Frequently asked questions

To apply for one of our online programmes you should follow these steps:

1. Visit the online courses website to start your application.
2. Choose the programme and start date that suits you and submit your application.
3. Once your application has been submitted, you will be contacted by the admissions team by phone or email about your application. They will guide you through the requirements and documentation you will need to provide.
4. Once all documentation has been received, your application will be sent to the University of London Admissions panel, who will review your application. If there are any conditions to the offer, they will contact you.
5. Once admitted to the programme, you'll receive dedicated support to get registered, enrolled, and fully prepared for success before your studies begin.

If you have any questions on applying to study online, please email admissions@onlinecourses.london.ac.uk.

Follow these steps to apply for your chosen degree, diploma or certificate at a local teaching centre:

1. First, you will need to contact your chosen local teaching centre directly (Find your local teaching centre) to confirm you can enrol on your chosen programme. Once confirmed, they will provide you with a unique ‘application validation code’. You will need this during the online application process (students choosing the Independent Learner route should skip this step).
2. To start your application, visit the University of London course page for the programme you have chosen and click ‘apply now’. This will open the application form, and you’ll be prompted to create an account and complete the application form.
3. Submit your documentary evidence. This can be done online when submitting your application or at a later stage. See further information below on supplying documentation. Please do not send original documents.
4. To complete your application you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee to the University of London.
5. Once your application has been assessed, you will be emailed about the outcome of your application. If you meet the entrance requirements and have provided all the required documents, you will be sent an offer letter.
6. Once you receive your offer letter, you will be invited to complete your online registration. Instructions on how to do this will be included with your offer letter.

If you have any further questions on the study local application process, please contact the University of London admissions team.

Requirements will depend on the programme you choose and can be found on each programme page via the University of London programme finder.

Exact documentation needed will depend on your own personal situation, but generally we will require:

• Scanned copies of qualifications
• Evidence of name and date of birth (scanned copy of birth certificate, passport, drivers licence or national ID card)
• Proof of English proficiency

Yes, but you might need to provide further evidence to confirm your proficiency.

The following awards satisfy our English language requirements for all undergraduate courses (Postgraduate language requirements differ by course):

• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
• Cambridge English Language 1119 conducted by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (grade 6)
• Hong Kong Examination Authority Advanced level Use of English (grade C)
• Hong Kong Certificate of Education English Language, Syllabus B (grade C)
• Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) English Language section from 2007 (level 3)
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE): English Language (level 3)
• International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE): English as a Second Language (grade B)

For a full list of acceptable awards and proficiency tests, please view the full English requirements.

Your fees will depend on which course you choose and the mode of study.

Indicative costs:

Below are some indicative costs for both our online and locally taught study modes. A more detailed breakdown of costs is available via each programme page (Find your programme).

Study Locally

There is a non-refundable application fee of £65 for all locally taught applications. Students are also expected to pay a fee to their local teaching centre.

* Graduates are required to take 9 modules instead of the standard 12, in recognition of prior learning.

Study Online

The indicative total programme fees reflect average annual fee increases and assume you complete your programme within the minimum time, without resits. There is no application fee for online study modes.

Yes, there is a wide range of financial support available depending on your mode of study. For students studying at a local teaching centre, please refer to their webpages for more information.

There are other options available for students who require financial assistance, including:

• Scholarships: A number of scholarships are available for Global Programmes students. Full details of these can be found on the University of London Scholarships and Bursaries page.
• Bursaries: Some teaching centres also offer bursaries. Please contact your local centre for more information.
• Employer benefits: Some employers in both the public and private sector may be willing to consider offering financial assistance to their employees.

For further information please visit the University of London Funding your Study page.

LSE provides academic direction for the University of London’s undergraduate-level programmes in the disciplines of Economics, Management, Finance and Social Sciences (EMFSS). This means LSE designs the curriculum, sets and marks exams, and ensures academic rigour—though it does not teach students directly. These programmes are delivered online or through local teaching centres worldwide.

Students graduate with a University of London degree, with LSE’s academic direction noted on the diploma. This model enables learners globally to access a world-class education shaped by LSE’s expertise, without the need to study on-campus in London.

All students will be given access to a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), where you can access your study materials after you have received your offer and completed your online registration.

You can find your local teaching centres here.

You will become a student of University of London and your local Recognised Teaching Centre. Academic direction is by LSE (‘academic direction’ includes the design of the programme, programme materials and the content and marking of your assessments).

When you complete your programme, you will receive a qualification and certificate from the University of London, which states the role of the LSE, and you will be an alumna/alumnus of the University of London.

The final diploma will indicate that you were awarded a University of London degree and include the name of the federation member (LSE) that conducted the examinations. The University of London logo and signature of the Vice-Chancellor are incorporated.

You will also receive a Diploma Supplement, which describes the nature, level and content of the programme you completed. It includes a transcript of courses taken, the marks achieved and the overall classification. It also provides further information about the role of LSE and the method of study.

There are several ways you can make the most of your programme’s affiliation with LSE and the University of London during your studies.

Global Programmes students can attend LSE Summer School to experience life on campus and earn credits towards their University of London qualification. Global Programmes students are entitled to claim exclusive discounts on their Summer School fees – 40% off two courses, or 15% off one course.

Students who have completed the equivalent of at least four full courses on their Global Programme are also able to apply for admission to the LSE General Course, which allows students to spend a full academic year at LSE and transfer credit to the University of London programme.

Global Programmes students are welcome to apply to the second year of entry of a relevant degree at LSE. Students should bear in mind that transfer is not automatic and is highly competitive, given that LSE is restricted to numbers for both first and second year entries. Further information on second year entry can be found here.

Find out more about pathways to LSE.

Every year, LSE welcomes alumni of the programmes to pursue postgraduate studies. They join a diverse, challenging and intellectually stimulating community on campus and participate in projects, discussions and events with fellow students, academics, and key contributors from a diverse range of disciplines, enjoying full exposure to some of the most cutting-edge and exciting thinking and research in social science.

Around 25 graduates pursue a master’s degree at LSE every year, and merit-based scholarships exclusive to Global Programmes Alumni are available.

Yes, students who are awarded a qualification will be invited to the annual University of London graduation ceremony in London. An email invitation will be sent with instructions on how to register and secure guest tickets.

Find out more about previous graduation ceremonies, and see images and videos from the day, on the University of London website. If you have recently completed your studies, but not received an invite, please contact universityevents@london.ac.uk.

Graduates are also invited to attend a graduation reception at LSE, where they and their families can celebrate their achievement with fellow graduates and senior LSE academics.

Many teaching centres offer the programmes as single awards, meaning that students graduate with one degree from the University of London, that is examined and assessed by LSE. Our undergraduate degrees lead to a Bachelor of Science qualification from the University of London.

A parallel degree award, also referred to as a ‘double degree’ or ‘dual degree’, is a flexible academic pathway that enables students to earn two separate degrees simultaneously—one from the University of London and another from their home institution. This model involves aligning the curricula of both institutions, and students typically need to complete two sets of assessments to fulfil the requirements for each degree independently.

Please note, not all local teaching centres offer a parallel degree award. Further information can be found on their respective websites or by contacting the teaching centres directly.

Distance education (also known as distance learning) is a mode of study where students and instructors are not physically present in the same location. Instead, learning takes place remotely, using the Virtual Learning Environment. The online taught mode of the University of London’s Global Programme is classed as distance education.

TNE stands for Transnational Education. TNE refers to educational programmes delivered in a country other than the one where the awarding institution is based. For example, the University of London’s Global Programme is a TNE programme because it is offered globally through local teaching centres and distance learning, but the degree is awarded by the University of London, with academic direction from LSE.

EMFSS stands for Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences. It refers to the suite of undergraduate programmes offered by the University of London, with academic direction from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

A Recognised Teaching Centre (RTC) is a partner institution that has been formally approved to support students studying University of London programmes. These institutions provide face-to-face tuition, teaching the academic content produced by LSE.

To become recognised, an institution must meet a rigorous set of quality criteria including standards for teaching quality, staffing, student experience, academic management and facilities. RTCs are monitored to ensure they maintain high standards and provide students with a world-class teaching and learning experience.