucestershire
    Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....


  • Imperial College London
    Imperial College London
    Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...

    • Royal College of Science
      Royal College of Science
      The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...

      , London
    • Royal College of Chemistry
      Royal College of Chemistry
      The Royal College of Chemistry was a college originally based on Oxford Street in central London, England. It operated between 1845 and 1872....

      , London

  • University of London
    University of London
    -20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...

    • Royal Holloway College, London
    • Royal Veterinary College
      Royal Veterinary College
      The Royal Veterinary College is a veterinary school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The RVC was founded in 1791 and joined the University of London in 1949...

      , London


Professional bodies
  • Royal College of Anaesthetists
    Royal College of Anaesthetists
    The Royal College of Anaesthetists is "the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom". It sets standards in anaesthesia, critical care, pain management, and for the training of anaesthetists, physician assistants - and practising critical care...

  • Royal College of General Practitioners
    Royal College of General Practitioners
    The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional body for general practitioners in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing, education, training, research and clinical standards. It is the largest of the medical royal colleges, with...

  • Royal College of Nursing
    Royal College of Nursing
    The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...

  • Royal College of Organists
    Royal College of Organists
    The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...

  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
    Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
    The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is a professional association based in the UK. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, that is, pregnancy, childbirth, and female sexual and reproductive health...

  • Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
    Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
    Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in London is responsible for the training of postgraduate doctors in paediatrics and conducting the MRCPCH membership exams. They also conduct the Diploma in Child Health exam, which is taken by many doctors who plan a career in General Practice...

  • Royal College of Pathologists
    Royal College of Pathologists
    The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...

  • Royal College of Physicians
    Royal College of Physicians
    The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...

  • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
    Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
    The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...

  • Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
    Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
    The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...

  • Royal College of Psychiatrists
    Royal College of Psychiatrists
    The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...

  • Royal College of Radiologists
    Royal College of Radiologists
    The Royal College of Radiologists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of clinical oncology and clinical radiology throughout the United Kingdom. Its role is to advance the science and practice of radiology and oncology, further public education and set appropriate professional...

  • Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
    Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
    The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...

  • Royal College of Surgeons of England
    Royal College of Surgeons of England
    The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...

  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
    Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
    The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom. Established in 1844 by Royal Charter, its statutory duties are laid out in the 1966 Veterinary Surgeons Act.-Role:...



Military
  • Royal College of Defence Studies
    Royal College of Defence Studies
    The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...

    , London
  • Royal Military College (now the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
    Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
    The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...

    )
  • Royal Military College of Science (now the Defence College of Management and Technology
    Defence College of Management and Technology
    The Defence Academy - College of Management and Technology is a British postgraduate school, research institution and training provider formed in 2009 from five departments of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and as such part of the British Armed Forces. Since 1984 Cranfield University...

    )
  • Royal Naval College, Greenwich
  • Britannia Royal Naval College
    Britannia Royal Naval College
    Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...

    , Dartmouth
    Dartmouth, Devon
    Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...

  • Royal Air Force College, Cranwell
    Royal Air Force College Cranwell
    The Royal Air Force College is the Royal Air Force training and education academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with...

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