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UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, conducting leading research across a wide range of subject areas. Throughout its long and prestigious history, it has inspired and educated countless minds and produced 30 Nobel prize recipients.
With one campus located in the heart of Bloomsbury and a second campus in vibrant east London, the university is home to around 42,000 students representing more than 150 countries globally, of which 20,000 are studying at postgraduate level. There are more than 700 graduate research and taught degree programmes available, as well as teacher training courses in a wide range of academic areas.
Graduate study options include:
Master’s degrees
MPhil/PhD degrees
PGCE degrees
UCL maintains a diverse and inclusive community, which pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems.
Postgraduate
UCL has cultivated an impressive portfolio of more than 700 graduate taught, research and teacher training programmes, spanning a wide variety of subject areas. UCL’s world-leading research has been recognised in the Research Excellence Framework 2021, and students are encouraged to work across traditional subject boundaries to allow for cross-pollination of ideas and a greater connectivity between fields.
At the very heart of UCL’s mission is its research, with a research element integrated into many of its formal degree programmes. Students benefit from the opportunity to participate in significant projects with real-world impact, making an original contribution to their field of work.
UCL is well known for the quality of its curriculum and the expertise of its teaching staff. The university’s teaching faculty comprises a team of highly qualified and widely experienced individuals, many of whom continue to be involved in leading work within their field. Teachers are not only able to communicate key professional insights to their students, but they can inform and inspire them with the latest research and industry developments in their subject.
Taught degrees include MA, MSc and MRes, MPA, and MBA programmes.
Research degrees include MPhil, PhD and Doctorate programmes.
Teacher training programmes include PGCE programmes.
Students receive dedicated attention from global experts in their fields, take part in the new cross-disciplinary investigations, and learn from esteemed guest speakers. The world leading IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, provides initial teacher education programmes that are rated as 'outstanding’ by Ofsted in all areas. These are led by educators who are involved in ground-breaking education research, many of whom write textbooks around the subject areas.
Graduate programme requirements vary between departments, research centres and programmes. They generally require:
First or upper-second-class UK bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, or an overseas equivalent from a recognised institution.
Some require GMAT or GRE General Test scores.
Teaching programmes may require certain GCSE qualifications, Occupational Health and DBS checks, skills tests and relevant work experience.
In some cases, prospective students may be required to attend an interview, or submit a small portfolio of work.
Some graduate taught programmes may consider students with lower qualifications if they can demonstrate relevant academic background and experience in a related field. Any student whose native language is not English will have to provide proof of sufficient English language proficiency to meet the requirements of their chosen programme.
The UCL admissions department is open all year round, staffed by a team of friendly and approachable advisors who can answer any questions about the application process.
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UCL is a world-leading institution, ranked second in the UK for research power in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF).
The university retained a leading position in third Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), and in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 (TEF) UCL was awarded Gold for Student Outcomes, Silver for Student Experience, with an overall rating of Silver. 30 Nobel Prize laureates are among current or former staff and students.
Some of UCL’s accolades include:
First in England to teach chemistry, engineering, English and German
First in England to operate a fully open-access university press
First in England to welcome students of any religion or social background
First in England to welcome women to university education
Top-performing university in the initial year of Horizon 2020, the EU funding scheme (Research Professional)
Four UCL academics awarded European Research Council Starting Grants in 2022, awarding EUR 6 million to UCL projects
UCL researchers were the first to find evidence of a supermassive black hole using the Event Horizon telescope
UCL students won the Hult Prize for their proposal on how to alleviate food poverty in Southeast Asia
UCL is one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, maintaining a formidable academic reputation and recognised as one of the most impactful research-oriented institutes worldwide.
Graduates are highly sought-after by prospective employers, and the university’s London location means that students have excellent access to one of the most diverse and dynamic employment markets in the world. UCL students have a wide array of opportunities to complete internships and work experience placements across a huge variety of professional fields while they study in London, and this can add significant value to their employment prospects after graduation.
The top employment sectors for UCL graduates include academic research, healthcare, teaching and financial services. University College London also has numerous links with industry partners. These industry connections provide students with invaluable networking and work experience opportunities with influential organisations. Throughout their studies and as alumni, students can receive extensive career advice from UCL's careers services, which provide one-to-one career consultations, help with applications, interview practices, employer-led events, skills development workshops, support in finding work placements, and job vacancy information.
UCL Students’ Union strives to improve the lives of all UCL students by representing and advising them, offering support, fostering connections and organising activities and events. It is managed by elected officers who act as the student's voice.
The Postgraduate Students’ Association is dedicated to graduate students, providing them with many services such as social amenities and sports facilities.
Clubs and societies
The UCL students’ union offers students over 360 clubs and societies, with many opportunities to try something new or enjoy hobbies and interests with like-minded students. There is a huge selection of sports clubs, and many have world-class facilities in which to train, offering opportunities to compete with other universities around London and the UK.
City life
London is energetic, diverse and is regularly ranked as the world’s best student city (QS Best Student Cities 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024). It is home to some of the world’s greatest theatres, museums, galleries, music venues, cinemas, sports stadiums, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping, comedy and clubs and offers a myriad of exciting experiences.
There’s something for everyone, as even away from buzzing city life there are numerous peaceful green spaces to relax in.
UCL offers a range of accommodation, with postgraduate halls conveniently located in central London. There is limited family accommodation for students that would like to live with partners, family or children, and UCL works with private providers to signpost alternative accommodation options for students that choose to live outside of halls.
Fees depend on location and facilities. However, all accommodation fees include:
Furnished room rental
Use of communal areas
Halls maintenance
Cleaning of shared bathrooms, kitchens and communal areas
Utility charges, including Wi-Fi
Basic contents insurance
24/7 support
Facilities
A whole host of facilities are offered at UCL, including 15 specialist libraries with more than two million books, 12,000 journal subscriptions, archives, rare materials, significant manuscripts and many other resources. The university also holds globally important museum collections, artworks, objects, specimens and images.
UCL is undertaking a £1.25 billion investment in creating sustainable spaces and best-in-class facilities. The award-winning Bloomsbury campus is powered by 100% renewable electricity and produces no landfill waste. By 2024, all buildings will be net-zero and free from single use plastics, with 10,000m2 of additional biodiverse green space.
UCL is proudly committed to ensuring that all of its students have access to the best support and welfare services they need for academic success, personal growth and development.
Each year, the university delivers a large programme of resources to its student support departments, which cover a wide range of services from academic support and financial aid services, health and wellbeing, and international student support.
The Student Enquiries Centre offers free walk-in guidance across a number of issues. Advice is free and confidential, and the centre is able to provide general support, as well as referrals to more specialised services where it is required. Tutors and research supervisors are also able to provide academic support as well as friendly advice and encouragement. Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) offer personal services including:
Drop-in sessions and counselling for mental health and wellbeing
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. This year UCL has launched 2 new scholarships for postgraduate study. The UCL East London Scholarship supports the ambitions of east Londoners by funding the fees and living costs of all UCL East Master's programmes and select School of Management programmes. The new UCL India Excellence Scholarship aims to enable and encourage Indian students with an outstanding academic record to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
Students also have the option to apply for external funding opportunities, which could be in the form of governmental scholarship schemes or sponsorships from professional organisations. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) studentships can also be applied to by individual academic departments.
UCL provides a number of teacher training bursaries for UK and EU teacher trainees embarking on a PGCE programme, who may be eligible for a training bursary of up to £27,000 to support their living costs. Explore other UCL Scholarships with our Scholarships Finder.
Interested in scholarships?
Get in touch, if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications.
UCL’s graduate taught degrees are designed for many needs – they may provide a foundation for research or a route to career advancement. Programmes cover a wide spectrum of subject areas, from aesthetic dentistry to virtual reality. A huge selection of full and part-time programmes are available which typically start in in September.
Research
UCL offers a variety of research programmes, which provides students with the opportunity to undertake substantial, in-depth research on a full, part-time or flexible basis. Students can gain a variety of postgraduate qualifications, spanning a wide variety of subject and research areas.
Research programmes typically begin in September. Students are required to centre their academic work around the university and attend meetings with their supervisors as appropriate. There are also opportunities for visiting research students from overseas.
Distance learning
A growing number of UCL programmes can be taken on a distance learning basis, where some or all of the teaching is delivered online. Students can find details of individual programme entries online.
Distance learning students are assigned a personal tutor, and supporting materials can include lecture notes, interactive tools and podcasts —all of which can be accessed through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE). Students can enhance their learning online by interacting with study groups and forums in the VLE. Some programmes require occasional visits to campus.
Sound interesting?
Get in touch, if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications.