| Date |
Description |
| 1873 |
Three Cambridge Dons came to Nottingham Mechanic's Institute to hold lectures in English Literature, Political Economy, and Force and Motion. These were the first University extension classes of their kind in the country. |
| 1875 |
Lace Manufacturer Henry Heyman donated £10,000 to endow lectureships and put the University extension examination lectures on a permanent basis. Nottingham Corporation agreed to house the lectures under one roof. |
| 1877 |
The foundation stone for the University College was laid on 27 September. The former Prime Minister William Gladstone was a speaker at the ceremony. |
| 1877 - 1890 |
Professor Frank Clowes was the first Principal of University College. |
| 1881 |
The official opening of University College by H.R.H. Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, took place on 30 June. |
| 1890 - 1911 |
Reverend John Elliotson Symes was appointed Principal of University College. |
| 1903 |
Charter of incorporation gave the College its own separate constitution. |
| 1906-8 |
D.H. Lawrence attended University College. |
| 1911 - 1929 |
Professor William Haslam Heaton was appointed Principal of University College. |
| 1921 |
Highfields Estate was donated by Jesse Boot, founder of Boot's Chemists, for the development of a new University site. |
| 1922 |
Viscount Haldane laid the foundation stone of the new University College building at Highfield Park on 14th June. |
| 1923 |
College "Rag" became an annual event, raising money for charity. |
| 1928 |
New University College buildings at Highfields were officially opened by King George V on 10 November. |
| 1928 |
Florence Boot Hall of Residence, the first for female students, was opened, providing accommodation for 80 residents. |
| 1929 - 1935 |
Professor Hugh Stewart was Principal of University College. |
| 1929 |
Colonel B. D. Shaw, First World War hero and lecturer at University College, gave the first of his famous Explosives Lectures, which eventually toured the world and was televised by the BBC in 1969 to an audience of over one million viewers. |
| 1930 |
Visit by Professor Albert Einstein, who gave a lecture at University College on 6th June. |
| 1931 |
Visit by Mahatma Ghandi, who addressed the students in the Great Hall, 17th October. |
| 1935 - 1947 |
Professor Harry Almond Saville Wortley was Principal of University College. |
| 1937 |
Meeting at Nottingham of the British Association, 1 -7 September. |
| 1929 - 1935 |
Professor Hugh Stewart was Principal of University College. |
| 1937 |
H.G. Wells gave a lecture at University College. |
| 1939 |
Evacuation to Nottingham of Goldsmiths' College, and the Institute of Education, both part of the University of London. |
| 1939 - 1945 |
During wartime, land on campus was ploughed up and used for food production. University College also formed its own detachment of the Home Guard, made up of staff and student volunteers. |
| 1941 |
The old University College building on Shakespeare Street suffered a direct hit in an air-raid, 8th-9th May. |
| 1947 |
The former Midland Agricultural College at Sutton Bonington merged with University College to become the School of Agriculture. |
| 1947 - 1948 |
Bertrand Hallward was installed as Principal of University College (becoming Vice-Chancellor upon the granting of a University Charter in 1948). |
| 1948 |
A new charter granted 20th August gave the College full University status. |
| 1949 - 1954 |
John Campbell Boot, the second Lord Trent, was installed as the University's first Chancellor. |
| 1954 - 1971 |
William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 7th Duke of Portland was appointed Chancellor. |
| 1956 |
Portland Building was completed and opened. |
| 1956 |
The Music Department moved into Lenton Grove on 16 May. |
| 1959 |
Cripps Hall opened. |
| 1961 |
Social Science and Education Building opened. |
| 1963 |
Cyril Cripps paid for the installation of a data link with the Atlas Computer at Manchester University. |
| 1964 |
Rutland and Sherwood Halls for men opened. |
| 1965 - 1966 |
Cavendish and Ancaster Halls for women opened. |
| 1965 - 1970 |
Professor Lord Dainton of Hallam Moors was appointed Vice-Chancellor. |
| 1966 |
Prime Minister Harold Wilson opened the new Science building. |
| 1970 |
The Medical School was established and the first students began their studies in October. |
| 1970 |
The Sports Centre was opened by Roger Bannister. |
| 1970 |
In March of this year, amidst a climate of student militancy, students barricaded themselves into the Trent Building for a four- day occupation. |
| 1971 - 1978 |
Sir Francis Hill was installed as Chancellor. |
| 1971 - 1975 |
Professor Lord Butterfield of Stetchford was appointed Vice-Chancellor. |
| 1972 |
A more powerful computer on campus created the need for a new building to house it in, and so the Cripps Computer Centre was commissioned and opened in this year. |
| 1973 |
The new library opened, later named the Hallward Library, winning an RIBA award for its design. |
| 1976 - 1988 |
Professor Basil Weedon was appointed Vice-Chancellor. |
| 1977 |
Queen's Medical Centre was opened by the Queen on 28 July. |
| 1978 - 1993 |
Sir Gordon Hobday was installed as Chancellor. |
| 1981 |
As part of the University's centenary celebrations, the Queen visited the newly completed library. |
| 1988 - |
Professor Sir Colin Campbell was appointed Vice-Chancellor. |
| 1993 |
Opening of the Djanogly Arts Centre and Music Recital Hall. |
| 1993 - 2000 |
Lord Dearing was installed as Chancellor. |
| 1999 |
Royal opening of the Jubilee campus 9th December. |
| 2000 |
Opening of University of Nottingham campus in Malaysia in September. |
| 2000 - |
Professor Fujia Yang was installed as Chancellor. |
| 2002 |
The D.H. Lawrence Pavilion and Djanogly Theatre was officially opened. |
| 2003 |
Opening of Derby Medical School. |
| 2003 |
Nobel Prize for Medicine awarded to Sir Peter Mansfield, in recognition of his work in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at the University. |
