Getting started FAQs

What is enrolment and why do I need to complete it?

Online enrolment involves confirmation of the details you entered on your application form; paying your tuition fees; and agreeing to the terms and conditions for your course of study. Once complete, you will officially become a student of the University of East London.

I’m a current student, so why do I need to enrol again?

If you’ve met your learning outcomes and can progress to the next stage of study, you will need to complete enrolment for the next academic session. This includes confirming your personal details, making your tuition fee payment, and accepting the terms and conditions for the new academic session.

Where do I find my invitation to enrol?

You will have received an email from UEL inviting you to complete online enrolment. If you're a new student, the email will have been sent to the email address you provided on application. If you can’t see it in your inbox, please check your junk email too and add noreply@uel.ac.uk to your safe senders list for future correspondence.

You should also add study@uel.ac.uk and international@uel.ac.uk to your safe senders list to ensure you receive other important information in relation to getting started.

If you’re a returning student, please check your UEL student email account for your invite to enrol for the next academic session.

How do I complete online enrolment?

If you are a new student, please complete online enrolment by checking your personal email account and following the steps on how to set up your UEL student account and password. This includes resetting your temporary password by choosing a new password. You will then be able to log onto UEL Direct to complete the process. You can also follow the step-by-step guide in our undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks.

If you’re a returning student, please check your UEL email for you invite to enrol for the next academic session. You will receive this once your results have been ratified and released.

I’m having difficulty completing the enrolment process, where can I go for help?

You can access a number of help and support pages and videos on Track My Future and you can also contact the Student Hub by logging your enquiry on MyPortal (using your UEL log in details) or calling them on +44 (0)20 8223 4444 Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm.

What address do I use where it says "term time address"?

This is address where you will be living in the UK while you are studying at UEL. You must have a contact address to obtain letters for the Bank and Council Tax.

I’m a returning student, can I enrol if I don’t know whether I have passed my modules yet?

You will only be invited to enrol once your results have been ratified and released.

If you have been sent an email invite to enrol, then please follow the instructions to complete your online enrolment.

You can view your provisional results on Moodle four weeks after submission. Your final results can be accessed in UEL Direct once these have been confirmed by an Assessment Board.

Can I defer enrolment if I want to take a break from studies?

You will need to confirm your decision in writing and submit a request by completing this form. You will receive an update by email within 10 working days. For more information you visit Track My Future.

Where do I find my Student Support Number (SSN)?

When you reach the payment section of your online enrolment, if you have applied for Student Finance and your loan has been approved, you will be prompted to input a Student Support number. You will find this on your Student Finance Entitlement Letter. It starts with 4 letters, then 8 numbers and another letter at the end (e.g. AAAA12345678B).

If you applied for a Masters or Doctorate Loan, then please send this letter to the Credit Control team on creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk. If you have any other problems with the payment section of the enrolment task, please contact the Student Hub on 020 8223 4444 for further support.

I’m a new student, how do I gain my UEL Student ID Card?

The first issue (and any replacement Student ID Cards thereafter), will be provided to students by post.

You will need to provide a photograph and a UK based term-time address in order for your student access card to be posted to you. More information about ID cards can be found on Track My Future.

How can I pay my tuition fees?

If you are a currently enrolled student, you can view your statement and pay your tuition fees by card or PayPal through UEL Direct at any time. You will need your student number and password to use this method.

If you are not yet enrolled, please visit our Fees and Funding advice page for help. If you are making a payment on behalf of a student, you can make payments against their tuition fees account via epay. You must have the student’s ID number and date of birth to log in. If you have any additional queries, please contact our Credit Control team on 0208 223 7333 or at creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk.

I have paid my fees, so why am I being asked to enrol?

If you have been invited to enrol, you need to complete your enrolment whether or not you have been asked to pay your fees. If you get to the payment section and it is still asking you to make additional payments, please contact the Credit Control team on 0208 223 7333 or at creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk for further assistance.

Please note that if you are a returning student who has previously made payments for modular credits that you did not pass and now need to retake, you will need to pay fees to retake these credits. Please refer to the Tuition Fee Policy for further details or our 'Fees and Funding' advice pages.

I would like to pay my fees in instalments - what options are available?

Please refer to the Fees Policy for the self-funding payment options.

I have read the fees policy, can I have an alternative payment arrangement?

We are unable to agree any alternative payment arrangements.

When is the deadline to pay my fees?

Payment in full, or an agreement to pay in instalments, during online enrolment is a pre-requisite of enrolment and any outstanding debts owed to the University must be cleared in full before commencement of the enrolment process. The deadline for enrolment and therefore fee payment is 14 days after term starts.

Payment is only deemed completed when UEL has received the cleared funds in its bank account. Payment can be made by electronic transfer of funds into UEL’s bank account, by banker’s draft or by debit or credit card. UEL will not accept any payment by cash or personal cheque.

Failure to pay your fees by the enrolment deadline date may result in offer holders losing their place of study at UEL or continuing students being withdrawn from studies.

I have recently made a payment and it is not showing on my record?

If you paid by card online, it takes 24-48hrs for the payment to be downloaded onto your account. If you paid by bank transfer it takes 3-5 working days for the payment to be received and allocated to your account.

My funding from Student Finance has not been approved yet - how can I complete my online enrolment?

As part of the enrolment task you may need to complete a 'Student Loans Company (SLC) Assessment Form'. The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) will then assess your eligibility to receive student finance and will contact you within a few days to advise how to complete your enrolment.

I should have received a Scholarship or Alumni Discount but it is not showing as being deducted from my tuition fee due?

If you meet the terms and conditions to qualify for the alumni discount or have been awarded a scholarship (fee waiver), this should have been automatically deducted from your tuition fees. If not please email studentfunding@uel.ac.uk to raise a query for this discount to be applied.

I have applied for a Postgraduate (PG) Loan to pay my fees, but I haven't received approval confirmation yet - how can I enrol?

If you are unable to provide confirmation of an approved PG loan, please refer to the Fees Policy for details of the self-funding payment options.

I am using a personal/private loan (paid directly to me) to pay my fees, how can I enrol?

If you are using personal/private loan funds to pay your fees, you should enrol as self-funding. Please refer to the Fees Policy for details of the self-funding payment options.

I applied for a scholarship and have not received a decision on the outcome?

All scholarship outcomes will be emailed 3-4 weeks after the closing date of the application deadline. If you have not had an email response after this period please email studentfunding@uel.ac.uk with your full name, student number and name of the scholarship you have applied for.

My student finance has been rejected, what can I do?

Please speak to a member of SMART during our drop-in sessions or book an appointment so your circumstances can be assessed and advised upon. For further information contact SMART.

Can I enrol for my next year of study if I have an outstanding tuition debt from last year?

In order to enrol on a second or subsequent year of a programme, you must have paid all tuition and bench fee related debts to from earlier academic years.

I have an outstanding tuition debt. How can I clear it?

To resolve an outstanding debt, please contact our Credit Control team on 0208 223 7333 or at creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk.

Is it too late to apply for Student Finance?

If you are relying on Student Finance to fund your studies, then we recommend applying for it at the earliest opportunity, as late applications can cause delays to your enrolment or withdrawal of your enrolment record. For further advice and support regarding Student Finance, please contact our Student Money Advice and Rights Team via the Student Hub on 020 8223 4444 or log an enquiry on MyPortal. If you want to switch to self-funding or are applying for a Masters/Doctorate loan, then you can either choose the self-funding option on the UEL Direct payment task and make payment there or, speak to our Credit Control team on 020 8223 7333 or at creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk for further advice about payments and payment plans.

My tuition fees are being partially paid by a sponsor. How can I pay the remaining fees?

Where the sponsor is paying only part of the fees, the student must pay the balance due before or at enrolment, according to the same arrangements that apply to self-funding students. Should your Fee Sponsor refuse to pay your tuition fees for any reason, at any time, you will be responsible for the outstanding tuition fees. Please contact our Credit Control team on 0208 223 7333 or creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk.

Will Student Finance be informed if I change my course or mode of attendance?

After your course has started, you can still update your personal details online. However, if you intend to change your course, repeat a year, suspend your studies or if the fee you're being charged changes, then you'll need to ask the University to inform Student Finance. This should be done automatically once the amendments to your record have been made, however if this is not the case, please call SMART on 0208 223 4444 to speak to a duty advisor, or to request info on our drop-in appointments.

My funding from Student Finance has been approved. When will my maintenance funding/postgraduate loan be paid into my bank account?

Once you are fully enrolled (including receipt of UEL ID cards), and the academic year has started; your confirmation of registration will be sent to Student Finance. Your Student Finance online account will then show updated payment dates within 24 hours. If it has been longer than 5 working days since the above criteria have been satisfied, and your Student Finance is not showing up-to- date information, then please contact SMART.

How can I find out if I am entitled to student loans for the upcoming year?

As a ‘UK Home’ student, you may be able to apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 40 years, repayment will be automatically cancelled. You can also apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. To apply visit Student Finance.

Why can I not see my course when applying for Student Finance?

If you are unable to find your course on the Student Finance website, please contact the Student Hub for further assistance, and we may be able to provide you with a Student Loans Company course code which you can use when you are applying. If the course is not on the Student Finance system, we will notify our Courses and Systems team to look into this issue further. You can contact the Student Hub on 0208 223 4444 or log an enquiry on MyPortal.

Student Finance are not paying my tuition fees due to previous full-time study, can you help me?

Depending on your circumstances, you can submit a 'Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR)' case to Student Finance, which if approved could allow you to access one more years' worth of funding. You will need to write a statement explaining the reasons why you had failed / had to take a break / withdrew from your studies for a particular academic year. You will also need to submit evidence e.g. medical letter. It would be advisable for you to speak to a SMART Advisor for further advice contact SMART.

How do I find out more information about SMART Bursaries available to students?

You can apply for bursaries each academic year subject to eligibility criteria. Please see our SMART Funds web page for further information.

If I have an emergency, is there any financial assistance?

Some assistance may be available for first year full-time undergraduate students, who are not in receipt of their student finance. You must speak to a SMART Advisor during our drop-in times or book an appointment to explain your circumstance. You will need to present evidence of unforeseen financial hardship. For further information contact SMART.

How to access immigration advice and support

I’m a new international student outside the UK, how can I access visa and immigration advice?

You will be able to contact the International Student Advice (ISA) service by logging into your CAS Shield Portal, ensuring you have login details (email and password) to hand.

I’m a current enrolled international student, how can I access visa and immigration advice

Our dedicated International Student Advice Service are available to offer free, confidential support and guidance to all prospective and current students.

Please visit International Student Advice (ISA) Service for further details on how to contact the team via email, telephone or accessing one of their daily appointment sessions.

Student visa applications

What is my “Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies? (CAS)”

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic record that the University produces for the Home Office and it is required for your student visa application.

How do I get my CAS?

I am a new international student applying for a new course

You will be issued with a CAS by email once you have met the academic conditions of your application, paid the required tuition fee deposit and passed the necessary pre-CAS checks (if applicable to you). For more information on visa applications outside the UK please visit our Applying for your visa outside UK.

I am a new international student applying for a new course

You will need to meet certain conditions to be eligible for a new CAS and to extend your student visa.

If you are looking to request a CAS to extend your student visa inside the UK please visit Applying for a Student visa in the UK – continuing your studies.

If you are looking to request a CAS to make a new student visa application from outside the UK please visit Applying for a Student visa outside the UK - returning to your studies.

You can contact the International Student Advice (ISA) Service for further information.

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Getting started FAQs