How to help your child apply

How to help my child or ward choose

Newspapers such as The Guardian and The Times have comprehensive sections on their sites devoted to information about UK universities. The Uni Guide also has several free guides and advice on selecting a university or course.

Individual universities will have their own sites to consult. You might also like to see our tips on choosing the right university.

Choosing UEL

We are a careers-first university. On our Why UEL page, you'll find out what sets us apart from other universities, and the reasons UEL could be the right choice for your young person.

The full range of our undergraduate courses can be found by using our course search.

Browse our courses

Enquiries

We also have a dedicated Applicant Engagement team available Monday to Friday (9am–5pm) to answer any questions. You can contact them by telephone on +44 (0)20 8223 3333, or by Live chat (click the live chat icon in the bottom right of the screen).

You can also use the application form on our Study page to register your interest.

What is UCAS?

All UK undergraduate applications must be made through UCAS. UCAS is the organisation responsible for processing applications to UK universities for all undergraduate courses.

What is the UCAS tariff?

The UCAS tariff is a system that rates how a student has done in their exams and turns it into points. The exams can be A Levels or other qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate or BTECs. This means that universities and colleges can compare the academic records of students who are applying on a like-for-like basis.

The system also gives students a clear idea of how their achievements match up to the requirements of their chosen course or university.

If a young person is studying something that is not a mainstream qualification, it is worth double-checking that the university they are applying to recognises the qualification. UCAS has a handy UCAS Tariff calculator on its website.

Finding your way around the UCAS website

UCAS is responsible for processing applications to UK universities for all undergraduate courses. The UCAS website has lots of information, so finding your way around the website is important.

Here are some tips to find what you need:

Getting Started: This section has some useful videos about what UCAS does and how it can help you. There is also a parents' section where you can sign up for newsletters.
Find a Course: You can search by location or by university and find out about entry requirements and whether interviews will be involved.
Subject Browsing: This section may have courses your son or daughter has never heard of, but which look interesting and appealing.
UCAS Hub: Once students have applied to a university, they can keep up to date with the application process through their UCAS Hub.
Clearing: If students don’t get the grades they need for their firm or insurance choices, they can then go through Clearing. This matches them up to courses that still have vacancies. At UEL, we also have a dedicated Clearing service.

When to apply

Applying to study at UEL couldn't be simpler. We help our students through every step of the process.

Students should start looking at universities around 18 months before they are due to start. Follow our timeline below to learn about key dates and what happens when.

At UEL, we offer two main intakes - January and September. January is a great opportunity for those who missed the September deadline or want to pursue a degree in a shorter time.

Top tips: Timeline for applying

1 year before: choosing and applying to university

Research early

There are more than 150 universities in the United Kingdom, offering more than 50,000 different courses. So it's never too early to begin research. Ideally, students should start their research in Sixth form (years 12 and 13), a year before they plan to attend university.

Narrow down

During the summer of the year before they plan to go to university, students should start to narrow down their choices to the five they will put on their UCAS application form.

Collect and review university prospectuses - read your UEL prospectus or our website to check if courses have early application dates.

Open Days provide a great opportunity to find out about courses, check out facilities and speak to current students and staff. Find out more on our Open Days page.

Start Applying

September is the time for applications ahead of the main UCAS deadline in January. If you have a child starting in year 13, their school or college will oversee much of the process and provide them with a reference.

Prospective students can apply for up to five courses. All courses have entry requirements that students must meet before we can offer them a place. You can read about UEL's entry requirements on our undergraduate application page.

Deadline

The UCAS main deadline for undergraduate applications is January. Don't push it to the line if you can help it! This can also be the deadline for scholarship and bursary funding applications.

6 months before: offers and finance

Offers

January to June is the key period for checking responses to applications.

Once they have applied to a university, students can follow the progress of their applications online and respond to offers they get through UCAS Track.

Once a student has submitted their five applications, they will start to receive responses. These will be one of three types. An Unconditional Offer (U) means there are no conditions to be met, and they definitely have a place on the course. A Conditional Offer (C) means they have conditions to meet before entry, such as certain A Level grades or International Baccalaureate scores. The third response is Unsuccessful (R). Students have until the beginning of May to reply to their offers.

Students will need to decide on their first choice (known as a Firm Acceptance). They will also need an Insurance Acceptance in case they don’t get the grades required for their first choice.

If they accept an unconditional offer, it becomes an Unconditional Firm (UF). If they accept a conditional offer, it becomes a Conditional Firm (CF) - and then an UF once conditions are met. They can send a decline to university offers they don't wish to take up.

If your son or daughter doesn't receive any offers or declines those received, there is a second chance to apply through UCAS Extra. This free service will enable them to apply to universities that have vacancies. They can apply to one course at a time between February and early July. To find out more, visit the UCAS Extra webpage.

Finance and accommodation

UK students

Student loans

From February onwards, your child should start to apply for Student Finance. This will be paid directly to the University and is available to all new UK/EU students. Under the current arrangements, students can study now and pay later. This means students don't have to repay the Tuition Fee Loan until they earn a reasonable income.

UK students may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan to help cover their living costs. Find out more about loans at gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance.

Financial support and scholarships for UK students
The University also offers a generous range of scholarships and bursaries. In the 2023/24 academic year, our Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) offered a total of £2.37 million in bursaries to UEL students.

Find out more about our financial support on our fees and funding page.

International students

We understand that by studying in another country, students are making a big financial investment in their future. We offer a generous package of scholarships to ensure that students receive the best value for money, and helpful payment plans to get them started.

DSA

If they have a disability or learning difficulty, they should apply early for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). It can take around 12 weeks for the allowance to be set up, but if they are planning to take up a place in September, they can apply from January onwards.

Accommodation

Our iconic Student Village, located by the waterfront at our Docklands campus, is home to almost 1,200 students. Accommodation is available to UEL students studying at Docklands or Stratford campuses.
Living on campus, students will benefit from a free bus service between the two campuses, en-suite rooms, some of the most affordable on-campus rooms in London, on-site laundry facilities and a secure campus and halls of residence, with gated entrances and 24/7 security staff. In addition, there are also studio and wheelchair-accessible rooms available, as well as on-campus catering outlets with pay-in-advance options available.

Transport connections to our halls of residence are excellent, with a DLR station at the entrance to the Docklands campus. The O2 Arena, Canary Wharf, Westfield shopping centre, and the rest of London are just a short journey away.

1 month before: Results day and Clearing

Results day and UCAS clearing

If your son or daughter has secured a university place - great!

If not - whether it was because there were no offers made, all offers were declined, or exam results failed to meet entry requirements, don't panic, there is another way forward. UCAS Clearing is a system that allows students to make additional applications for courses that still have vacancies. Clearing opens in August. If your son or daughter would like to apply to UEL, we have a Clearing webpage and dedicated advisors to help students every step of the way.

If your child has done better than expected and exceeded the conditions for the first-choice university, they can also apply to another course at another university. Check the UCAS website for more information on Adjustment.

1 day before: a checklist

September or January: Off they go

After all the effort of research, applications, funding and exams, it's time to set off for university.

Make sure you have all the things from the checklist below:

Student Loan documents
Form of ID (Passport / Driving Licence. Needed to register with the university, open a UK bank account (if you haven't yet), and prove your age.
University acceptance letter (The formal proof of your place (CAS letter for international students)).
Accommodation terms and conditions
Bank account details
Debit or credit card
Insurance documents (Contents Insurance is a must-have for your valuable tech. Check if your accommodation provides this - our halls at UEL do).
Medical documents: A copy of your NHS number (if UK student), details of your new local GP registration (which you should do ASAP), and any important prescriptions.
National Insurance (NI) Number: Essential if you plan to get a part-time job or internship.
Passport Photos (Physical): Handy for new student cards, travel passes, or forms.
Student discount cards or apps
Mobile phone and charger
Laptop and charger
USB stick or external hard drive
Extension leads
Noise-cancelling headphones: A lifesaver for studying in a busy library or a noisy shared flat.
Toiletries
Medication - a small First-Aid Kit (plasters, paracetamol, cold/flu remedies) is also highly recommended.
Kitchen essentials - Plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery, Tupperware (for meal prepping/leftovers), and a couple of essential pots/pans. Tea towels are the most forgotten item!
Stationery
Bedding and towels - A mattress protector is a great idea, as is a second set of bedding for laundry day. Check your bed size beforehand (usually single).
Doorstop: The universal sign in halls that you're welcoming people in for a chat. Great for Freshers' Week.
Laundry basket/Bag and airer: Most halls don't allow clothes dryers, so an airer is crucial for drying clothes in your room.
Slippers / Sliders: A must for wearing around a shared living area or communal bathroom.
Clothes hangers: Halls often only provide furniture, not the extras.

How to apply to UEL

Is your young person ready to join London’s career-led university?

We help students through every step of the process.

If they want to start a full-time course at UEL in September, they should apply online via the 'Apply' button on the UCAS website. They will need the unique UCAS institution code (ELOND) and code for UEL (E28), as well as the UCAS code for the course they want to study.
If they want to start in January, applications usually open in the summer. They can apply direct through our website. We have a January starts page listing the courses that are available.
If they have applied late, haven't applied yet, changed their mind or missed out on the requirements of a conditional offer, they can apply to us through Clearing. Students looking to apply to UEL through Clearing can find more information on our Clearing page.

If you or your young person has any questions about how to apply to UEL, please contact our Applicant Engagement team on +44 (0)20 8223 3333.

Key dates

Clearing takes place from July to September each year.

Application deadlines differ between courses, please see our applying page for information on application deadlines.

Term dates vary slightly from year to year, please see our term dates calendar for accurate information.

Where can I get help with the application process?

Applicant Engagement

We have a dedicated Applicant Engagement team available Monday to Friday (9am–5pm) to answer any questions. You can contact them by telephone on +44 (0)20 8223 3333, or Live chat (click the live chat icon in the bottom right of the screen).

Information, Advice and Guidance

Students can also contact our Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) team if they have any questions or concerns about starting university, or if they are unsure what course they want to study. The IAG team can also offer advice on finance and funding. They are based at our University Square Stratford campus and run drop-in sessions during the day and some evenings. Contact them by telephone on +44 (0)20 8223 4354. For details of opening times, visit the IAG webpages.

Useful links

Why choose the University of East London? (A guide for parents)
Find out why UEL is a strong choice for your child. Explore careers, support, safety, costs and student life at the University of East London.
Careers
Graduates from the University of East London gain the knowledge, skills and experience that employers are looking for.
Parents FAQs
We have prepared the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask our helpful staff.