London, England
University College London Partnership
Program Overview
JOIN A DIVERSE COMMUNITY FROM 150+ COUNTRIES
One of the world’s top 10 universities and the oldest member of Britain’s Russell Group, UCL is known for research-based teaching and true city living. Highlights include a vibrant arts scene—witness the annual opera production and highly competitive studio arts at The Slade—plus new programs in global citizenship and international health.
At UCL, your backyard is Bloomsbury, a leafy, central London district campus known for its Georgian architecture, museums, cafes, parks, and literary history. Oxford Street, Covent Garden, and the West End are also in easy reach.
Your program also includes IFSA excursions and activities (included, no extra fees) that give you deeper cultural insights. Possibilities include a West End theater performance, a session in the famous The Great British Bake Off tent, and exploring below ground with a former coal miner in Wales.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
3.30
Credit load
16
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Not in most cases. Learn more.
Academics
Open UCL’s online course catalog to see a list of available courses.
Credit Conversion
At University College London, a full course load consists of 16 U.S. semester credit hours per semester or 32 U.S. semester credit hours per year. The number of courses you take depends on the credit value of the courses you select.
30 UCL credits = 8 U.S. semester credits
15 UCL credits = 4 U.S. semester credits
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.
Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
When you apply to study at UCL, you apply directly to one of their academic departments. Students take at least 50% of their classes from that department but are still welcome to request to take classes from other departments; students are encouraged to contact these departments directly to enquire about doing so. Please review the exceptions below carefully. If you have very specific study needs or require confirmation of module availability in advance, please contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor as soon as you begin your application.
Note that study abroad students at UCL may only enroll in FHEQ level 4, 5, or 6 classes. In selecting your classes, you should be aware of any prerequisites necessary to enroll.
- Level 4 classes are introductory classes generally suitable for students with no previous undergraduate study in the subject. See exceptions in the department list below.
- Level 5 classes are intermediate classes broadly equivalent to junior year classes in the U.S. Applicants should have taken at least 3-4 classes in the subject.
- Level 6 classes are advanced classes equivalent to senior year or master’s classes in the U.S. Applicants should have taken at least 6-7 classes in the subject, and the subject should also be the student’s major.
The following academic units cannot accept study abroad students for Spring 2025:
- Architecture
- Arts and Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Planning
- Statistics
For Spring 2025, the following departments may have limited capacity for study abroad students. Applications from study abroad students received by the application deadline will be considered, but the number of places may be restricted. Decisions will not be made on a rolling basis for the following:
- Archaeology
- Biochemical Engineering
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Education
- Electronic and Electrical Engineering
- European and International Social and Political Studies
- Fine Art
- Geography
- History
- History and Politics of the Americas
- Human Sciences
- Infection and Immunity
- Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Phonetics and Linguistics
- Political Science
- Population Health Sciences
- Social Research Institute
- Slavic and Eastern European Studies
The following departments have additional restrictions or requirements:
Biological Sciences & Biomedical Sciences
Theses departments requires a minimum 3.5 GPA to be considered.
Chemical Engineering
This department only accepts applications from academic year and spring term students (when not restricted for those terms). Fall term only students will not be considered.
Chemistry
This department requires a strong background of chemistry and mathematics classes. Students will not be able to take any classes with laboratory work if attending for one semester.
Economics
The department requires that applicants show via an official transcript that they have taken or are currently taking:
- Calculus II or Advanced Mathematics
- Intermediate Macroeconomics
- Introduction to Statistics/Econometrics
- Intermediate Microeconomics
Students must have an average of a B+ for these four classes to be considered.
Students who are not accepted directly into the Economics Department will be unable to take classes above Level 1 within this department. The Slavonic and East European Studies Department offers alternative economics classes.
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
This department only accepts applications from full-year and spring-only students; fall-only students will not be considered.
English
Students admitted to this department will be expected to either take all four modules in English, or three modules in English and one outside the department.
Fine Arts
Students admitted to Fine Art (the UCL Slade School) must take their entire credit load within this area and may not select any other modules.
History of Art
This department admits only history of art majors. Fine art majors will not be considered.
Languages
The Center for Languages and International Education (CLIE) is not a department; therefore, students cannot apply to it. It is possible to take classes within this center, but that must be arranged upon arrival at UCL. Languages may also be studied via European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), among other schools and departments.
Law
Law modules are only available to students admitted to the Faculty of Laws. Law is extremely competitive.
Management
This department only accepts applications from full-year and spring-only students; fall-only students will not be considered.
Mathematics
This department only accepts applications from full-year and spring-only students; fall-only students will not be considered. Prerequisite knowledge will apply to all modules, across a range of breath and depth. Please consult the Mathematics Department Website to ascertain what is required for the module(s) you are interested in.
Neuroscience
This department requires a minimum 3.7 GPA to be considered. Access to Level 3 modules must be discussed with and approved by the Neuroscience Affiliate Tutor before arrival to UCL.
Physics & Astronomy
This department only accepts applications from full-year and spring-only students; fall-only students will not be considered.
Political Science
This department requires a minimum 3.5 GPA with a strong background of political science classes.
Social Research Institute
This department only accepts applications from full-year and spring-only students; fall-only students will not be considered. It requires a minimum 3.5 GPA to be considered.
Statistics
This department only accepts applications from academic year and spring term students (when not restricted for those terms). Fall term only students will not be considered.
New country, new way of learning!
Here’s what to expect at University College London:
- More emphasis on independent learning. The university recommends completing 10 hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
- More advanced instruction and work than you’d find in a class at the same level in the United States. Because most English university degrees are three-year programs, students gain specialized knowledge faster here.
- Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members.
- Grades are often based on a single final exam or final paper, or on just a few assignments.
- Choose classes from one department to avoid scheduling conflicts. Local students usually specialize in one department for classes, which means different departments don’t schedule classes with other departments in mind.
- Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including an assigned advisor for academic support. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
- You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
- You must have completed at least two (2) full-time years of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.
Secondary Application
University College London is competitive and often releases admissions decisions very late in the admissions cycle. While IFSA encourages a back-up application to another IFSA program, because the admissions cycles are incompatible, students cannot apply to both UCL and King’s College London. Students who apply to UCL are encouraged to discuss with their IFSA Enrollment Counselor which back-up application is right for them.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.
Activities
- The Great British Bake Off Experience: Step into the famous white tent and don your apron for this immersive baking experience. Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll work in pairs and bake a dessert against the clock that will be judged by the head baker. You’ll even be able to take home your creation at the end!
- West End Theatre Performance: No time in the UK would be complete without a trip to the West End, London’s famous theatre district. Shows are chosen that provide context or different perspectives on London/the UK/Europe. Recent examples include Operation Mincemeat and Cabaret.
- Sustainability Garden: Visit a community garden started to rewild urban space and respond to the challenges of urban sustainable food production in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. By speaking to gardeners, learn more about the impact of sustainable practices on the biodiversity of urban areas and how they’re trying to widen participation in their local community. Make sure to dress appropriately because we’ll be getting our hands dirty!
Excursions
- Stonehenge and Bath Visit: Stonehenge has stood on Salisbury Plain for around 5,000 years and it’s still unknown how the prehistoric monument came to rest there! Make up your own mind during this visit and discover the fascinating theories behind these rocks. You’ll learn about Stonehenge from the fascinating exhibits and be able to enjoy a virtual sunrise as it rises over the prehistoric stones! Afterward, travel to the Roman city of Bath for a walking tour of this World Heritage city once home to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Gainsborough, Lord Nelson, and Beau Nash. Then prepare to travel back 2,000 years to the Roman era with a visit to the Roman Baths.
- Piers and Queers Brighton Trip: Since the 18th century, Brighton has become a cosmopolitan place of recreation, escape, and freedom. A destination for people who didn’t conform. With an LGBTQ+ population now estimated at 15%, Brighton celebrated England’s first civil partnerships, and hosts the UK’s largest Pride event as well as Europe’s first Trans Pride, rightly earning its title as the LGBTQ+ Capital of Britain. Peers and Queers is a tour of Brighton from LGBTQ+ perspective. This colorful 90-minute walk along the beach and historic city center takes in more than 200 years of history including Regency Dandies, 1950s lesbian and gay life, and political activism. Afterward, there’s time for a walk on the pier and fish and chips, just watch out for seagulls!
- Big Welsh Weekend: Delve into the rich history of Wales and explore its unique culture and its complex relationship with the rest of the UK on a weekend that takes in the famous Tintern Abbey, the historic Raglan Castle, the Blaenavon coal mines, and St Fagan’s, a museum that has preserved buildings and cultural practices from Welsh history. Spend the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and discover the Cardiff Bay area, home of the Welsh Parliament.
- Yorkshire Adventure: Explore the vibrant and historic county of Yorkshire on a weekend trip where you’ll discover how this English region has contributed to the UK’s cultural landscape. Highlights may include the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, the Piece Hall in Halifax, the Victorian model village of Saltaire, or the imposing Harewood House in Leeds.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room OptionMeals
Self-CateringDetails
Students live in centrally located flats (apartments) provided by IFSA or in housing provided by UCL. Housing at UCL is limited and several options include supplemental housing fees. While we do our best to accommodate preferences, tight housing often makes it difficult to match students with their top choices.
UCL residence halls: UCL buildings with single bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and common gathering spaces. Students provide bedding and towels.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals. Each hall has a shared kitchen, generally with refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven, and kettle. Some require students to purchase kitchenware.
- Commute: The closest hall is a five-minute walk from campus. The farthest is 15 minutes away via public transportation.
UCL student flats (apartments): The university works with housing partners to provide furnished flats throughout central London. Shared flats generally house up to eight students. Some have single bedrooms and private bathrooms. Some have single bedrooms and shared bathrooms. Some have shared (double) bedrooms and shared bathrooms. Students provide bedding and towels.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals. Each flat has a shared kitchen, generally with refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven, and kettle. Some require students to purchase kitchenware.
- Commute: Some buildings are within easy walking distance; others require subway transit. All locations have public transportation nearby.
Student flats provided by IFSA: Students live in furnished flats (apartments) selected by IFSA, with IFSA students as flatmates.
- Living space: Each flat contains single bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom.
- Bedrooms include bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and light for each student.
- Comfortable space to cook, eat, socialize, and study either in your flat or in convenient common areas.
- Linens, except towels, are typically provided.
- Meals: There is no meal plan. Students cook or purchase their own meals. Some flats have private kitchens, others include shared kitchens. Most are fully equipped; if not, kitchenware is easy to purchase nearby. Flatmates say cooking and eating together is a fun, social part of their day.
- Commute: Varies by location. Expect a 40- to 50-minute trip via local train services, the Tube (the London subway), or bus.
Sample housing
Explore Vita Lewisham, one housing option, to see what your London home might be like:
- Location: Lewisham, an area in southeast London undergoing substantial regeneration, particularly following its tenure as London Borough of Culture in 2022. Lewisham Shopping Centre, a five-minute walk away, is home to over 70 stores. Across the street is Glass Mill Leisure Centre, with gym, pool, sauna, and steam room. Two-minute walk to Lewisham train station.
- Commute: 45 minutes by train/Tube to University College London main campus.
- Single rooms: Rooms include one double bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and TV. Bed linens provided. Studio rooms include private kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, and microwave. Other rooms are part of cluster flats: six single rooms with private bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and living space. Kitchenware provided.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students purchase meals or prepare food in shared kitchens. Breakfast available in the reception area on weekday mornings. Free coffee 24/7.
- Common spaces: Three private dining rooms, a bar, study spaces, a gym with dance studio, and a games room.
- Other details: Unlimited Wi-Fi, staff and security on site 24/7. Laundry facilities on-site. Cleaning provided every two weeks. The residence runs a full social calendar.
- Nearby: The bustling Greenwich area, home to Greenwich Market, renowned museums, and Greenwich Park (where the Eastern and Western Hemispheres meet)—five minutes away via Docklands Light Railway. (Watch for celebrities: Greenwich frequently stands in as London and occasionally Paris in film and television productions.) Central London is 15 minutes away via train, so it’s easy to get to London Bridge and Charing Cross, the historic center of London.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Jasmine Di Diego
Enrollment Counselor
