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Learn more about progressing to your undergraduate degree at UCL or another top university, including UCL degrees with guaranteed offers, the grades you need, the UCAS admissions process and support.
UCL and other UK universities consider our Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) for entry to undergraduate degrees. This includes Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics (LSE).
- Applying to UCL
- Applying to other universities
- Applying to undergraduate degrees (UCAS)
- Admissions for subject-specific degrees (Law, Mathematics and Medicine)
Previous students
You can see the UPC’s excellent progression rates and the experiences of UPC alumni on our previous students page. This details their time on the UPC as well as their undergraduate degrees.
Applying to an UCL undergraduate degree
There are over 400 undergraduate degree programmes on offer at UCL.
The only UCL degrees you cannot apply to with the UPC are:
- Fine Art
- Medicine
You can browse all the degrees available to you in our undergraduate prospectus.
Guaranteed UCL undergraduate offers
For 162 UCL degrees (listed below in alphabetical order) UPC students will receive a conditional UG offer if:
- they are predicted to meet its entry requirements
- have a clearly relevant personal statement.
Students who fulfil these conditional terms will automatically progress to their UCL degree.
If your intended undergraduate degree is not listed below, you can still apply to it during your UPC year, however you will not be guaranteed an offer.
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Choosing the right subjects for your future degree
If you're unsure which UPC subjects you should take to enter your future undergraduate degree, check out our helpful optional subject guide.
What UPC grades will you need?
The table below shows the required grades you need to enter a UCL undergraduate degree and their A level equivalents. You can read more about specific grade requirements in the undergraduate prospectus.
Equivalence with A Level grades
The table below gives approximate equivalences to A Level grades:
| A Level | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
| UPC percentages | 76% | 70-75% | 64-69% | 56-63% | 48-55% | 40-47% |
| UPC grades | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
UCL Undergraduate Admissions views 65% in the Academic English subject as equivalent to 6.5 in IELTS, 60% to 6.0, and so on.
Types of undergraduate degree offer
Conditional offers are usually expressed in one of these ways:
- an overall average percentage
- an overall average with a specified percentage in one or more subjects (normally both optional science/humanities subjects)
- an English language requirement will also be included where necessary
Examples of offers
Below are some examples of broadly typical offers and their UPC equivalents:
| A Level offer | UPCSE offer | UPCH offer |
|---|---|---|
| A*A*A | Award of UPC with 70% overall and 76% in both optional subjects. | Award of UPC with 70% overall and 76% in both optional subjects. |
| A*AA | Award of UPC with 70% overall with 76% in one optional subject and 70% in the second optional subject. | Award of UPC with 70% overall with 76% in one optional subject and 70% in the second optional subject. |
| AAA | Award of UPC with 70% overall and 70% in both optional subjects. | Award of UPC with 70% overall and 70% in both optional subjects. |
| AAB | Award of UPC with 64% overall and 70% in both optional subjects. | Award of UPC with 70% overall and 70% in one optional subject and 64% in the second optional subject. |
| ABB | Award of UPC with 64% overall with 70% in one optional subject and 64% in the second optional subject. | Award of UPC with 70% overall and 64% in both optional subjects. |
Applying to other universities
We fully support you when applying for a degree during your international foundation year at other UK universities as well.
Some top universities have additional entrance exams as part of their admissions process.
LSE Undergraduate Exam preparation
If you're aiming to study at LSE, you’ll need to take their Undergraduate Admissions Assessment (UGAA).
Oxbridge preparation
When applying to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, you need to be a high-achieving student and very well prepared. We can offer support, but you'll have to meet a strict selection criteria to be eligible. See our guidance page for further information.
The undergraduate application process (UCAS)
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) processes all undergraduate degree applications. As a UPC student, you’ll register for a UCAS application linked to UCL CLIE. This allows you to apply to up to five different universities.
Throughout your UCAS process, your personal tutor and a dedicated education advisor will support you.
Read more about the UCAS process and how we support you.
Admissions to subject-specific degrees
Some undergraduate degree subjects in the UK have their own admissions tests. As UPC students, you'll have access to support to help you prepare for these degrees during your international foundation year.
Law degrees (LNAT)
If you want to complete an undergraduate Law degree after the UPC, you'll need to take the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT). Learn more about the support we offer to UPC applicants who want to pursue a Law degree.
Architecture degrees
If you wish to apply to the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, or an architecture related degree at another UK university, you’ll need a competitive portfolio of artwork.
You should be on the UPC for Architecture course where you’ll study on an undergraduate level art & design related course at the Bartlett School during Term 1 of the UPC (Visual Studies for Architecture), building on and developing your existing art and design skills and portfolios, as assessed during your UPC application.
You'll need to submit a portfolio of work with your UPC application so we can assess your drawing and art & design skills and support you in your application for your undergraduate degree.
Economics BSc
Entry to the UCL Department of Economics is extremely competitive and puts a great emphasis on Mathematics. You’ll only be considered for admission if you are predicted to achieve grades A* in Maths and at least A in all other UPC subjects.
It is important to keep practising your Maths through the summer if you want to apply to this degree.
If you are interested in studying an economics component as part of a multi-disciplinary degree, there are a number of alternative degree programmes available at UCL.
Mathematics degrees (STEP)
Mathematics degrees at UCL and one or two other competitive universities require an entry exam. In the case of UCL, this is the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP), which will require you to do some independent study.
For UCL Mathematics degrees, which require STEP exams, UCL's Department of Mathematics can help you prepare with staged online materials and lectures.
Media BA
If you apply for Media BA at UCL your application will need to include an online portfolio of works you have created.
Your UPC application will need to include a showreel and supporting portfolio.
Medicine
We don’t consider UPCSE applicants interested in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) during the UPCSE year. This is because the UPCSE qualification is not accepted to enter the Medicine MBBS at UCL.
If you want to study Medicine, we recommend that you take A levels. Please see our further guidance on this.