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The information below relates to applications in the 2025 UCAS cycle, which are not open yet.
Entry requirements for the UCL Engineering Foundation Year can now be found on the the programme's prospectus page.
Please visit this page for an archive of the 2024 entry criteria.
The Engineering Foundation Year is for applicants eligible for UK/home fee status (as determined by UCL Admissions), whose educational attainment so far has been disrupted by personal or socioeconomic circumstances. Applicants need to meet specific academic and non-academic entry requirements.
We have released a tool called the 'Eligibility checker', which gives you an idea of whether or not you may be eligible for the UCL EFY. This can be found on our prospectus.
Read the Engineering Foundation Year prospectus
- Sections of the prospectus that relate to eligibility and your application
You should read the full Engineering Foundation Year prospectus before deciding to apply, and the prospectus of the programme you intend to continue onto, but these sections cover the steps to making an application:
Topic Section Subsection Academic entry requirements Entry requirements Academic Non-academic eligibility criteria and their full definitions Entry requirements Non-academic Eligibility checker quiz Entry requirements Eligibility checker What to include in your application Next steps Your application How to apply for a programme with Integrated Foundation Year (the Engineering Foundation Year), and UCAS codes Next steps How to apply What happens after you have submitted your application, including the assessment day Next steps Selection
Evidence
We will verify whether or not you meet our non-academic eligibility criteria once you have applied to the Engineering Foundation Year. We use the information you input in your UCAS application. Depending on what circumstances you indicate, we may ask for additional information and evidence.
You don't need to submit additional documents with your application; we will contact you via email with instructions if we want further information from you.
It is not compulsory, but before applying you may also wish to ask your referee for your UCAS application to mention circumstances they think have affected your education in their reference; your referee requires your consent to include this information in their reference.
- How to communicate your circumstances to us in your application, and the evidence we may ask for
Criteria* Evidence Required Care experienced In the ‘Diversity and inclusion’ section of the UCAS application form, there is a question that asks if you have been in care. Please select 'yes' in the drop-down box. You will then see an additional question asking you how long you were in care.
We may contact you via email to verify your care experience. We may ask to see a letter from someone in the local authority responsible for your care briefly explaining your circumstances and duration spent being in care, or another original formal document from the local authority relating to your placements or circumstances, etc.
Forced migrant In the UCAS application form, there is a question that asks if you are a refugee, asylum seeker, or have limited leave to remain in the UK. You can find this in the 'More about me' section of the application. Your exact status may not be represented in the UCAS application form, so select the status that most closely represents your circumstances from the drop-down box.
We may contact you via email to verify your status. We may ask to see a copy of a Biometric Residence Permit (previously Immigration Status Document), an Application Registration Card (ARC) for asylum seekers, a letter of support from a registered educational charity such as Refugee Education UK etc.
Mature student Date of birth on your UCAS application. Young carer In the 'More about me' section of the UCAS application form, there is a question that asks if you provide unpaid care. Select 'yes' if this applies to you.
We may contact you via email to verify your situation. We may ask for an official document regarding a carer’s assessment from your local authority, a letter from your school, a letter from a registered young carer’s charity that is supporting you, etc.
UCAS application guidance for students with caring responsibilities
Estranged In the 'More about me' section of the UCAS application form, there is a question that asks if you are estranged from both your parents. Select 'yes' if this applies to you.
We may contact you via email to verify your situation and ask for further information. We may ask for evidence such as a letter from your school, a social worker or another authority that Is aware of your situation.
UCAS application guidance for students who are experiencing estrangement
Educational gap UCAS application.
We may contact you for additional evidence.
Eligibility for Free School Meals In the UCAS application form, there is a question that asks if you are or have been in receipt of Free School Meals. Select 'yes' if this applies to you.
We will use data from the National Pupil Database (England), the Welsh PLASC, or the Northern Ireland School Census to verify this. We may also contact you for further evidence, such as a letter from your school to confirm that you are/have been entitled to free school meals.
Postcode eligibility Home postcode on your UCAS application.
We will review this against IMD, POLAR and Acorn data from September 2024.
State school The schools you list yourself as having attended in your UCAS application.
We will review this against IMD, POLAR and Acorn data from September 2024.
*UCL's full definitions of the above criteria can be found on the Engineering Foundation Year prospectus.
Questions?
Check to see if your question has been answered on our Frequently Answered Questions page, or on the prospectus. If it hasn't been, contact us at efy@ucl.ac.uk.