Optional subject selection guide

This guide will help you select your two UPC optional subjects to enter and be successful in your future undergraduate degree.

Advice for selecting the right UPC optional subjects

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing your UPC optional subjects:

Choose optional subjects relevant to your future degree.
Choose optional subjects that you have an interest in.
Consider the UPC entrance tests, there are specific entrance tests you will have to take for some UPC subjects. You can use our practice tests to see if you believe you will be able to do well in these.
You won't be able to change your subjects after you have accepted a place on the course. In a few cases, we can make exceptions in circumstances where timetabling and student numbers allow.

Required and recommended UPC optional subjects

Required subjects

For many degrees, one or two of the subjects listed in the table below are required subjects. In addition, for many degrees, prior study of the subject at high school level is required.

Look at the UCL undergraduate prospectus to check the entry requirements for your intended degree programme. Where one or two A level subjects are given as a requirement, you’ll likely to have to choose the same subject(s) on the UPC.

Recommended subjects

For certain degrees, no subject or only one subject is required, and you'll find the subject(s) we recommend you take on the UPC listed in the table below. For other degrees, you’ll have the choice in selecting any two subjects on the UPC.

Required and recommended UPC optional subjects guide

See below for a list of some UCL undergraduate degree courses and their related UPC optional subjects. These are the subjects that will give you the best preparation on the UPC for your UCL degree. You will have to select the subjects indicated below. For many degrees, there are several subjects you can choose from, but for others the two subjects listed are required.

The list below is not exhaustive, please contact the UPC Administration Team if you’re unsure which subjects to take during your UPC year.

We accept applications for students who wish to study any undergraduate degree except Medicine and Fine Art.

A | B | C | D | E | G | H | I | L | M | N | P | R | S | T | U | Y

A

Ancient History BA

UPCH

Ancient Languages BA

UPCH

You also need an A in an ancient/modern language at GCSE grade C or 4 (or above).

Ancient World BA

UPCH

Anthropology BSc

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment and either:

If you’re applying via the UPCH, you must have studied biology, chemistry or physics in middle school or after.

UPCSE

Any two optional UPCSE subjects.

Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics.

Applied Medical Sciences BSc

UPCSE

Archaeology BA/BSc

UPCH

Classical Civilisation: Literature, Philosophy and Politics and either:

UPCSE

Any two optional UPCSE subjects.

Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics.

Architectural and Interdisciplinary Studies BSc

You will take the compulsory UPC for Architecture subject (Visual Studies for Architecture & Academic Research: Approaches & Methods) and:

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment
any other subject.

In addition to your application, you will also need to present a portfolio of artwork (PDFs preferred).

You are expected to demonstrate existing art and design skills.

We recommend The Bartlett Summer School or The Slade Summer School before you start the UPC.

Architecture BSc/MSci

You will take the compulsory UPC for Architecture subject (Visual Studies for Architecture & Academic Research: Approaches & Methods) and:

UPCH

UPCSE

Either:

Or:

In addition to your application, you will also need to present a portfolio of artwork (PDFs preferred).

You are expected to demonstrate existing art and design skills.

We recommend The Bartlett Summer School or The Slade Summer School before you start the UPC.

Art and Technology BA

UPCH

An exceptionally strong portfolio is required at the point of applying to the UPC.

Arts and Sciences BASc

UPCH

Any two optional UPCH subjects.

UPCSE

Any two optional UPCSE subjects.

Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics.

Please note, if you are not taking a mixture of humanities/social sciences and mathematics/science UPC optional subjects you will be required to take an additional Arts and Sciences test in the subject area you’re missing.

For example, if you do not have the science or mathematics level you need, you will be able to choose a test in mathematics, chemistry or biology; if you do not have a humanities/social sciences subject you will be set an essay or comprehension task.

Please see the Arts and Sciences BSc 'Your Application' page for further details.

Astrophysics BSc

UPCSE

B

Biochemical Engineering BEng

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE) and either:

Biochemistry BSc

UPCSE

Biological Sciences BSc

UPCSE

Biomedical Engineering BEng

UPCSE

Biomedical Sciences BSc

UPCSE

Bioprocessing of New Medicines (Business & Management) BSc

UPCSE

Business and Health BSc

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment, Modern European History and Politics, or Economics.

any other UPCH subject.

UPCSE

Any two optional subjects

C

Cancer Biomedicine BSc

UPCSE

Chemical Engineering BEng

UPCSE

Chemistry BSc

UPCSE

Chemistry and either:

Biology, or
Mathematics (UPCSE).

Chemistry with Management Studies BSc

UPCSE

Chemistry and either:

Biology, or
Mathematics (UPCSE).

Civil Engineering BEng

UPCSE

Classical Archaeology and Classical Civilisation BA

UPCH

Classical Civilisation: Literature, Philosophy and Politics and either:

Communications BA

UPCH

Modern European Culture
any other UPCH subject except Economics.

Geography and the Built Environment is recommended as the other UPCH subject but it is not essential.

Comparative Literature BA

UPCH

Computer Science BSc

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Construction Project Management MSci

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment and either:

Mathematics (UPCH), or
Economics.

UPCSE

Creative Arts and Humanities BA

UPCH

D

Data Science BSc

UPCH

UPCSE

E

Early Childhood Education BA

UPCH

At least one essay-based subject from:

UPCSE

Any two optional UPCSE subjects.

Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics.

Earth Sciences BSc

UPCSE

Any two optional UPCSE subjects.

Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics.

Economics and Business with East European Studies BA

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH) and either:

Economics and Statistics BSc (Econ)

UPCH

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Economics BSc (Econ)

UPCH

Education, Society and Culture BA

UPCH

At least one essay-based subject from:

Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng

UPCSE

Engineering and Architectural Design MEng

UPCSE

You will take the 'UPCSE for Architecture: Visual Studies for Architecture & Academic Research: Approaches & Methods', and the following two optional modules:

In addition to your application, you will also need to present a portfolio of artwork (PDFs preferred).

You are expected to demonstrate existing art and design skills.

We recommend The Bartlett Summer School or The Slade Summer School before you start the UPC.

English BA

UPCH

Environmental Geoscience BSc

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

European Social and Political Studies BA

UPCH

Modern European History and Politics
any other UPCH subject.

Mathematics is required for the full Economics pathway.

Experimental Linguistics BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH) and either:

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

G

Geology BSc

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Geography BA/BSc

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment
any other UPCH subject.

Geography and Economics BSc

UPCH

Geophysics BSc

UPCSE

Global Humanitarian Studies BSc

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment, Modern European History and Politics, or Economics.

any other UPCH subject.

H

Heritage BA

UPCH

Any two optional subjects from:

History (Central and East European) with Jewish Studies and Year Abroad

UPCH

Modern European History and Politics
any other UPCH subject.

History and Philosophy of Science BSc

UPCH

Modern European History and Politics
any other UPCH subject.

UPCSE

Any two optional subjects. Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics (UPCSE).

History and Politics of the Americas BA

UPCH

Modern European History and Politics
any other UPCH subject.

History, Politics and Economics BA

UPCH

Any two subjects from:

History of Art BA

UPCH

Human Neuroscience BSc

UPCSE

Biology
any other UPCSE subject.

Human Sciences BSc

UPCSE

Biology
any other UPCSE subject.

I

Infection and Immunity BSc

UPCSE

Information In Society BSc

UPCH

Geography and the Built Environment, Modern European History and Politics, or Economics.

any other UPCH subject.

UPCSE

Any two optional UPCSE subjects.

Please note Physics can only be combined with Mathematics.

Information Management for Business BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH) and either:

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

International Management BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH) or Economics and either:

International Social and Political Studies BA

UPCH

Modern European History and Politics
any other UPCH subject.

Mathematics is required for the full Economics pathway.

L

Language with Film Studies BA

UPCH

Modern European Culture and either:

You will take the UPCHMel stream and take a language subject in place of the Academic English core subject.

Law LLB

UPCH

You must be prepared to sit the LNAT shortly after beginning the UPCH during the first term.

We offer guidance to UPCH students as part of the course. Read more about applying to law.

Linguistics BA

UPCH

Two subjects from:

If you have a science background you can apply from the UPCSE to Experimental Linguistics BSc.

M

Management Science BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH) and either:

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Mathematics BSc

UPCH

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Mathematics with Economics BSc

UPCH

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Mathematics with Management Studies BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH)
any other UPCH subject.

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Mathematics with Modern Languages BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH)
any other UPCH subject.

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Mathematics and Statistical Science BSc

UPCH

Mathematics (UPCH)
any other UPCH subject.

UPCSE

Mathematics (UPCSE)
any other UPCSE subject.

Mechanical Engineering BEng

UPCSE

Media BA

UPCH

Modern European Culture
any other UPCH subject except Economics.

In addition to your application, you will also need to present a showreel and supporting portfolio of work. You are expected to demonstrate existing media related skills.