University College London was founded in 1826 and is the third oldest university in England. Being founded on the utilitarian principles of the philosopher Jeremy Bentham (whose body is still on display at the university!), it was the first to admit students regardless of their class, race or religion. UCL was also the first university to admit female students on equal terms with men. Today, UCL is still a world leading university, at the forefront of research in an interdisciplinary environment, and currently ranked fourth in the QS world rankings.
As an institution, UCL places its students at the centre of its vision, and as such has one of the best staff to student ratio in the country with one member of academic staff per 10 students. There is an excellent level of support for our students throughout their time studying with us, with just one example being that all pieces of coursework are returned in a personal meeting, allowing students to constantly improve and develop their skills. The fact that 92.7% of our students complete their degree with us speaks for itself.
As a research led university, we are particularly proud that in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, 62% of UCL’s submissions were ranked at the highest grades of 4* (“of world-leading quality”), or 3* (“internationally excellent”), placing it third in the UK. UCL also attracts the third highest number of academic citations in the UK, showing the high esteem and relevance of the institution’s research, which our students are able to benefit from.
UCL is based in the Bloomsbury area of London, ideally situated to take advantages of the benefits that studying in London has to offer. We have various parks nearby, and with the majority of our undergraduate courses being taught on the Bloomsbury campus, it is a microcosm within a bustling city. This allows our students the best of both worlds: a supportive and friendly environment where they’re bound to bump in to people they know just by going to university, but also the diversity and bustle that living in a capital city can provide.Due to UCL’s excellent standing, admission to the university is competitive. Our entry requirements range from A*A*A through to ABB, depending on your course. We do consider all aspects of your application, particularly your personal statement, in order to decide to give an offer to. Admissions tutors are always happy to advise potential applicants, and their contact details can be found on the relevant subject page of our website at www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectus.
