A legacy of
world-changing ideas
Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost.
Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost.
UCL is an extraordinary place. For the last two hundred years it has been a catalyst for ideas that have changed the course of history. Our university has attracted people who, with creativity and passion, have had a profoundly positive impact on society. I would expect nothing less from a university that is consistently ranked as one of the top ten in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024: Top global universities).
Our success has always been thanks to our people, whether staff, students, alumni or supporters who believe in our work. I take great pride in the positive difference that UCL makes to individuals, communities and society, and I know you will too.
And having been key to our past successes, it is also our people who will provide the fertile soil needed for our future success. As we set our course for another two hundred years of remarkable contributions to the world, we look to our community’s generosity to bolster our ambitions. Your gift will provide more scholarships for talented students, help develop facilities and fuel the research breakthroughs that will make the future better and brighter.
Leaving a gift in your will is unlike any other philanthropic donation. It is a profound act of reflection, looking back on a life well lived and looking forward to a future filled with hope.
I hope that your decision to support our work in this way also brings you a sense of satisfaction and joy; providing an opportunity to reflect fondly on your time with UCL and to consider how your generosity will ensure you are not only part of our past but part of our future as well.
Your gift for our future
Leaving a gift in your will provides valuable support to UCL, whether it is directed toward an area of research that is close to your heart, or through an unrestricted gift which permits us to direct funds to the area of greatest need. Regardless of where you direct your support, we value your generosity.
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Student support
Key to UCL’s mission is our commitment to dismantle barriers to study. A gift in your will could help those from underrepresented backgrounds access a university education, and ensure that the brightest and the best can study with us, regardless of their personal circumstances. You can choose to join us in this endeavour and leave a gift to support scholarships and bursaries.
Research
Our researchers are developing brilliant ideas and a gift in your will can be the fuel that transforms their ideas into impact.
Greatest Need Fund
This is UCL’s endowment fund, through which you can support the work of the university in perpetuity. Gifts left to this fund are unrestricted and allow us the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the institution. We cannot know precisely what the future holds, but we do know that UCL will continue to lead the way.
Your gift for our future
Leaving a gift in your will provides valuable support to UCL, whether it is directed toward an area of research that is close to your heart, or through an unrestricted gift which permits us to direct funds to the area of greatest need. Regardless of where you direct your support, we value your generosity.
Student support
Key to UCL’s mission is our commitment to dismantle barriers to study. A gift in your will could help those from underrepresented backgrounds access a university education, and ensure that the brightest and the best can study with us, regardless of their personal circumstances. You can choose to join us in this endeavour and leave a gift to support scholarships and bursaries.
Research
Our researchers are developing brilliant ideas and a gift in your will can be the fuel that transforms their ideas into impact.
Greatest Need Fund
This is UCL’s endowment fund, through which you can support the work of the university in perpetuity. Gifts left to this fund are unrestricted and allow us the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the institution. We cannot know precisely what the future holds, but we do know that UCL will continue to lead the way.
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Malet Place, 1933.
Malet Place, 1933.
Student support
Enabling the brightest young minds to flourish
Supporting our students through scholarships and bursaries enables talented young people to experience a UCL education, regardless of their background or financial situation.
UCL students represent the brave thinkers, pioneers and problem solvers of the future. By leaving a gift in your will to UCL, you can invest in tomorrow’s diverse, open and thriving UCL student community. You can help to sustain an unparalleled academic experience that continues to attract and nurture the brightest young minds.
A cycle of giving
Gay Clifford was a lecturer in medieval literature at UCL, poet, literary theorist, and feminist.
She left a gift in her will to UCL to invest in the education of others. Today, we are proud to offer the Gay Clifford Scholarship for students to study on a full-time Master’s programme in the Departments of Economics or Philosophy.
The Gay Clifford Scholarship has been crucial to recipient Alexandra, as she pursues her education.
“I love the idea of a cycle of giving, from Gay to myself. I’m thankful for the help I received every single day.”
Alexandra, UCL scholarship recipient
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Dr Gillian Stoltman and Dr Joseph Stoltman.
Dr Gillian Stoltman and Dr Joseph Stoltman.
Dr Gillian Stoltman (née Hurst) endowed a legacy supporting students in the Department for Epidemiology and Public Health.
Dr Stoltman graduated with a BSc in Microbiology in 1971, before later going on to study for a PhD. Here, she reflects on why she and her husband have both decided to leave a gift to UCL in their wills.
“I came to UCL as a naive 18 year old from Yorkshire, with swirling visions of the wonders of science that were just beginning to open for me.
“I was particularly fascinated by the unseen world of microbes and I wanted to study in a place that was at the centre of scientific enquiry.
“UCL gave me the confidence to follow my dreams and a scientific ethos and training that would hold me in good stead for the rest of my professional career.
“Those dreams have travelled with me throughout all of my journeys across the globe and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities that UCL gave me. My husband and I hope that our endowment will enable UCL students to follow their dreams and make the world a better place.”
Dr Gillian Stoltman, BSc 1971, PhD 1981
Student support
Enabling the brightest young minds to flourish
Supporting our students through scholarships and bursaries enables talented young people to experience a UCL education, regardless of their background or financial situation.
UCL students represent the brave thinkers, pioneers and problem solvers of the future. By leaving a gift in your will to UCL, you can invest in tomorrow’s diverse, open and thriving UCL student community. You can help to sustain an unparalleled academic experience that continues to attract and nurture the brightest young minds.
A cycle of giving
Gay Clifford was a lecturer in medieval literature at UCL, poet, literary theorist, and feminist.
She left a gift in her will to UCL to invest in the education of others. Today, we are proud to offer the Gay Clifford Scholarship for students to study on a full-time Master’s programme in the Departments of Economics or Philosophy.
The Gay Clifford Scholarship has been crucial to recipient Alexandra, as she pursues her education.
“I love the idea of a cycle of giving, from Gay to myself. I’m thankful for the help I received every single day.”
Alexandra, UCL scholarship recipient
Dr Gillian Stoltman and Dr Joseph Stoltman.
Dr Gillian Stoltman and Dr Joseph Stoltman.
Dr Gillian Stoltman (née Hurst) endowed a legacy supporting students in the Department for Epidemiology and Public Health.
Dr Stoltman graduated with a BSc in Microbiology in 1971, before later going on to study for a PhD. Here, she reflects on why she and her husband have both decided to leave a gift to UCL in their wills.
“I came to UCL as a naive 18 year old from Yorkshire, with swirling visions of the wonders of science that were just beginning to open for me.
“I was particularly fascinated by the unseen world of microbes and I wanted to study in a place that was at the centre of scientific enquiry.
“UCL gave me the confidence to follow my dreams and a scientific ethos and training that would hold me in good stead for the rest of my professional career.
“Those dreams have travelled with me throughout all of my journeys across the globe and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities that UCL gave me. My husband and I hope that our endowment will enable UCL students to follow their dreams and make the world a better place.”
Dr Gillian Stoltman, BSc 1971, PhD 1981
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Research and discovery
Driving the next generation of progress
UCL’s research answers difficult questions. It is how we come to understand ourselves, the world we inhabit, and it deepens our collective understanding of the scientific processes, both seen and unseen, that are constantly unfolding around us.
To find the answers to these questions, UCL needs original, innovative, creative thinkers. These brilliant academics will drive our knowledge forward, in leaps and bounds.
“I know how devastating Alzheimer’s disease can be and I also know the gift in my will to UCL will be used
to assist research.”
Jennifer, UCL legacy supporter
With a gift in your will, UCL can continue to attract the best researchers and provide the packages of support they need to excel.
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Professor Cath Mummery (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology)
Professor Cath Mummery (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology)
Donations make life-changing research possible
Over the past 16 years, Professor Cath Mummery (UCL Dementia Research Centre) has built up an early phase clinical trials team at UCL of about 20 people, conducting multiple trials into neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.
It is now one of the world’s leading centres for the development of novel therapeutics, thanks in no small part to the impact of philanthropic giving.
“Alzheimer’s disease is not a disease limited to the individual”, explains Cath. “It’s a disease that affects everyone who knows and loves that person. This drives our ambition to find more effective treatments.
“After much hard work, we are finally starting to see treatments that make a difference to Alzheimer’s. We have had one treatment – the first disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease – that has been undergoing regulatory approval and will give hope to clinicians and patients alike.
“Having the first treatment that can change the course of Alzheimer’s disease is not something I thought I would see in my career. That’s a huge milestone, because once we have that, we have a foundation to build on and to improve on.
“Philanthropic funding really enables powerful research communities like UCL to be truly innovative in new areas like gene silencing. For the first time ever, our team is able to do its own phase one trial in gene silencing treatment, looking at the real time changes in the abnormal proteins that kill brain cells. This is a technique that can’t be done anywhere else apart from UCL and one other university in the US.
“This is an incredibly exciting time in dementia. We have the first disease-modifying therapies, that we can now build on. We need to accelerate our innovation, so that we can make life-changing treatments that really do make a difference to every individual.”
Research and discovery
Driving the next generation of progress
UCL’s research answers difficult questions. It is how we come to understand ourselves, the world we inhabit, and it deepens our collective understanding of the scientific processes, both seen and unseen, that are constantly unfolding around us.
To find the answers to these questions, UCL needs original, innovative, creative thinkers. These brilliant academics will drive our knowledge forward, in leaps and bounds.
“I know how devastating Alzheimer’s disease can be and I also know the gift in my will to UCL will be used
to assist research.”
Jennifer, UCL legacy supporter
With a gift in your will, UCL can continue to attract the best researchers and provide the packages of support they need to excel.
Professor Cath Mummery (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology)
Professor Cath Mummery (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology)
Donations make life-changing research possible
Over the past 16 years, Professor Cath Mummery (UCL Dementia Research Centre) has built up an early phase clinical trials team at UCL of about 20 people, conducting multiple trials into neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.
It is now one of the world’s leading centres for the development of novel therapeutics, thanks in no small part to the impact of philanthropic giving.
“Alzheimer’s disease is not a disease limited to the individual”, explains Cath. “It’s a disease that affects everyone who knows and loves that person. This drives our ambition to find more effective treatments.
“After much hard work, we are finally starting to see treatments that make a difference to Alzheimer’s. We have had one treatment – the first disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease – that has been undergoing regulatory approval and will give hope to clinicians and patients alike.
“Having the first treatment that can change the course of Alzheimer’s disease is not something I thought I would see in my career. That’s a huge milestone, because once we have that, we have a foundation to build on and to improve on.
“Philanthropic funding really enables powerful research communities like UCL to be truly innovative in new areas like gene silencing. For the first time ever, our team is able to do its own phase one trial in gene silencing treatment, looking at the real time changes in the abnormal proteins that kill brain cells. This is a technique that can’t be done anywhere else apart from UCL and one other university in the US.
“This is an incredibly exciting time in dementia. We have the first disease-modifying therapies, that we can now build on. We need to accelerate our innovation, so that we can make life-changing treatments that really do make a difference to every individual.”
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Our greatest need
Driving the next generation of progress
The UCL Greatest Need Fund allows us to rise to whatever the future holds.
This is a permanent, unrestricted endowment fund. Legacy gifts left to it support UCL in perpetuity, and generate income each year for the university to use wherever the need is greatest. Your donation to this fund gives us financial resilience and the ability to respond quickly to urgent priorities, opportunities,
and challenges.
Though we cannot predict the future, your gift to this unrestricted fund will make sure we are prepared for the unexpected.
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Professor Robin Weiss and Mrs Margaret Weiss.
Professor Robin Weiss and Mrs Margaret Weiss.
Professor Robin Weiss has decided to leave an unrestricted gift in his will, for UCL to use where the need is greatest.
“I was an undergraduate at UCL 60 years ago. I later came back as a post-grad and then about 35 years after that I came back as a professor, so I’ve been interacting with UCL at both the beginning and end of my career.
“I treasure the skills and life lessons UCL provided me with. I was quite a radical undergraduate, attending ‘ban the bomb’ marches and so on, and UCL supported that spirit of free thinking and being open to different ideas.
“In terms of leaving a gift in my will, when I’m gone, it’s really for UCL to decide what the best use of my legacy should be. I’ve sat on governing councils of several medical charities and I appreciate the flexibility of an unrestricted legacy.”
Professor Robin Weiss, BSc 1961, PhD 1969
Our greatest need
Driving the next generation of progress
The UCL Greatest Need Fund allows us to rise to whatever the future holds.
This is a permanent, unrestricted endowment fund. Legacy gifts left to it support UCL in perpetuity, and generate income each year for the university to use wherever the need is greatest. Your donation to this fund gives us financial resilience and the ability to respond quickly to urgent priorities, opportunities,
and challenges.
Though we cannot predict the future, your gift to this unrestricted fund will make sure we are prepared for the unexpected.
Professor Robin Weiss and Mrs Margaret Weiss.
Professor Robin Weiss and Mrs Margaret Weiss.
Professor Robin Weiss has decided to leave an unrestricted gift in his will, for UCL to use where the need is greatest.
“I was an undergraduate at UCL 60 years ago. I later came back as a post-grad and then about 35 years after that I came back as a professor, so I’ve been interacting with UCL at both the beginning and end of my career.
“I treasure the skills and life lessons UCL provided me with. I was quite a radical undergraduate, attending ‘ban the bomb’ marches and so on, and UCL supported that spirit of free thinking and being open to different ideas.
“In terms of leaving a gift in my will, when I’m gone, it’s really for UCL to decide what the best use of my legacy should be. I’ve sat on governing councils of several medical charities and I appreciate the flexibility of an unrestricted legacy.”
Professor Robin Weiss, BSc 1961, PhD 1969
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Will you be a part of UCL's future?
Leaving a gift in your will is a profound way to sow the seeds of the future.
As UCL enters its third century, we are reflecting on what we have achieved, and thinking about what our future holds. This is our moment to create a vision for the next two centuries of research and discovery, of education and change, and prepare the ground so that our future is one of abundance. An abundance of resources, ideas, bright students and talented researchers.
We invite you to make a gift to UCL in your will. Your donation will grow into something truly extraordinary.
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
You can be part of our future by supporting UCL in your will.
Your legacy will be as unique as you are. It could support breakthrough cancer research, novel designs for future-proof buildings, or students in the arts. Your gift could be made to our Greatest Need Fund, leaving the university to decide how best to put your generosity to use in the future.
Whether your passion is for anthropology or zoology, architecture or urban studies, a gift in your will to UCL gives us the opportunity to plan for the future, develop solutions to some of the world’s most difficult challenges, and provide a stimulating environment for students and researchers to thrive.
Dr Peter Vernon.
Dr Peter Vernon.
“I am leaving a legacy to UCL in order to give back to the institution which gave me the opportunity to fulfil my vocation as a university teacher. And I trust that the legacy will contribute towards the support of future students researching in the humanities.”
Dr Peter Vernon, PhD 1976
Will you be a part of UCL's future?
Leaving a gift in your will is a profound way to sow the seeds of the future.
As UCL enters its third century, we are reflecting on what we have achieved, and thinking about what our future holds. This is our moment to create a vision for the next two centuries of research and discovery, of education and change, and prepare the ground so that our future is one of abundance. An abundance of resources, ideas, bright students and talented researchers.
We invite you to make a gift to UCL in your will. Your donation will grow into something truly extraordinary.
You can be part of our future by supporting UCL in your will.
Your legacy will be as unique as you are. It could support breakthrough cancer research, novel designs for future-proof buildings, or students in the arts. Your gift could be made to our Greatest Need Fund, leaving the university to decide how best to put your generosity to use in the future.
Whether your passion is for anthropology or zoology, architecture or urban studies, a gift in your will to UCL gives us the opportunity to plan for the future, develop solutions to some of the world’s most difficult challenges, and provide a stimulating environment for students and researchers to thrive.
Dr Peter Vernon.
Dr Peter Vernon.
“I am leaving a legacy to UCL in order to give back to the institution which gave me the opportunity to fulfil my vocation as a university teacher. And I trust that the legacy will contribute towards the support of future students researching in the humanities.”
Dr Peter Vernon, PhD 1976
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Writing your will
By writing and keeping your will up to date, you can be sure that your family, friends and loved ones are provided for in the future, as well as supporting the causes that are most important to you.
Writing a will does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can find a qualified solicitor in your local area using the Law Society website or take advantage of UCL’s partnership with trusted will writing service, Bequeathed.
"To leave a legacy to UCL is more than just a monetary donation. It is a profound testament of trust, hope, and a belief in our vision for a better future.”
Angharad Milenkovic, UCL Vice-President (Advancement)
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Write your will online for free with the Will For Good scheme
We have partnered with Bequeathed to offer a free basic will writing service. The service is based online so you can start your will at any time. You will receive support and guidance tailored to your needs throughout the process. To get started visit bequeathed.org/UCL or call our Legacies Team on 020 3108 3891 to find out more.
Reduce your inheritance tax
Donations left to organisations with charitable status are exempt from Inheritance Tax which means that including a gift to UCL in your will may help reduce the overall tax liability of your estate. Furthermore, by leaving 10% or more of the ‘net value’ of your estate to charity in your will, you could also be eligible for a reduced rate of Inheritance Tax on some, or all, of your assets. Your solicitor will be able to tell you more about the ways charitable giving may reduce Inheritance Tax on your estate.
Will wording
When including a gift to UCL in your will, you will need to consider the type of gift that you would like to leave and the area that you would like it to support.
The three main types of legacy gift are below. Simply hover over each option to find out more.
A share of an estate
A fixed amount
A specific gift
You can direct your gift to a particular area of interest or leave it unrestricted, for the university to allocate to areas of greatest need. If desired, we can also discuss setting up a named endowment fund supporting a specific purpose, giving you the choice of how your gift is spent in years to come.
To make the process as easy as possible, we can provide you with example wording tailored to your wishes, for you to share with you solicitor.
We always recommend that you speak to a solicitor when writing or amending your will; they will be able to ensure that your wording reflects your wishes just as you want them.
Our registered address
Office of the Vice-President (Advancement),
UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
Writing your will
By writing and keeping your will up to date, you can be sure that your family, friends and loved ones are provided for in the future, as well as supporting the causes that are most important to you.
Writing a will does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can find a qualified solicitor in your local area using the Law Society website or take advantage of UCL’s partnership with trusted will writing service, Bequeathed.
"To leave a legacy to UCL is more than just a monetary donation. It is a profound testament of trust, hope, and a belief in our vision for a better future.”
Angharad Milenkovic, UCL Vice-President (Advancement)
Write your will online for free with the Will For Good scheme
We have partnered with Bequeathed to offer a free basic will writing service. The service is based online so you can start your will at any time. You will receive support and guidance tailored to your needs throughout the process. To get started visit bequeathed.org/UCL or call our Legacies Team on 020 3108 3891 to find out more.
Reduce your inheritance tax
Donations left to organisations with charitable status are exempt from Inheritance Tax which means that including a gift to UCL in your will may help reduce the overall tax liability of your estate. Furthermore, by leaving 10% or more of the ‘net value’ of your estate to charity in your will, you could also be eligible for a reduced rate of Inheritance Tax on some, or all, of your assets. Your solicitor will be able to tell you more about the ways charitable giving may reduce Inheritance Tax on your estate.
Will wording
When including a gift to UCL in your will, you will need to consider the type of gift that you would like to leave and the area that you would like it to support.
The three main types of legacy gift are below. Simply hover over each option to find out more.
A share of an estate
A fixed amount
A specific gift
You can direct your gift to a particular area of interest or leave it unrestricted, for the university to allocate to areas of greatest need. If desired, we can also discuss setting up a named endowment fund supporting a specific purpose, giving you the choice of how your gift is spent in years to come.
To make the process as easy as possible, we can provide you with example wording tailored to your wishes, for you to share with you solicitor.
We always recommend that you speak to a solicitor when writing or amending your will; they will be able to ensure that your wording reflects your wishes just as you want them.
Our registered address
Office of the Vice-President (Advancement),
UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
To speak to our legacies team:
Phone: 020 3108 3891
Email: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
Contact
T: 020 3108 3891
E: legacies@ucl.ac.uk
P: Legacy Team, Office of the Vice-President (Advancement),
UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
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