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Below are the most frequently asked questions for applicants applying to the UCL Engineering Foundation Year.
Before reading our FAQs, please make sure you read our:
- Prospectus (applications for 2025 entry, which are not yet open)
- Eligibility and How to Apply page (information about evidence of eligibility)
Eligibility and entry requirements
- Do you accept applications from international students?
Applicants to the Engineering Foundation Year must be eligible to pay UK/home fees as determined by UCL Admissions. This particular programme is part of UCL’s commitment to increase diversity in the student cohort, aiming to address discrepancies in the take-up of higher education opportunities between different underrepresented groups of UK students. If you are not eligible for UK fees you may wish to consider UCL's International Foundation Year.
UCL reserves the right to determine this at any point in the application process, and if determined to be overseas, the application will no longer be considered.
- I have a qualification that’s not listed in your entry requirements. How will this be assessed?
If you are a mature applicant or forced migrant and do not have the qualifications listed in our entry requirements, please contact the Engineering Foundation Year team before submitting your application, providing the full title of your qualifications, the country in which you studied, and the grade(s) you achieved. We assess applications from these students on a case-by-case basis.
For other applicants: in general, other Level 3 qualifications that confer UCAS points may still be considered but could be less competitive. You can contact us to see how these will be assessed.
- Contact us at efy@ucl.ac.uk
- Are your non-academic eligibility criteria compulsory?
Yes. Applicants must meet these criteria in order to be eligible for the UCL Engineering Foundation Year. This is because the Engineering Foundation Year is specifically for students whose personal and socioeconomic circumstances have affected their educational attainment to date.
- How do I demonstrate that I meet the non-academic eligibility criteria?
The UCAS application form will ask you to declare whether you experienced particular circumstances at vraious points in the application. You may also wish to ask your referee to mention any other circumstances that affected your education in their reference letter.
Once your application has been submitted, and depending on what you indicated on your application, UCL Admissions may be in touch to seek evidence from you, which usually entails a letter from a relevant professional. Please see the evidence section of our Eligibility and How to Apply page for full guidance.
- I narrowly miss the entry requirements for a direct entry engineering programme at UCL, but I meet the Engineering Foundation Year’s eligibility criteria. Should I apply?
If you have not already, it may be worth considering whether you are eligible for a contextual (reduced) offer via the Access UCL Scheme instead of the Foundation Year.
You can find the contextual offer grades for a specific programme on its prospectus. You may wish to check with that programme's admissions team how they may view your application. The contact information for the relevant programme's admissions team will be available on that programme's prospectus.
Submitting an application
- When should I apply? Do you accept late applications or applications through clearing?
You need to apply in time for the January UCAS deadline. We don’t accept late applications and unfortunately, do not accept applications through clearing.
- How should I apply?
You need to apply for one of the participating programmes (shown ‘with Integrated Foundation Year’) on UCAS to make an application for the Engineering Foundation Year.
If you don’t apply for a programme ‘with Integrated Foundation Year’ (i.e., you apply for the direct entry programme), we will not receive your application.
The programme you pick ‘with Integrated Foundation Year’ will be the programme you automatically continue onto after successful completion of the Engineering Foundation Year, so please give this decision some thought.
- Which programmes participate? What are their UCAS codes?
The following degree programmes participate in the Engineering Foundation Year – you need to apply for one of these.
- BEng Biochemical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY01)
- MEng Biochemical Engineering (with Bioprocess Management) with Integrated Foundation Year (FY02)
- MEng Biochemical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY03)
- BEng Chemical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY04)
- MEng Chemical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY06)
- MEng Chemical with Biochemical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY08)
- BEng Civil Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY09)
- MEng Civil Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY10)
- BSc Computer Science with Integrated Foundation Year (FY12)
- MEng Computer Science with Integrated Foundation Year (FY13)
- MEng Electronic Engineering with Computer Science and Integrated Foundation Year (FY14)
- BEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY17)
- MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY18)
- BEng Mechanical Engineering with Business Finance with Integrated Foundation Year (FY20)
- BEng Mechanical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY21)
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY22)
- MEng Biomedical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY23)
- BEng Biomedical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (FY24)
- BSc Science & Engineering for Social Change with Integrated Foundation Year (FY27)
- MEng Robotics and Artificial Intelligence with Integrated Foundation Year (FY26)
Any engineering undergraduate programmes that are not listed do not participate in the EFY scheme; it is not possible to apply to them through the foundation year route.
- Do I increase my chances of being accepted if I apply for more than one UCL programme ‘with Integrated Foundation Year’?
No – we strongly advise you not to do this. If you apply to two different UCL programmes with Integrated Foundation Year, you will be using up an extra UCAS option unnecessarily.
- Can I apply for a direct entry engineering programme at UCL with the Engineering Foundation Year as a back-up?
You can apply to a direct entry programme of study and to the same programme with integrated foundation year, but remember that this will use up two selections on your UCAS form.
You may wish to check if you are eligible for a contextual (reduced) offer for the direct entry programme via the Access UCL scheme. The contextual offer grades for a programme are visible on that programme's prospectus.
- What if I want to change the programme I have picked 'with Integrated Foundation Year'?
As you become familiar with the different types of engineering, you might decide that you would rather study a different specialisation. You may be able to transfer to another participating programme during the Foundation Year; however, this is not a guarantee. Therefore, please consider the degree programme you will continue onto before application.
- What should I write in my personal statement?
On our prospectus under ‘Next steps', we provide some guidance. It may also be beneficial to mention the foundation year itself, but we understand that you may not want to mention it if this is the only foundation year you are applying to.
- Can I send you an alternative personal statement outside of the UCAS application?
Unfortunately, an alternative personal statement won't be accepted.
How the Engineering Foundation Year works
- Are the foundation years for participating engineering programmes different to one another? E.g., MEng Chemical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year vs. BSc Computer Science with Integrated Foundation Year?
No – the Engineering Foundation Year is shared between UCL Engineering degree programmes ‘with Integrated Foundation Year’. Regardless of which programme they picked ‘with Integrated Foundation Year’, successful applicants will take the same foundation year. Once you pass the foundation year, you will be admitted onto your programme of choice.
- How do I progress into the first year of my degree programme after the Engineering Foundation Year?
Progression to the first year is guaranteed to those who pass all three modules in the Engineering Foundation Year. You will not need to reapply; you will be automatically admitted into the first year of your degree.
- What happens if I do not pass the Engineering Foundation Year?
If you do not pass the foundation year, we will help you examine your options. We are in discussions with other universities in London and the South East to accept your foundation year certificate.
If you decide not to continue with university, our careers service will be able to advise you on how to use your new skills to find a job.
- Where will I be taught?
Teaching takes place alongside other undergraduate programmes at UCL East, our new state of the art campus at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London.
After the Foundation Year you will be taught wherever your programme of study is based. Most engineering programmes are taught in our Bloomsbury campus, with the exception of MEng Robotics and AI and BSc Science and Engineering for Social Change. The location of each programme is available on its prospectus.
Support
- What financial support is available?
We understand your concerns about student debt and we would like to help you leave university with no greater debt than you would have, had you not studied the foundation year. Generally, we are able to offer means-tested bursaries - however, availability and amounts can vary year-to-year. For further enquiries please contact us.
You may also find the following resources helpful:
- I am a mature student - will you be able to support my needs?
We especially welcome mature students and returners to education, and currently, a number of mature students are studying on the Engineering Foundation Year.
Our staff have experience working with mature students, understand your needs and would support you in this new and exciting journey into engineering education. You will also be able to discuss your concerns with your tutors. UCL also has a support network for mature students.
- Does UCL have other specific support networks?
Yes - on top of the support provided in the Engineering Foundation Year, support exists across UCL. You may wish to browse the Student Support and Wellbeing pages and the Accses and Widening Participation website.
- How can I prepare for university study?
There are several resources available online.
- If you are a Year 13 student, try the free online course UCL study prep.
- For all ages, try Preparing for University on Future Learn.