Pre-enrolment is a quick and easy online task where you can confirm the details we hold about you and your programme. Completing pre-enrolment is the first step towards starting out at UCL.
What is pre-enrolment and when does it happen?
Pre-enrolment is a quick and easy online task where you can confirm the details we hold about you and your programme. This includes your personal details and information about your next of kin and your fees. Completing pre-enrolment is the first step towards becoming a fully enrolled UCL student. Once you are enrolled and have collected your ID card you will be able to access all the facilities and support on offer at UCL.
When pre-enrolment is available for your programme, you’ll receive a pre-enrolment invitation email with instructions. This email can only be sent once you've accepted your offer, met any conditions and completed any statutory checks if applicable. You can easily complete pre-enrolment online on your phone or laptop – it only takes a few minutes to complete.
For non-UK/Irish students: if you have not yet arrived in the UK, you can still complete pre-enrolment. As you receive your visa documents, you can keep us updated by uploading them to the pre-enrolment task. Once you have arrived in the UK, you can provide us with a copy of your stamped vignette (or boarding pass if you entered through an e-gate) and we will then be able to complete your enrolment.
As part of pre-enrolment, you’ll also be asked to accept several academic and financial regulations, data protection statements, and to confirm your membership with Students’ Union UCL. For reference, view more information on our regulations, data protection and policies.
The pre-enrolment process
Pre-enrolment FAQs
- When do I pre-enrol?
You will receive an invite to pre-enrol once you have met all of the conditions of your offer, completed any statutory checks and accepted your place at UCL. If you are an international student, you will only receive the pre-enrolment invite once you have received your Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) from UCL.
- What is the deadline for pre-enrolment?
The latest date to pre-enrol is two weeks after the start date of your programme.
- I don’t have any of the ID documentation listed. Can I still complete the pre-enrolment task?
In the pre-enrolment task, when asked to upload ID documentation please select “I do not have any of the above”. By selecting this option, your pre-enrolment will be put on hold and the Student and Registry Services team will get in touch with you to discuss this with you. Further information on what you should provide as part of pre-enrolment if you are studying on a visa can be found on our website.
- I don’t have my visa (BRP) yet. Can I still complete the pre-enrolment task?
Yes, you will be able to complete pre-enrolment before you obtain your visa. If you have applied for a student visa and your BRP has been delivered to UCL, you will be asked to upload a copy of the travel vignette in your passport (see final FAQ below). Further information on what you should provide as part of pre-enrolment if you are studying on a visa can be found on our website.
- I’ve uploaded a photo and I’d like to change it. Can I do this?
If you are still within the pre-enrolment task, and you would like to change the photo that you have uploaded, you will be able to do so by selecting ‘Upload new photo’.
Once you have completed the pre-enrolment task, you are unable to change the photo that has been uploaded.
- What are the photo guidelines?
If you upload a photo to the pre-enrolment task that does not meet the criteria, the Student and Registry Services team will get in touch to discuss this further. In most cases, you will be requested to upload a new photo to the pre-enrolment task in Portico.
Your photo must:
- Be taken against a plain, light-coloured background, preferably white
- Contain no other objects or people
- Have no shadows on your face or behind you
- Be a true likeness of yourself
- Be in focus with no red-eye
- Be in colour with no effects or filters
- Be no more than 5MB
- Be one of the following file formats: JPEG or JPG
In your photo you must:
- Be facing forwards looking straight at the camera
- Have a neutral expression or be smiling, with your mouth closed
- Have your eyes open and clearly visible (with no sunglasses or tinted glasses)
- Have no reflection or glare on your glasses, and the frames should not cover your eyes (you may find it easier to remove your glasses)
- Include your full head, without any head covering (unless it is worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons), and have nothing covering your face (please make sure nothing covers the outline of your eyes, nose or mouth)
- When uploading I have told the image is too big/too small. What should I do?
The image should be in either JPEG or JPG file format and should be no more than 5MB in size. Please upload another photo that meets these criteria.
If you upload a photo to the pre-enrolment task that does not meet the criteria, the Student and Registry Services team will get in touch to request you upload a new photo.
- I’m receiving server error messages when I try to upload my photo, what should I do?
Please write to our email address for new students and a member of the team will get in touch to discuss this further with you.
- I have now completed pre-enrolment. Can I have a student status letter?
You will not be able to receive a student status letter until you are enrolled on your programme of study at UCL. Once you receive confirmation of enrolment, you will be able to print your own letters from Portico (see next FAQ for instructions).
- I am now enrolled. How can I download a student status letter from Portico?
Log in to Portico with your UCL user ID and password on the main page ('My Portico'). Under 'Enrolment and Study Details', you will see a tab called 'Statement of Student Status'.
After clicking on this tab, you will be asked to select the type of statement you require. After doing this, click 'Next'.
If you selected 'Confirmation of your student status', you will see your addresses, which we ask that you keep updated. If they are no longer current, please select 'Edit' and make the relevant changes.
If you selected 'For a bank account', you will see a drop-down box with names of different banks. Select the bank you would like to open an account with and click 'Next'. This is to make sure that the confirmation letter is addressed to the bank directly, which is what UK banks require. You will then see your addresses, which we ask that you keep updated. If they are no longer current, please select 'Edit' and make the relevant changes.
Select 'Download Statement of Student Status' or 'Download Bank Letter' depending on your previous selection.
Banks and councils can be very particular about addresses. When updating your address, make sure to include your full address, including your room number. For example:
Room or flat number
Room 123A or Flat 12
Name of residence or building (if applicable)
Ramsay Hall
House number and name of street
23 City Road
City
London
Postcode
WC1A 4AH
- I have completed the pre-enrolment task, but my personal details have changed. What should I do?
You can log in to Portico and update your personal details. Personal details that you can currently update are (a) your contact details, and (b) your next of kin address.
- Can I change my name on my student record?
If you provide us with official ID documentation, we can change your name on your student record. Please note that your student ID card must show your official name so that we can easily verify your identity.
- How can I change my email address to my preferred name?
Contact the ISD service desk and request a new mail alias. Please bear in mind that not all combinations of first/last name and/or initials will be available, as they may be in use already or associated with a historical account.
Contact the ISD service desk if you have any issues with this.
- I am missing a visa/ID document/photo which is preventing me from completing Enrolment. What should I do?
If you now have copies of these item(s), please go to your Portico Homepage and under the section 'Further documentation to complete enrolment' upload the relevant document.
This can be done via the relevant buttons:
upload visa document
upload ID
upload photo replacement buttonPlease note, once you've completed the upload you will not receive a notification to say the upload has been completed. Due to the high volume of students registering at UCL, It may take a number of days for the enrolment team to assess your documents and complete your enrolment. All documents must be uploaded for you to be enrolled.
ID card and BRP collection FAQs
- I'm a new student, how do I collect my student ID card?
You will receive a link to the ID card collection appointment booking system in your enrolment confirmation email. Once you have been enrolled you will also have access to the system on your Portico homepage.
When collecting your ID card (and BRP if applicable), please ensure you bring your own form of ID e.g. passport, driving license or EU identity card.
Please note that you will require a Student ID Card to access certain UCL buildings and, once issued, you must carry this at all times on campus.- Where do I collect my ID card?
You can collect you ID card from the Andrew Huxley Building. When collecting your ID card (and BRP if applicable), please ensure you bring your own form of ID e.g. passport, driving license or EU identity card.
- I am a returning student and need a replacement ID card. Where can I get this from?
If you have lost your old ID card, or never collected one, you can book an appointment using the link in your confirmation of re-enrolment email. Once you have been re-enrolled you will also be given a link to the booking system on your Portico homepage.
When collecting your ID card, please ensure you bring your own form of ID e.g. passport, driving license or EU identity card.
- I am a current student and my end date has been extended. Can I get a new ID card?
Your existing ID card should still work as usual, even if it doesn’t show your updated end date. We recommend you try out your current ID card when you return to campus.
If for any reason your card does not work, you will need to book an appointment to collect a replacement card using the link in your confirmation of re-enrolment email or via Portico once you are re-enrolled.
When collecting your ID card, please ensure you bring your own form of ID e.g. passport, driving license or EU identity card.
- When and where can I collect my Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?
General information on how to obtain your BRP can be found here.
If you have asked for your BRP to be delivered to UCL, you will receive an email once your BRP has arrived at UCL. This will include details of how you can collect it.
If you have any questions about BRP collection, please contact the Student Immigration Compliance Team via AskUCL .