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UNITED KINGDOM · LONDON

University of London

public · Founded 1836 · Languages: en

In short

The University of London is a pioneering federation of 17 institutions, offering flexible study options online and in person worldwide. It provides access to a global community and a wide range of degrees with academic direction from leading institutions.

Key facts

Type: Public
Founded: 1836
Students: 50,000
International students: 40,000
Acceptance rate: 50%
Tuition (intl): €1–30k/yr
Languages: EN
Location: London, United Kingdom

The University of London is a pioneering federation of 17 esteemed higher education institutions, deeply rooted in London but with a significant global presence. Founded in 1836, it was a secular alternative to Oxford and Cambridge, and was the first university to admit students regardless of gender, race, or religion, and the first in the UK to award degrees to women. With around 40,000 students in 190 countries, the University is a world leader in digital and blended distance education. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, many with academic direction from leading institutions like the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The university is committed to widening access to education and leveraging the collective expertise of its federation to address global challenges. Students can choose to study in person at a teaching centre, independently online, in person in London, or at its Institute in Paris. The University's central academic body and Senate House Library also lead national conversations in humanities research.

Why study here

Access to a wide range of academic opportunities and a global community through its federation of 17 institutions.
Flexible study options, including in-person at teaching centers, online, or at campuses in London and Paris.
Benefit from academic direction and quality assurance from world-leading institutions like the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Study at a university with a long history of pioneering education, including being the first to admit students regardless of gender, race, or religion.

Student life

The University of London offers various services to enhance student life, including access to Senate House Library, one of the UK's largest libraries for arts, humanities, and social sciences. Students can also access Intercollegiate Halls for accommodation and career and employability support through The University of London Careers Service. The central Bloomsbury campus provides green spaces like Torrington Square, Gordon Square, and Woburn Square, and has dining options like Bloom @ Senate House and a weekly farmers' market. The University also offers Housing Services to assist students with private accommodation in London and affordable short-stay summer accommodation through Stay Central.

Fees

InternationalFor online degrees: Half Module/Course Fees (10 weeks) are £1,048, Full Module/Course Fees (20 weeks) are £2,086. The indicative total program fees (12 full modules) are £26,024. Fees may be subject to an annual increase of up to 5%. These fees exclude local VAT, GST or sales tax, textbooks (around £300 per year), examination centre fees (varies by centre, £101 for London centres), online examination administration fee (£11 per paper), and resit fees (£402 for a full course, £201 for a half course).

HomeUK-based students are exempt from VAT on fees; in-person fees at member institutions vary widely by institution and programme.

LivingLiving costs are not directly provided, but students should budget for textbooks (around £300 per year) and examination centre fees. Studying in person in London typically requires £1,300-£1,600 per month for accommodation and living expenses.

The indicative total programme fees assume completion within the minimum time without resits. For students residing in the UK, fees are exempt from VAT. Tuition fees are for August 2025 and November 2025 sessions, and February 2026 and May 2026 sessions.

Admissions

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in EnglishAccepted for all undergraduate courses

Cambridge English Language 1119Grade 6

Hong Kong Examination Authority Advanced level Use of EnglishGrade C

Hong Kong Certificate of Education English Language, Syllabus BGrade C

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) English Language (from 2007)Level 3

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE): English LanguageLevel 3

International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE): English as a Second LanguageGrade B

Hong Kong Examinations Authority AS 'Use of English'Grade E (awarded within past three years)

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE): English as a Second LanguageGrade C (awarded within past three years)

Malaysian Certificate of Education / Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia: English Language (122 or 322)Grade C (6)

APTISOverall CEFR score of at least B2 equivalent with at least B2 equivalent in each sub category (awarded within past three years)

Cambridge Certificate of Advanced EnglishAccepted (awarded within past three years)

City & Guilds International ESOL 8984 Mastery awardAccepted (awarded within past three years)

DuolingoOverall score of at least 105 (awarded within past three years)

IELTS (Academic or General or IELTS Indicator Online Test)6 overall, with 5.5 in each sub-test (awarded within past three years)

Password English Language Test6 overall, with 5.5 in each sub-test (awarded within past three years)

Pearson Test of English, Academic54 overall, with 54 in Reading and Writing elements (awarded within past three years)

University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) Business English Certificate, Level 3Accepted (awarded within past three years)

TOEFL iBT (current grading system)4.5 overall, with 4.5+ in Writing sub-test and 4.0+ in Reading, Speaking and Listening sub-tests (awarded within past three years)

TOEFL iBT (previous grading system)87 overall, with 21+ in Reading and Writing sub-tests and 19+ in Speaking and Listening sub-tests (awarded within past three years)

Rankings

NoteThe University of London federation is not ranked as a single entity; its member institutions are ranked individually

QS World University Rankings (member: UCL)Top 10 globally

QS World University Rankings (member: LSE, King's College London)Top 40 globally

University scholarships

Global MBA UK/EU Bursary20 per cent fee bursary

Canon Collins Scholarship (Postgraduate Laws)Full/partial, varies

Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance & Protection (PHAP) Bursary10 per cent bursary on all fees

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Bursary10 per cent bursary on all fees

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Bursary10 per cent bursary on all fees

B.S Chimni ScholarshipVaries

Hannah Arendt ScholarshipVaries

Jean-François Durieux ScholarshipVaries

Thriplow Charitable Trust BursaryVaries

Accreditation

The University of London is established by Royal Charter (1836) for the public benefit and is globally recognized. It maintains academic quality assurance processes to ensure high-quality teaching and flexible programs. Its degrees are awarded with Honours, with a standard classification system of First Class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second Class, and Third Class, along with a Diploma Supplement outlining course content and the role of the academic direction institution (e.g., LSE).

For international students

United Kingdom

Student visa & funds

International students apply for the UK Student visa, which replaced the former Tier 4 (General) route. You need an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor and must show maintenance funds held for at least 28 consecutive days. As of November 2025 the requirement is £1,529 per month (for up to nine months) for courses in London and £1,171 per month for courses elsewhere, on top of tuition. Students who have already held a UK visa for 12 months, and nationals of certain low-risk countries, are exempt from evidencing the funds.

Working while you study

On a degree-level course at a licensed higher-education provider, you may work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacation periods; sub-degree courses are capped at 10 hours per week. There is no distinction between on-campus and off-campus work, but self-employment and working as a professional sportsperson or coach are not permitted. Once you have completed all course requirements you may work full-time until your visa expires.

After you graduate

Graduates of an eligible UK degree can apply for the Graduate visa (the Graduate Route) without needing an employer sponsor. As of 2026, bachelor’s and master’s graduates receive two years of open work permission and PhD graduates receive three years. Under the 2025 immigration reforms, applications made on or after 1 January 2027 will grant 18 months instead of two years for non-doctoral qualifications, while PhD holders keep three years.

English tests

IELTSUG 6.0–6.5; PG 6.5–7.0; competitive/Russell Group courses up to 7.0–7.5
TOEFL iBTUG 80–90; PG 90–100; top research universities 100+
PTE AcademicUG 51–65; PG 59–75

Main intakes

SeptemberJanuary

The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) at the University of London is a hub for legal research and expertise. The Institute hosts a searchable database of its experts, including fellows, staff, and students. You can find individuals based on their surname, position held, and research areas. Research areas covered include Law, History, Philosophy, Academic Support, Digital Resources, and Library services. This platform allows you to identify specialists in various legal fields and related academic disciplines.

Scholarships

for United Kingdom

Browse all scholarships →

full funding

Wellcome Trust

Wellcome Discovery Awards

Open to established researchers and research teams with a proven record of research delivery who are based at, or will be hosted by, an eligible not-for-profit organisation in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). Projects must propose bold, transformative research aligned with Wellcome's mission to improve health. The award does not cover the lead applicant's own salary, and a researcher may lead only one active Discovery Award submission.

The Alan Turing Institute

Open Source AI Fellowship (UK)

Open to AI professionals and researchers who are legally eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship, have resided in the UK for at least 5 years (a security check is required), are employed by a UK-based organisation willing to support a 12-month secondment, and hold a PhD or equivalent professional experience in AI or a related discipline.

Skoll Foundation / University of Oxford Saïd Business School

Skoll Scholarship for the Oxford MBA

Open to applicants of any nationality admitted to the full-time one-year Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School who can demonstrate a track record of entrepreneurial action creating positive social or environmental impact, and for whom the cost of the programme is a significant financial burden.

Rhodes Scholarship

For talented young people from around the world to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Around 100 scholars are selected each year from more than 60 countries and constituencies; applications are made in your home country or constituency, each with its own age and eligibility rules.

Gates Cambridge Trust

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Open to citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom applying for a full-time postgraduate degree (PhD, MSc/MLitt, or one-year master's) at the University of Cambridge. Selection weighs academic excellence, a strong fit with the chosen Cambridge course, a clear commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential.

Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), tenable at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) Scholarships at the University of Oxford

Open to West African nationals (for example from Nigeria and Ghana) seeking to study the Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Applicants are generally aged between 25 and 45, hold a strong undergraduate degree (typically second-class upper or above), demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to Africa's public sector, and intend to apply their learning in their home country's public service.

Frequently asked questions

What are the tuition fees for international students at the University of London?

For online degrees, Half Module/Course Fees are £1,048 and Full Module/Course Fees are £2,086. The indicative total program fees for 12 full modules amount to £26,024. These fees may increase annually by up to 5% and do not include local taxes, textbooks, or examination centre fees.

Can I study at the University of London in person?

Yes, you can study in person at a teaching centre, or at campuses in London or Paris. The University's home is Senate House in the historic Bloomsbury area of central London.

What English language proficiency tests does the University of London accept?

The University of London accepts a variety of tests including IELTS (Academic or General) with an overall score of 6.0 and 5.5 in each sub-test, TOEFL iBT with a score of 87 overall (previous grading system), and Duolingo with a minimum score of 105, provided they were awarded within the past three years.

Does the University of London offer scholarships for international students?

Yes, the University of London offers several scholarships and bursaries for international students, such as the Global MBA UK/EU Bursary, Canon Collins Scholarship, and various bursaries for professionals in humanitarian assistance and protection.

What are the living costs for students in London?

While not directly provided by the university, students studying in person in London should budget approximately £1,300-£1,600 per month for accommodation and living expenses. Additional costs include textbooks (£300 per year) and examination centre fees.

Last updated 3 July 2026