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University College London (UCL) 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 over 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 over 50,000 students representing more than 150 countries globally, of which over 25,000 are studying at postgraduate level. There are more than 650 graduate research and taught degree programmes available, as well as teacher training courses in a wide range of academic areas.
Graduate study options include:
UCL maintains a diverse and inclusive community, which pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems.
UCL has cultivated an impressive portfolio of more than 650 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.
3.9UCL offers postgraduate study across two distinctive campuses. The Bloomsbury Campus, located in the heart of central London, blends historic architecture with modern learning environments. Meanwhile, UCL East—set in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park—represents the university's bold vision for the future, with cutting-edge facilities designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and tackle global challenges.
Beyond location, UCL distinguishes itself through its world-class facilities and resources. Postgraduates benefit from access to over two million library items, 15 specialist libraries, and internationally significant museum collections. The university also offers state-of-the-art laboratories, creative spaces, and language learning centres.
3.4UCL 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:
London is regularly ranked as the world's best student city, and it is home to some of the world's greatest theatres, museums, galleries, music venues, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping, clubs, and peaceful green spaces, offering a myriad of experiences for all types of people.
UCL students often highlight how London enhances their academic and personal development, and how the city becomes an extension of their learning experience.
The UCL students' union offers students over 300 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.
3.4The 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.
There is a strong emphasis on supporting students' wellbeing, encouraging a healthy work-life balance, and fostering a vibrant postgraduate community.
4.0UCL 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 supports a diversity of industry connections, providing 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 master's students are able to leverage the university's career support network to shape their postgraduate life at UCL.
Postgraduate students scholarship options include the UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and the UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. 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 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.
External funding opportunities exist 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.
Prospective students can easily explore other UCL scholarships using the scholarships finder.
Graduate programme requirements vary between departments, research centres and programmes. They generally require:
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.
UCL offers a wide range of taught and research degree courses, and tuition fees vary on a course by course basis. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the university website for subject-specific information on course fees.
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.
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 UCL Institute of Education 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.
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-time and part-time programmes are available, which typically start in in September.
UCL offers a variety of research programmes which provide 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.
A growing number of UCL programmes can be taken on a distance learning basis, where some or all of the teaching is delivered 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.
UCL is a world-leading institution, consistently ranked highly across international university league tables. It is ranked second in the UK for research power in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF).
In the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 (TEF) UCL was awarded Gold for Student Outcomes, Silver for Student Experience, with an overall rating of Silver.
As of 2025, twelve UCL alumni and students have been recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list, spanning nine of the ten categories including artificial intelligence, fiction writing, robotics, entertainment, and science and healthcare.
Some of UCL's accolades include:
3.5UCL 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:
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