In 1849, Bedford College, London, opened; it was he first higher education college for women in the UK. In 1900, the college went on to become a constituent school of the University of London. It played a leading role in the advancement of women, both in higher education and in public life imore generally. The college became fully coeducational in the 1960s. In 1985, Bedford College merged with Royal Holloway College, another of the University of London's colleges. The merged institution was named Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (RHBNC), but is commonly known as Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL).