Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

Course overview

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) are for international students who have completed high school with qualification UCL does not accept for entry onto an undergraduate degree.

These one-year international foundation courses are taught on UCL’s Bloomsbury campus in central London.

You will learn from experienced UCL tutors, who will support you to develop your academic skills, English and subject knowledge. This prepares you to progress to a degree at UCL or another leading UK university.

Study options

The UPC pathway you take depends on the undergraduate degree you want to study afterwards.

Course videos

Watch the course video and the 2026 entry information session below.

Course dates

The term dates for the 2026-27 academic year are:

Entry requirements

Before you apply, you should check that you meet the UPC entry requirements.

These include the:

• eligibility criteria
• academic qualifications we accept
• English language level you need for the course.

Requirements vary depending on where you studied for high school, your degree aim and whether you need a visa to study in the UK.

The page below explains everything in detail, including academic requirements by country and the English language requirements.

Teaching, learning and assessment

Explore the subjects available on the UPC and find guidance on choosing the optional subjects that best match your interests, current studies and future degree plans.

You can also find out how teaching is delivered, what your timetable may look like, how your work is assessed, who will teach you and what support you will receive while you study.

How to apply

Find out how to apply for the UPC, including what you need to submit, key deadlines and what happens at each stage of the process.

You can also learn how the entrance tests and interviews work, how to prepare for them and what happens if you receive an offer, including accepting your place and applying for accommodation, as well as important guidance if you’re under 18.

Fees and funding

Find out how much the UPC costs and what other expenses you should plan for before you apply.

You can read about course fees, living costs, refunds and the scholarships available to help support eligible students.

Progressing to an undergraduate degree

Find out where the UPC can take you after the course.

You can explore recent progression statistics, learn how to apply to an undergraduate degree at UCL or another leading UK university, see which UCL degrees offer guaranteed conditional offers, and understand how to choose the optional subjects that best support your future degree plans.

You can also read how UPC grades compare with A-levels, what typical degree offers look like, and whether your chosen degree requires you to take additional admissions tests.