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The UPC academic year begins with the orientation period on Thursday 21 September 2023, and teaching begins on Monday 2 October 2023.
The academic year is divided into three terms and finishes on Friday 21 June 2024.
You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials each week and can expect to have lessons from Monday to Friday during each term.
On some days, you will have less scheduled seminar time, leaving you time for independent study – an essential component of the course. You are expected to study most evenings and some of the weekends.
You will also take part in field trips which may take place in the evening or at the weekend.
There are two Reading Weeks at UCL:
- 6-12 November 2023
- 12-18 February 2024
These weeks are designed to help you get a head start with your longer writing projects, your reading and your revisions before the end-of-term tests.
Given the workload on the UPC, reading weeks allow you to study in a more relaxed pace and allow more time to accomplish some of the tasks you will have been given.
We do not recommend students travel out of the country during these times but instead, stay in London and make the most of the Campus.
You will sit tests at the end of the first and second terms, as well as be assessed on your homework assignments, before end of year final examinations.
You are expected to attend fully throughout the year and to take all the tests and exams.
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| First term | Monday 2 October to Friday 15 December 2023 |
| (Orientation Period) | (Thursday 21 September to Friday 29 September 2023) |
| Second term | Monday 8 January to Friday 22 March 2024 |
| Third term | Monday 15 April to Friday 21 June 2024 |
UPC Orientation Period
The Orientation Period takes place over seven days during your first two weeks of the UPC (Thursday 21 to Friday 29 September 2023).
The aim is to help you settle in as a UCL student, inform you about the year ahead, and prepare you for your studies on the UPC. There may be testing in some subjects.
You will meet the staff: the course administrators, coordinators, UCAS advisor, the subject lecturers, Academic English tutors and your personal tutor and meet the other students.
Finally, you will have your first introductory lectures where you will receive detailed plans for your studies on each of your four subjects.
The Orientation Period will also include some social programme events where you will meet with other students. This is to help you quickly make friends with other UPC students, help you settle into life on the UPC and help familiarise yourself with the UCL campus and other parts of London.
We will send you the full details of the UPC Orientation Period at the start of the academic year.