Learn how to apply for the UCL international foundation year. This includes documents to submit, entrance tests, interviews and accepting your offer.
Application process
There are four steps to the Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) application process:
Application and supporting documents
You should make your UPC application directly to us – the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE) – via our online application form.
You will also write a personal statement as part of the application form.
Required application documents
You will need to scan and upload documents before you can submit your application.
Please upload the scanned documents below as PNG or JPEG files:
- A certified and translated copy of your school transcripts stamped by an authorised translator – please see our academic requirements.
- If you have completed high school: your transcripts over the last three years of high school and a copy of your high school certificate.
- If you’re currently at high school: your transcripts from your previous two years of study, and if available, any end of term transcripts from your current/final year.
- A copy of your English language test score – an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) or Pearson PTE Academic UKVI (check our English language requirements).
- A reference from an education professional who knows your academic work and can comment on your recent academic performance.
- For architecture-related degree applicants, a portfolio.
- For prospective UCL Media BA and Art and Technology BA applicants, a showreel and supportive portfolio.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is an important part of your application and should answer these questions in no more than 500 words:
- Why you chose your undergraduate degree? Which aspects of the degree interest you the most?
- Which experiences (academic and personal) have shaped your interest in this field? (e.g. reading in the subject area, non-academic projects, useful relevant skills you have.)
- How do you think you will fit into the UPC course and what might challenge you during the foundation year?
- What is your single proudest achievement? What did it teach you about yourself, others and the world around you?
Reference
This can be provided either:
- on stamped and signed headed school, college or university paper
- using our template: .
If your referee prefers, we can send them a reference form to fill in, sign and return to us directly after you have submitted your application. In this case, please make sure you correctly complete your referee's details on your application form, and we will contact them when we process your application.
Portfolio and showreel
If you wish to apply for the following degrees during the UPC, you will also need to submit the following:
- Architecture-related degree: a portfolio
- UCL Media BA and Art and Technology BA: a showreel and supporting portfolio.
Once we have processed your complete application, we will email you with details of how to submit the above.
Please check details of what you need to include in your portfolio or your showreel and supporting portfolio.
You can contact us at upc@ucl.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Application deadline
The UPC application deadline is 16 April 2025 for September 2025 entry.
Applications will close earlier if the course is full.
We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible to ensure places are available in your UPC optional modules and future degree aim.
You may be added to a waiting list or advised to consider other optional subjects and/or future degree aim, should places on your chosen optional modules/degree aim be full.
Please note, if you apply after 19 March 2025 you may miss the accommodation application deadline.
Application fee payment
After submitting your application and relevant documents, you’ll be directed to UCL’s Online Store. Here, you’ll need to pay the course application fee of £125 by credit or debit card.
Your application and payment will come directly to UCL CLIE. We’ll then contact you about the next stage of the application, the entrance tests. This should take a few days, but during busy periods, it could take up to 10 working days. If you haven't heard from us after this period, please contact us by email.
Under 18s
If you’re under 18 at the start of the course, please read our essential information for students under the age of 18 before applying.
Entrance tests
Once you've submitted a complete application, including all required documents and paid the application fee, our Admissions Team will check it.
Depending on your UPC stream and chosen optional modules, you will complete one or two entrance tests.
Read more about which entrance test(s) you will take.
Interviews
The decision regarding an invitation to interview considers all aspects of your application.
In the interview, we’ll assess your suitability for the course.
For UPCSE applicants, the first part of the interview will challenge you on a subject-specific question, topic or problem.
For UPCH applicants, you’ll have received a Critical Thinking task to prepare before the interview at the date indicated on the entrance tests page. The admissions tutor interviewing you will ask you questions based on the text – or text and images – you'll have studied.
For all applicants, the second part of the interview will be a chance for us to know you better and we’ll ask you questions on your:
- past or current studies
- degree aim
- personal statement.
You may also wish to ask us any questions.
Your performance in the interview is important in our decision to offer you a place.
We’ll inform you of our decision within a few days of your interview or by the date indicated in the table above.
Offer
If you’re successful at interview stage, we’ll email you a formal offer to enrol on the UPC course.
At this point, you’ll need to pay the first instalment of tuition fee to reserve your place. This is normally due within a maximum of two weeks of our offer being made and can be paid by credit or debit card on the UCL Online Store.
Once we receive this, we'll email you to confirm your place and provide your UCL student number.
You can then apply for UCL accommodation.
Accommodation
Once you've accepted your offer and have been issued with a UCL student number, you can apply for UCL Accommodation.
The deadline for 2024 entry was 10 June 2024 and will change for 2025 entry.
You will also need to meet the other UCL Accommodation eligibility criteria to be prioritised for a room.
UPC students are considered as first-year undergraduate students for the purposes of allocating accommodation.
If you confirm your place after this deadline, we strongly recommend you secure alternative accommodation. The UCL accommodation team can assist you in providing useful resources and information to help with your search.
Paying the instalments
You will pay the first instalment of your course fee within 14 days of being made an offer.
The second instalment is due by the 1 May 2025.
If you apply after the 19 February, there are different deadlines for paying the course fee:
- Apply by 19 March: pay full fee by 15 May 2025
- Apply after 19 March: pay full fee within two weeks of offer.
After you have paid your tuition fee, you'll receive an email with your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). We will usually begin assigning CAS numbers in April to students who have paid their full fees. You will need your CAS to apply for your student visa.
You can pay your course fee by credit or debit card on the UCL Online Store, which is the preferred method, or by bank transfer (we will send bank details upon request).
Refunds
Full refunds of the course fee will be made in the event of a visa application refusal where a further visa application is not possible. Claims must be supported by a Refusal of Entry Clearance letter.
Other refund requests must be received by 15 May 2025 (the refund request deadline) to be considered and are subject to a 10% administration charge. Refund requests must be submitted by email to upc@ucl.ac.uk.
We will consider refund requests from late applicants who receive an offer from 1 May if the request is received no more than two weeks after the payment deadline.
Requests for full or pro rata refunds for students withdrawing from a course of study after its commencement will not be considered.
Before your course starts
After accepting your offer and paying your course fee, we'll send you advice on preparing for your subjects and recommended reading lists.
Unsuccessful UPC applications
If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll inform you via email by the date indicated on the entrance tests page. Where possible, we’ll offer guidance about other courses relevant to you.