The forerunner to the University of Surrey Roehampton, the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, was created in 1975 by the federation of four teacher training colleges with nineteenth-century origins. The colleges, in order of foundation, are Whitelands, an Anglican foundation, Southlands, a Methodist foundation, Digby Stuart, named after two pioneers in Catholic education, and Froebel, established to promote the progressive educational philosophy of Friedrich Froebel. Academic work is organised and controlled on an institution-wide basis, but the collegiate structure is still an important feature.
Roehampton is a partner of the Federal University of Surrey, the other partner being the University of Surrey (UniS). Whilst working closely together, Roehampton and UniS remain independent, self-regulating universities. Both register students independently and Roehampton students are taught on a Roehampton campus. Because each institution controls its own property, employs its own staff and registers its own students, applications are made to each institution separately. Applicants use distinct UCAS codes for both Roehampton and UniS.
In late 2003, University of Surrey Roehampton announced that it would submit an application for independent university title to the Department for Education and Skills. Consultation is underway regarding a new name to reflect this change, the most likely proposal being Roehampton University London. The application will be considered by the Privy Council, and March 2004 is the earliest an outcome is expected.