The Union Theological College is a union of two 19th century Irish Presbyterian Colleges – the Presbyterian Theological College, Belfast (often known as the Assembly’s College) and Magee Theological College in Londonderry. Union College has inherited a tradition of theological and academic excellence, and of pastoral and practical training, that stretches back to the founding of the original Presbyterian College in 1853. The College in its present form was constituted by Act of Parliament in 1978. "The students at Union come from many different backgrounds. Some have come to the College as part of their training for the ordained ministry, but we have many other students who study Theology as an academic pursuit for a wide variety of reasons. Students range in age from school-leavers to the retired. All the main denominations are represented in the student body and students are welcome from any (and no) faith background. Most of our students are from Ireland (North and South), and we have a number of students from other parts of the UK as well as several overseas students."