Courses

Autumn or Spring Semester students take 2 units (16 U.S. credits). Academic Year students take 32 US credits.

• Please review your courses with your academic or study abroad advisor to ensure they will transfer back to your home school and that you are following your home school’s policies.
• Please be flexible – we can’t guarantee specific courses. If your participation in the program depends on a particular course, be sure to make a note on your online course form.
• This program requires students to be rising juniors at the time of participation, indicated by four complete semesters on their undergraduate transcript

Course Restrictions

General GPA requirement is 3.3, but the following departments require a 3.5:

• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Economics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Political Science and International Relations
• Social Sciences

Some departments are not open to Fall-only or Spring-only students. The term availability will be listed in the “Key Information” section on each individual department's subject availability page.

During Fall 2026 and Academic Year 2026-2027, the following departments are not currently available to study abroad students: Architecture; Computer Science, Law, Physics & Astronomy, Planning, Sociology and Politics of Science, and Statistics. 

The following departments have limited capacity and may have additional requirements (students can apply to these departments, but cannot take courses in them unless admitted): Archaeology, Biochemical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Economics, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, English Language and Literature, Fine Art, Geography, History, Human Sciences, Infection and Immunity, Linguistics, Management, Mechanical Engineering, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Population Health Sciences, Psychology, Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), The Americas.

The following departments are typically only available to students enrolling for the full Academic Year or Spring-only. Please note these departments may also have limited capacity: Biochemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Centre for Languages and International Education; Electronic and Electronic Engineering,; Management, Mathematics, Natural Sciences,; Social Science.

note: please refer to limited capacity department information for the 2025-2026 academic year on the UCL Study Options website for more details.

Choosing Your Courses

Courses open to study abroad (Affiliate) students are listed by subject on the UCL Study Abroad website.

When selecting courses, it is important to pay attention to prerequisites and course levels: 

• Year 1 Courses - Introductory, no background required
• Year 2 Courses - Sophomore and Junior level equivalent. Will need some background (at least 3-4 prior courses in the subject), plus satisfy relevant pre-requisites
• Year 3 Courses - Senior, Advanced. Will need significant prior knowledge (at least 6-8 prior courses in the subject, plus satisfy relevant pre-requisites).  You can only take Year 3 modules if you have a very strong background in the subject.

Refer to the credit translation scale below:

Admitting Departments

Each Affiliate (study abroad) student at UCL is accepted into one department as their admitting department. This is considered your main area of study for administrative purposes. Students should plan to apply to one department only and list one alternate department for admission. 

• Students are required to take at least 50% (2) of their courses in that department.
• Additional courses may be selected from other open departments.

Departmental Notes

English Language and Literature

• The English Language and Literature department is restricted. You must apply and be admitted into the English Language and Literature department in order to take these courses.
• If admitted to the English Language and Literature department, you must take at least three, but up to four courses within the department.
• If you are interested in literature courses but are not eligible to apply to the English Language and Literature department, consider the Liberal Arts and Sciences or the European Languages, Cultures, and Societies departments. 

Economics

• The Economics department is restricted. You must apply and be admitted into the Economics department in order to take these courses.
• You must have declared an economics major in order to apply to the Economics department.
• Students are expected to have an overall grade (GPA) of A- or better across their studies, and a B+ minimum in the following four subjects: Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Intermediate Calculus, Introductory Statistics/Econometrics 
• If you are interested in applying to the Economics department, you should speak with your Arcadia Program Advisor prior to completing your application.
• You may find higher-level economics courses available in the Slavonic in East European Studies department.

History of Art

• Students applying to History of Art should be Art History or related majors. Students are required to have completed some courses in Art History before they apply.
• Courses listed under the "Level 1 modules not available to History of Art majors" section are open to non-majors. Students who are not admitted to History of Art may take one of these courses per semester.
• All other History of Art courses are only open to students who are accepted into the History of Art department.

Fine Art

• This is a continuous independent studio programme supported by tutorials and seminars. If admitted, students must take all courses within the Fine Art department.
• In addition to their studio work, students will attend courses in History and Theory of Art. The department also organizes a series of Contemporary Art Lectures featuring distinguished speakers from both the UK and overseas.
• Applicants must choose one of three concentrations: Painting, Sculpture, or Fine Art Media (including photography, print, film, video, sound, and electronic media). Note your area of focus on the course selection form.
• Applicants must also submit a portfolio of at least one PDF and one optional showreel.

Enrollment Process 

University College London does not pre-register any students for any courses. UCL will review your course preferences listed on your application, but you will register for courses only when you arrive on campus. Your department may reach out to you directly to discuss course eligibility and registration.

• On your online course form, make sure to list at least one alternate course for every course you select, totaling at least 8 courses per semester. List your choices and alternates in order of preference.
• Supplemental course fees may apply - see below.
• There will be an add/drop period at the start of the semester. If you make any changes it is your responsibility to inform your home institution.

Miscellaneous/Fees

UCL Fees Explained

UCL fees are determined by each academic department. For ease of reference, we have grouped these below. Students will be assigned a supplemental course fee if they enroll in an academic department within Groups 2-6 as their sole department of admission, or in the case of students enrolled in two departments, as their first or primary department of admission.

Included in program base fee:

Group 1
Departments include: English, European Social and Political Studies, Greek and Latin, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Philosophy, European Languages Culture and Society, Phonetics and Linguistics, Institute of Education, Law, History and Philosophy of Science, History, History of Art, Political Science and International Relations, School of Slavonic and East European Studies

*Departments below have varying supplemental fees

Group 2
Departments include: History and Politics of the Americas

Group 3
Departments include: Arts and Sciences, Social Sciences, Population Health, Institute for Global Health

Group 4
Departments include: Slade School, Psychology, Architectural and Interdisciplinary Studies, Bartlett (Planning Studies), Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Infection and Immunity, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Archaeology

Group 5
Departments include: Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering (Biomedical), Management, Biological Sciences, Human Sciences, Neurosciences, Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, Statistics

*If you’re unsure which fee group applies to you, please contact your Program Advisor. For supplemental fee estimates, select “More Info” under the Fees & Scholarship Details heading.

Supplemental fees will be added to student accounts after registration at UCL takes place. Supplemental fee billing may differ for students from home schools with direct billing arrangements. Contact Student Financial Services at 1-866-927-2234 x2948 if you have questions.

Grade Scale

The following information is vetted and provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) on the Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE).

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COPYRIGHT AACRAO EDGE.