Transfer to UCL History

To be eligible for an internal transfer, you must be either a UCL student currently enrolled on a programme of study in another UCL department or expected to enrol for the first year of study in another UCL department in September 2026.

Please note that all transfer students must start a History programme at the beginning of Year 1. It is not possible to transfer mid-year or into the second or final year.

We generally have limited capacity to accept transfer students and, in some years, are not in a position to accept any transfer applicants. You are encouraged to look at other departments within UCL if you are considering applying for a programme transfer.

Marks

• Students wishing to transfer will normally be expected to meet our usual A-level (or equivalent) entry requirements. Applications from students who do not meet these requirements may be considered at the Admission Tutor’s discretion.
• Marks for UCL modules will be taken into account for students transferring after completing the first year of another programme, and students who have failed any UCL modules will not be accepted for transfer.
• Students who have previously been rejected from a History programme will not be accepted for transfer.

How to Apply

Please submit a personal statement of up to 1000 words, stating to which History programme (BA History / BA Ancient History / BA History with a Year Abroad) you wish to transfer, explaining why you want to transfer, and a letter of recommendation from a member of staff in your current department (e.g. module tutor or personal tutor) or a reference from your school / college to history.programmes@ucl.ac.uk by Friday 15th August 2025. We aim to notify you of our decision by Friday 12th September 2025.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a formal application for a programme change via Portico.

If you have any queries, please contact history.programmes@ucl.ac.uk.

Please note that UCL History does not accept transfers from other universities. External applicants must apply through UCAS to start in Year 1.

Lucy Wolpert (BA History)

I wanted to study History at UCL because it’s in the heart of London. There are so many fantastic museums, libraries and historic sites within walking distance, which I find really inspire my studies. I’ve used these institutions of learning to study charters, newspapers, novels and other different types of text.

Nick Leah (BA History)

In your first year at UCL, you will study courses entitled ‘Writing History’ and ‘Making History.’ Writing History will not only nurture the articulation of your ideas on paper but also give you the capacity to think critically about your own writing. I particularly enjoyed Making History as I worked with a group of my friends on the relationship between religion and politics in medieval London. Making History will get you out of the department to explore some of London’s most interesting historical sources and artefacts. In other words, at UCL you will not just be ‘reading history’ but you will also be ‘doing history’.