London's leading university for civic engagement

At the University of East London (UEL) we’re pushing boundaries in our world-leading research and the innovative ways we teach. 

Who we are?

We’re diverse, we’re original and we're making a difference. We’re the University of East London. Or UEL for short.

Why choose us?

All over the world we're making a difference, through our world-leading research and our network of high-achieving alumni. That makes us proud. Your success is our mission.

What will I gain?

At UEL you get more than just a degree. Your distinctive learning experience will turn you into a successful, stand-out individual.

How will I learn?

You’ll explore, research, debate and apply your knowledge to real-life projects that benefit society and enhance your skills.

Where will I learn?

You’ll be based in the beating heart of one of the world's greatest cities - or wherever in the world your learning takes you.

About the University of East London

We're a community of 19,000 students, inspiring academics and dedicated support staff spanning 120 different nationalities. Through civic engagement - or 'learning by doing' as we call it - we give you the chance to enhance your knowledge by learning off campus on real-life projects. Join us and study for a bachelor's or master's degree in vibrant east London. University has never been so exciting.

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Start the story - read about who we are

  • 19,000

    STUDENTS

    in our undergraduate and postgraduate community

  • 120

    NATIONALITIES

    represented by our family of students and staff
I chose UEL because its urban dance course is the only one of its kind in the UK. The most memorable thing has been seeing myself and others finding our own style and also progressing academically.
Scott Dean , BA (Hons) Dance: Urban Practice, undergraduate

  • 62

    PER CENT

    of our research officially rated 'world-leading' or  'internationally excellent'

  • 6

    MEDALS

    won by our undergraduates at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow


Having a dream is not enough. I needed to be shown how to go about it. During my time at UEL, I set up the Children in Congo Foundation, which provides free primary education to children.

Adonis Magema , BA (Hons) International Development with NGO Management, graduate

  • 22

    PLACES

    climbed by UEL in the 2014 National Student Survey league table compared to the previous year

  • 1

    ranking

    among universities in England for the impact of our psychology research
UEL offers our students amazing opportunities to work with our local communities.  I’ve seen over the years the transformative effect this has had.  It’s brought cumulative benefits to our students and to UEL as a whole.
Dr Marcia Wilson , Head of Sports Sciences

  • 2

    BAFTAS

    won by Computer Games Development graduate Ashraf Mohammad

  • 500

    teachers

    and social workers trained by us every year
The support from the UELSports Scholarship Programme has really made a difference to me. The coaching and support you get from UEL are fantastic.  I wouldn’t have moved to London if it wasn’t the best career option for me.
Aimee Willmott , BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, undergraduate, double Commonwealth and European medallist

Continue the story - read about why to choose us

Successful track record

Whatever you do after you leave us, we want you to have a rewarding life. Just like the many people who have used their time at UEL as a springboard to great things. It’s not about being rich or famous or powerful. It’s about maximising your potential. It’s about being what you can be. 

Marie Braithwaite

Marie Braithwaite, a BSc (Hons) graduate in Architecture, was president of UEL’s Architecture Society and is now working with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to promote diversity in the profession. 
 
‘I wanted to study in London and I’m very glad that I came to UEL,” says Marie. “There’s a real creative energy.  We were given the chance to excel and the teaching style offers a lot of freedom. You’re encouraged to explore and research at first hand.
 
‘I've been on study trips to Berlin, Cadiz, Madrid, Milan, Verona and Switzerland and I’m now able to appreciate the difference in construction and what influences the design of buildings in different countries.  I was also able to spend time in South Africa learning carpentry skills for six weeks.”
It was really important to me to study in London. There’s so much to do. I love the museums and the galleries and the freedom of it.  My lecturers were really inspiring. 
Nicola Duffy , BA (Hons) English Literature, graduate

Firoz Patel

Firoz Patel, who graduated with a first-class degree in BA (Hons) International Development and NGO Management in 2005, set up the charity Childreach International while still an undergraduate.
 
The organisation, now based in Holborn in central London, has since raised more than £12 million and helped more than 700,000 children in the developing world through education, sanitation, healthcare and skills training.
 
Firoz, who worked as a London Underground train driver before joining UEL, says: “At UEL there’s a lot of teaching outside the classroom. I went out to Tanzania and spent four months studying at the University of Dar es Salaam.  It opened my eyes to international development. I came back buzzing. I wanted to create social change.”


UEL has helped me to become a driven person. I’ve seen the benefits of that by reaching a World Championship final and winning a European Championship gold medal. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Adam Gemili , BSc Sport and Exercise Science, undergraduate, European 200m champion

Ashraf Mohammed

Ashraf Mohammed graduated in BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development in 2007. Three years later he was picking up two prestigious BAFTA awards for his Batman series of games in the categories ‘Best Gameplay and ‘Best Game’. 
 
The success of Ashraf, who is now a senior designer at Rocksteady Studios, is testament to the depth of knowledge of his tutors and the encouragement they gave Ashraf to set his imagination free.
 
“UEL gave me the option, and the realisation, that I could pursue a career in computer games,” says Ashraf. “My other options at the time were computer science in other universities. My favourite thing about UEL was the friends I made. It was a really enjoyable time.”

I volunteered with Well London as an undergraduate and the work I did was invaluable in helping me know what to do on my first internship in Nigeria. It gave me the knowledge and experience I really needed.
Josephine Nwaamaka-Bardi , MSc Public Health, graduate

Continue the story - read about what you will gain

Find the right degree for you

Some people have a clear idea about what they want to study. Some are unsure and others simply have no idea at all. When choosing a degree course, there are important things to consider. Am I interested in the subject? Will the style of teaching and learning be right for me? Can I cope with time commitment? What options will I have to continue my studies or go into the workplace when I’ve finished my degree?

Unsure of what course is right for you?

Contact our information advice and guidance team to discuss your options.

Contact IAG

  • 1

    An academic qualification that will help you find the rewarding career you’ve dreamed about – both in terms of fulfilment and earning power.

  • 2

    Workplace experience through the many placements and internships that we help to organise through our extensive network of industry connections.

  • 3

    If you’re a new undergraduate, we’ll give you a free Samsung tablet device pre-loaded with your core textbooks in e-book form. Like our fast-changing surroundings, we’re focused firmly on the future.

  • 4

    A generous package of scholarships and bursaries worth a total of more than £2 million per year.
My time at UEL taught me many things: to be fearless, to read between the lines and not to accept anything at face value. I absorbed this willingly and it put me in good stead for the Lawrence case.
Imran Khan , LLB (Hons) Law, graduate, human rights lawyer, solicitor of family of Stephen Lawrence.

  • 5

    Leadership skills that will give you confidence to take on any challenge. You’ll have the chance to work as part of team on real-life projects in east London and overseas and take responsibility for seeing them through.

  • 6

    People skills that will make you stand out in a crowd when it comes to finding a job. You’ll be interacting constantly with people from all cultures and backgrounds within the University and in off-campus projects.

  • 7

    Career skills such as self-discipline, critical thinking and the ability to research, organise and communicate effectively. 
I’ve had some wonderful teaching and been given lots of opportunities. I started networking and putting myself forward for things. I became an elite student and led a group of students on the Global Scholars programme to Bahrain.
Sanaa Nusrat , BA (Hons) Economics with Mathematics graduate. Now studying at UEL for an MSc in Finance and Risk.

  • 8

    Lifelong membership of a global community of alumni. Our current student population is represented by 120 different nationalities.

  • 9

    Self-knowledge. Whether you’re a school-leaver, a mature student, a UK citizen or an international student, we’re all on one journey. We all want to be the best we can.

  • 10

    The sheer excitement of having your mind stretched and your eyes opened by studying for an academic degree. We’ll help you redefine your limits. How far can you go? 

Continue the story - read about how you will learn

Learning by doing

At UEL, we give you the opportunity to take your learning out of the classroom - in east London and abroad. By working on real-life projects you'll gain the skills and experience that employers are really looking for. You'll be a more confident, well-rounded, work-ready person. You'll stand out in a crowd.

  • Reducing debt

    We’re delivering money advice workshops, including alternatives to payday lending, to people in the London Borough of Newham (School of Social Sciences)

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  • Rebuilding Olympic Stadium

    Two of our students have secured year-long industry placements working on the conversion of the Olympic Stadium into West Ham’s new home ground. (School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering).

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  • Health awareness

    Public Health students are working with communities in Newham to raise awareness of health problems such the risk of diabetes and identifying early signs of cancer. (School of Health, Sport and Bioscience)

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  • Design workshops

    Public Health students are working with communities in Newham to raise awareness of health problems such the risk of diabetes and identifying early signs of cancer. (School of Health, Sport and Bioscience)

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  • Empowering people

    We’ve introduced a gardening programme at a local mental health unit for children and adolescents, giving residents ownership of the open spaces around them. (School of Psychology)

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  • Legal advice

    Our students are volunteering in our acclaimed Legal Advice Centre in Stratford, giving advice to members of the public under the supervision of professional lawyers. (School of Business and Law)

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  • Toys are us

    In partnership with children’s charity Barnardo’s, Early Childhood education students organised the collection and distribution of toys left over from a toy fair to children in low-income families in east London. (Cass School of Education and Communities).

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  • Helping Ethiopia’s poorest

    A group of our students travelled to the village of Ankober, in Ethiopia, to work on four projects aimed at improving the lives of people in one of Ethiopia’s poorest communities. (Global Scholars).

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  • Advising union in Thailand

    Our students flew to Bangkok to advise the newly constituted Royal Thai Civil Service trade union and the Royal Thai Government on procedures for consultation and collective bargaining. (Global Scholars)

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  • Business in Bahrain

    On a trip to Manama, Bahrain, our students worked with Bahraini students and a local bank to develop social and community enterprise businesses focused on women, the unemployed, disabled and young people. (Global Scholars).

    Read More

Continue the story - read about why to choose us

The place to be

In a fast-changing global city, nowhere is changing faster than east London. It’s a place of extremes. Areas of regeneration rub up against the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and Stratford and the iconic architecture of the Olympic Park. The biggest urban reconstruction programme in Western Europe is gathering pace and our campuses in Stratford and Docklands are at the centre of it. We take our learning, teaching and research right into the heart of this dynamic landscape. We’re in touch with our surroundings and we want use our knowledge to make things better. It’s exciting. It’s education on the edge. 
UEL in London

  • 2

    CAMPUSES

    in London Docklands and Stratford, close to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

  • 30

    MINUTES

    by train from our campuses to central London - or nine minutes from Stratford by high-speed rail

London

Study at UEL and you’ll be living and learning in one of the world’s greatest cities. It’s a place that’s racing into the future but anchored in its past, with historic buildings and monuments and world-renowned museums and galleries around every corner.


It’s home to iconic sporting venues such as Wimbledon, the Olympic Park, Lord’s Cricket Ground and six Premier League football teams. It's a centre of commerce, with some of the world's most important financial hubs in the City of London and at Canary Wharf.


And It’s a city of rich cultural and entertainment choices, with acclaimed theatres and music venues, world-famous shopping districts and a bewildering choice of restaurants and cafés to suit every taste and pocket.


It’s a city that, quite simply, has it all.

UEL in London Learning By Doing

East London

Dynamic, vibrant, diverse, fast-changing... east London is all of these and more. From the vantage point of our Stratford campus, we saw our surroundings change before our eyes as the Olympic Park and adjacent Westfield Shopping Centre took shape.


That transformation is continuing at a bewildering pace.  Investment is pouring in, while arts organisations and media giants are moving eastwards.

Whatever your interest – architecture, engineering, social work, psychology, business, education, the arts, health, law – east London will excite and fascinate you. It’s a living laboratory, right on your doorstep.

 

Our campuses

The University of East London is based in two superbly equipped campuses – one a spacious, waterfront complex in London's Docklands and the other in Stratford, close to the Olympic Park and Westfield Shopping Centre. The Stratford campus dates back to the late Victorian era and includes our ultra-modern University Square Stratford building, which opened in 2013 at a cost of £33 million.


At both campuses you'll enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and professional quality spaces such as our performing arts studios, world-class laboratories, outstanding libraries and our £21 million SportsDock complex. Our Docklands campus is home to a purpose-built student village with en-suite accommodation for 1,200 students.

UEL Campus Stratford UEL Docklands Campus

The world is our classroom

20 places where our students studied in 2014

  1. 1) Los Angeles, USA

    An urban dance undergraduate interviewed Hip Hop artists as part of the primary research for his dissertation.

  2. 2) Missouri, USA

    Students explored the role of bias in the recruitment and selection of students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

  3. 3) New Orleans, USA

    An architecture student explored how the city was being rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina.

  5. 4) Huanchaco, Peru

    Two of our students spent time working with a children’s aimed at increasing access to education.

  6. 5) Rio di Janeiro, Brazil

    A group of students coached street children in the city’s favelas, conducting primary research.

  7. 6) Almeria, Spain

    Focusing on the business of eco-tourism and sustainable living, our students worked on a project on a small citrus fruit and olive farm.

  9. 7) Barcelona, Spain

    Arts and Digital Industries students investigated traditional printing practices and digital methods.

  10. 8) Amsterdam, Holland

    A group of undergraduates presented at a conference on positive psychology.

  11. 9) Helsinki, Finland

    Photography undergraduates took part in an exchange visit, undertaking a photographic study of water and icescapes.

  13. 10) Kampala, Uganda

    A student researched sustainable energy sources and the role of women.

  14. 11) Ankober, Ethiopia

    Students worked on four projects aimed at improving the lives of people in one of Ethiopia’s poorest communities.

  15. 12) Manama, Bahrain

    Working with Bahraini students and a local bank, a group of UEL students helped to develop a home-cooking business for low-income women.

  17. 13) Dubai, UAE

    Undergraduate students looked at the workings of Shariah-based retail banking to evaluate the impact and development of similar banking models in London.

  18. 14) Mumbai, India

    A group of UEL students worked on improving the supply chain of the company Vasan Eye Care.

  19. 15) Colombo, Sri Lanka

    An undergraduate shadowed psychologists on field visits and volunteered in a psychiatric health centre.

  21. 16) Bangkok, Thailand

    Our students advise the newly constituted Royal Thai Civil Service trade union and the Royal Thai Government on procedures for consultation and collective bargaining.

  22. 17) Chang Mai, Thailand

    A group of students undertook professional internships, gaining real medical experience by observing practitioners in action.

  23. 18) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Sports Scholars volunteered on a project helping street children.

  25. 19) Shanghai, China

    A group of students visited China Normal University to learn about cultural differences and gender development.

  26. 20) Tokyo, Japan

    Arts and Digital Industries students completed their finals project, looking at photography and sketches.

Start your UEL journey - see our courses