How to apply

We've provided a step-by-step guide to help you when applying to university.

We’ve also put together some specific guidance and information for international applicants, mature students and disabled students.

Step 1. Choose your programme (or programmes)

A complete list of UCL’s undergraduate programmes can be found in the Undergraduate Prospectus. It also allows you to find our international qualification entry requirements by selecting your country, or the country from which your qualification originates, from the drop-down menu in the Other Qualifications section.

On each programme's webpage you will find their entry requirements, application processes, deadlines, course contents, and fee structures. 

All our programmes are taught in person during the daytime. We do not offer any online-only programmes.

You are welcome to apply to more than one programme at UCL. Please be aware that each programme will take up one of your five UCAS choices. 

Most UCL degree programmes do not consider additional personal statements. Therefore, we will use your UCAS personal statement as part of our assessment for each course you apply to at UCL. If your programme permits an additional statement, we will contact you directly to request this. Please do not send us the additional statement unless requested as we will not be able to take them into consideration.

Want to know more about a programme and its content?

The prospectus provides details on each programme and its content, however if you would like further information, or specific have questions about a programme’s content or modules, please contact individual academic departments. Their email address can be found on the bottom of a programme’s prospectus page. 

Step 2. Check our entry requirements

To guarantee your application gets considered, you must have applied by the UCAS equal consideration deadline and meet all our entry requirements.

Specific grade and subject requirements are shown on each programme page of the Undergraduate Prospectus. It also allows you to find our international qualification entry requirements by selecting your country, or the country from which your qualification originates, from the drop-down menu in the Other Qualifications section. 

Step 3. Decide which year you want to enter into

A majority of UCL’s applicants are applying for Year 1 entry. Should you be looking to enter the UCL Engineering Foundation Year, you will need to select Year 0 on your UCAS application form.

Any other application we receive for ‘Year 0’ entry will automatically be considered for ‘Year 1’ entry and must meet our advertised programme entry requirements.

UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC)

UCL offers intensive one-year foundation courses called Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs). These are for international students aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL, and other top UK universities. 

Applications for our UPCs are not made through UCAS. Please see our UPC website for further information. 

Please note that the Undergraduate Admissions Office does not deal with UPC Admissions or teaching, you would need to contact the Centre for Languages and International Education to enquire about this course. 

Second Year Entry and Transfer Students

Most of our programmes only allow entry into the first year (point of entry 1). 

None of our programmes allow third year entry under any circumstances. 

A small number of programmes listed below do consider second year entry (point of entry 2). Programmes that are not on this list DO NOT consider second year entry.  

If you are not eligible to start in the second year, you will automatically be considered for first year entry. This change will be made automatically by the admissions team and communicated to you through UCAS. 

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

  • Greek and Latin (Classics and the Ancient World)
  • Hebrew and Jewish Studies

Faculty of Engineering Sciences

  • Information Management for Business (Please note only applicants that have taken the Singapore Polytechnic Diploma in Business Information Technology can be considered for second year entry)

Institute of Education

  • BA Education, Society and Culture

Faculty of Medical Sciences (Please note second year entry is only considered in rare cases – you will need to demonstrate a genuine compelling reason for transferring)

  • Cancer Biomedicine
  • Infection & Immunity
  • Applied Medical Sciences
  • Nutrition and Medical Sciences
  • Medical Innovation and Enterprise
  • Sports and Exercise Sciences

To be considered for a second year transfer you must:

  • Meet the A Level or equivalent first year entry requirements for the programme
  • Have covered similar content to the first year at UCL (at a standard judged equivalent) at your current higher education institution.
  • In some cases, achieve a 2.1 or 1st in your first year at your current higher education institution
  • Have applied through UCAS by the equal consideration deadline, selecting point of entry 2.

If applicable, we will send you an Accreditation of Prior Learning form to complete. Please be aware that this may incur an administrative charge, and that advanced standing is only awarded at UCL’s discretion.

For more information about transferring into a specific undergraduate programme listed above at UCL, please contact us.

Step 4. Decide when you want to start

We welcome applications from students wanting to spend a pre-university (gap) year engaged in constructive activity, whether in the UK or abroad. 

If you apply for deferred entry, your application will be considered a year ahead of the normal application timetable. 

The only exception is for our BA and BFA Fine Art programmes, which do not allow deferred entry.

It is only possible to defer your entry by one year. An application cannot be deferred twice. This includes applicants that originally selected deferred entry in their UCAS application.  

Applicants who are required to complete compulsory national military service may be able to exceptionally defer their entry to UCL by up to two years. Please contact us using our enquiries form to notify us of this and request an additional deferral. 

Step 5. Check our tuition fees and funding opportunities

Have a look at our information about tuition fees, loans, and other costs of university at our dedicated Fees and funding pages.

We also have guidance for how and when you should pay your tuition fees, how much they'll be, and how to access funding.

There are several scholarships available to undergraduate students. Please check the programme’s prospectus page for the latest information regarding scholarships and funding. You can also use the scholarships finder to search for awards that you might be eligible for.

Step 6. Learn how to apply and complete your application

Applications for our undergraduate degree programmes are made through UCAS. We do not accept direct applications for our full-time undergraduate programmes. You can find out more information about how to apply and completing your application on our UCAS explained page.

We know applying to university can be daunting, so we’ve made this guide to help you through the application process and answer any questions you might have. 

Step 7. Make your application

The last step is to submit your completed application to UCAS, and we will receive the application within a couple of days. 

We look forward to receiving your application! 

More information