Information for incoming students

Study in East London - a thriving hive of opportunities and one of the most culturally diverse and exciting region of the capital.

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Study in East London - a thriving hive of opportunities and one of the most culturally diverse and exciting region of the capital.

Information for incoming students

Why study abroad at the University of East London? 

The University of East London is at the heart of East London's regeneration working with local industries, connecting with businesses and introducing our students to future employers. A thriving hive of opportunities, our corner of London is the most culturally diverse and exciting region of the capital. Nowhere else quite matches the diverse community in East London. Our teaching focuses on the complete person, offering a personalised and flexible approach that takes account of your career readiness, well-being, and soft skills, as well as traditional academic tuition. You'll have plenty of face-to-face contact hours, access to our superb facilities and all the extra-curricular benefits of a life on campus, but with the flexibility to access learning materials, lectures and resources online when you need to. 

East London is a vibrant and diverse community, rich in culture and brimming with career prospects. It stands out as one of the UK’s most youthful and multicultural areas, welcoming people from all walks of life—making it a place where anyone can find their place, whoever you are and wherever you’re from. 

To hear more, watch an interactive video to see what vibrant East London has to offer and read stories from our University of East London community.

Download the updated Incoming Exchange Fact Sheet to learn important information about our incoming exchange programme.

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I Belong at UEL - Tessa

Moving away from home to a new country can feel overwhelming, but we make sure that everyone feels welcome. 🏡

Hear from Politics and International Relations student, Tessa, on her experience moving from France to London

Academic calendar

Our academic year is divided into two 12-week teaching semesters:

  • Term 1: Mid-September to Mid-December
  • Term 2: Mid-January to May/June

You can join us on the exchange programme at UEL for a semester in the first term or second term. For a fully immersive experience, you can join us for a full academic year. See key term dates for the current academic year.

Deadlines

  • Nomination deadline for Term 1 (September entry): 30 April
  • Nomination deadline for Term 2 (January entry): 15 September
  • Application deadline for Term 1 (September entry): 31 May
  • Application deadline for Term 2 (January entry): 15 October

Applications may be considered after the application deadline if places are still available. It is recommended you apply as early as possible, as applications are considered on a rolling basis. Late applicants may not be able to obtain housing on campus or register for their preferred modules. 

Courses available

As an exchange student, you are able to select from a wide range of modules (that’s what we call courses/classes in the UK) offered by our six academic Schools.

Refer to the exchange module catalogue to see what modules are available this academic year. Please note that modules are subject to availability and what is offered changes on a yearly basis, and we cannot guarantee that modules from past years will be offered every year. Different modules may be available depending on whether you are joining us for Term 1 or Term 2.

Obtaining credit

The UK grading system may be different from what you are used to and will likely be different than your home institution.

Each module will be worth 20 credits. Full-time students must obtain 60 credits (3-4 modules) each term or 120 credits (6-8 modules) in a full academic year. Students can take up to 80 credits a term, meaning you are able to complete a fourth module if you choose to. However, this will be assessed and approved on a case-by-case basis. 

At the end of your studies with us, you will receive a transcript with a breakdown of your awarded grades and credit. UEL credits will be converted by your home institution using their own grading system (e.g., 3 unit per module for a 16-unit semester system).

Grading system

We use the following grading system when awarding credit and can provide further information in converting these grades into a similar format to your home institution. However, your home institution will ultimately make the decision on the conversion once your final UEL grades have been awarded and transferred back:

UEL MarkInterpretation of markHonour Class (degree)
70% - 100%An excellent performanceFirst Class Honour
60% - 69%A very good performanceSecond Class Honours, First Division (2:1)
50% - 59%A good performanceSecond Class Honours, Second Division (2:2)
40% - 49%SatisfactorySecond Class Honours, Second Division (2:2)
30% - 39%Marginal failFail
0% - 29%FailFail

Assessment

Assessment methods vary depending on your subject area but can include coursework, exams, presentations or projects. You will be assessed in the same way and at the same time as our full-degree students. This may include an examination in January (for Term 1 exchange) and May/June (for Term 2 exchange). The results are usually released in mid-February (for Term 1) and mid-June (for Term 2).

The exam timetable for May/June in Term 2 is not usually published until later in the year, so if your module is assessed by examination, you should not make any travel arrangements for returning home until you know the dates of your assessment and whether these must be attended in person. 

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

You should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent and will need to provide a copy of your transcript with your application. If you are graded on a different scheme, you are still welcome to apply – we welcome a range of applicants from different academic backgrounds!

Language requirements

If your first language is not English or you have not studied in an English-speaking education system, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency by taking internationally validated tests, such as IELTS.  

The English language requirements for undergraduate (Bachelor) courses is a minimum IELTS band score of 5.5 with 5.5 in all components. Other accepted English qualifications can be found on our website. 

How to apply

We are thrilled you're planning to join us for your study abroad experience! Please view the below information to find out further details about how to apply:

  • Step 1. You need to be nominated by your home institution to participate in the exchange programme at UEL. Please check with your study abroad advisor at your home institution for their application procedure.
  • Step 2. Once you have been nominated for exchange, the Global Experiences team will send you the online application form to be completed by the application deadline above.
  • Step 3. Once we receive your application, we will review it and update you on the outcome within a few weeks. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If you have any questions or queries about the exchange programme or your application in the meantime, you can contact us at globalexperiences@uel.ac.uk.

Additional resources

  • Accommodation

    Whether you want to live on campus or live off campus, we've got options for you.

  • Student visa and immigration advice

    The Student Immigration and Compliance team consists of two teams, the International Student Advice (ISA) team, and the Immigration Compliance team.

  • Mental Health Support

    The University of East London takes the wellbeing of our students seriously. We have listed resources we have in place to support our students.

  • Campus life

    Learn what it is like to study here, and take the next steps in your studies and career journey.