Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions for applicants applying to graduate taught and research programmes at UCL (excluding PGCE programmes).

Applications

You may submit applications for a maximum of two taught graduate programmes for entry to the 2024/25 academic year. The applications must be for different programmes. Please note that if an application fee is charged, it will be charged per application. Specific advice about applying to some departments is outlined below: If you considering applying to the LLM within the Faculty of Laws, you should apply for either the general LLM or one LLM specialism route. You are not permitted to apply for both. If you want to study an LLM with a specialism, you should apply to the relevant LLM specialism route. If you are unsure at this stage, whether you want to specialise or would like to study a general LLM, then you should apply to the general LLM route. UCL does not accept multiple applications for the same programme in the same academic year.

For the majority of our programmes, applications for the 2024/25 academic year open on 16 October 2023. Please check the Graduate Prospectus for programme specific application open and closing dates.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis and therefore may close earlier than the advertised deadline. We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. A programme will be closed as soon as it is full or by the general deadline for applications. Please check individual programme pages for specific details.

It is not possible to submit an application once the application deadline has passed and the programme has closed to new applications. Applications can be submitted up to 5pm (UK time) on the deadline date advertised. If you have missed the deadline you will only be able to submit an application for the next admissions cycle, which opens in October 2024.

We advise that you contact the academic department before submitting your application to identify a supervisor who will be available to supervise your research.

The transcript section of the application form is mandatory. If you would like to send your transcript to us securely through your University’s transcript service, please upload a word document to your application confirming that you will submit your application through your University’s transcript service. Once you have submitted your application please have your University’s transcript service send your transcript to transcripts.pgadmissions@ucl.ac.uk. Please note that this email address can only be used to provide transcripts directly from your University’s transcript service.

Entry requirements

The English language requirements for a programme are stated on the programme’s prospectus page. You may be required to meet one of UCL’s five levels of English language proficiency, or obtain specific scores in a UCL-recognised test. UCL’s English language policy details all of the ways in which you can meet the minimum English language requirement for your chosen programme of study.

The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. However, you can submit your application before you have taken a test. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at UCL.

A small number of programmes at UCL use interviews as part of the selection process. This will usually be outlined on the programme’s prospectus page, however, if you would like to receive confirmation, please contact the academic department directly using the contact details on the programme’s prospectus page.

You are not required to provide a CV with your application. However, it can often be a good way to summarise your education and work experience.

Once you have submitted your application it will be reviewed by Admissions selectors who will email you with instructions if they would like to view your portfolio. Please do not upload your portfolio to your application or email it to Admissions.

If you would like to gain accreditation for prior learning, please read through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy (UCL Academic Manual, Chapter 1, section 2.8) to check that you are eligible. There are rules governing the maximum number of credits that can be recognised and these regulations differ depending upon the type of programme you are studying. Additionally, UCL can only accept requests to gain accreditation for prior learning where the learning has been completed within the last five calendar years before the start of your programme. Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may only be made prior to the point of admission. UCL is unable to accept retrospective applications for RPL once you have enrolled on a programme. If you would like to request recognition for prior learning, you must upload a copy of your completed UCL Recognition of Prior Learning Application Form with your UCL application. Your Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) request will be considered alongside your application. If you receive an offer, your offer letter will include the details of any approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Please note that all Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) requests are considered at UCL’s discretion.

If my request to gain accreditation for prior learning is approved, what impact will this have on my studies at UCL?

If Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is approved this may impact on how your degree classification for your UCL programme of study is calculated. Credits accrued at UCL and awarded via RPL will be counted as part of the qualification requirements and included in the calculation of the degree classification. However, credit awarded by any institution other than UCL will be counted as part of the qualification requirements but will be excluded from the calculation of the classification. Please see Chapter 1, Section 2.8 of the Academic Manual for further details. Additional information on the degree classification rules for postgraduate taught degrees at UCL can be found in Chapter 4, Section 10.6 of the Academic Manual. If you have any questions regarding the impact RPL will have on the classification of your degree please contact your academic department or the Graduate Admissions team. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will reduce the number of credits you are studying at UCL and therefore this may impact on your mode of attendance, liability for tuition fees, eligibility for forms of student finance and the final degree classification you are able to achieve. Please be aware that if your request for recognition for prior learning is approved you will not be eligible for the Postgraduate Student Loan. Before making an application for RPL you should contact our Fees or Funding teams or your student loan provider to confirm what impact gaining accreditation for prior learning could have on your tuition fees, mode of attendance and student loan eligibility.

Application fees

A standard application processing fee applies for most graduate taught programmes, with a small number of exceptions. For full details, read more about Application fees.

Yes, if you apply for more than one programme the fee is payable for each application that requires an application fee.

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