If you are planning to study an undergraduate degree at UCL, one of your key concerns will likely be how to fund it. This guide explains what funding options are available for the 2025/26 entry year and beyond — including tuition fees, living costs, scholarships, bursaries and other support.

What are the costs you need to consider

Studying at UCL involves two main cost categories:

1. Tuition fees — These vary depending on your programme and whether you're classified as a Home (UK) or Overseas (international) student. UCL advises you to check the prospectus for your specific course.
2. Living costs — London is one of the more expensive student cities. Costs depend on your accommodation, travel, food, lifestyle and study materials. UCL has guidance to help estimate these.

Funding for Home (UK) Fee Status Students

For students whose fee status is “Home” (UK domiciled), several support routes exist:

1. Student loans — UK students may apply for tuition-fee loans and maintenance loans via Student Finance England (or the equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales).
2. Bursaries — UCL offers a number of bursaries based on household income and special circumstances:
3. The UCL Undergraduate Bursary: For students with household income below £42,875. Non-repayable.
4. The Care Leaver Bursary: £1,000 per year for UK students who have been in care.
5. The Estranged Student Bursary: £1,000 per year for students estranged from their family.
6. Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) — For Home students with disabilities, UCL indicates additional support may be available for extra costs.
7. Hardship Funds — If you face unexpected financial difficulties while studying, UCL’s Financial Assistance Fund may provide short-term support.

Funding for Overseas (International) Fee Status Students

If you are classed as an overseas fee payer, funding options differ somewhat. Key opportunities include:

1. Scholarships specifically for international undergraduate students — For example, the UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship offers full-tuition fee awards (and for some recipients additional maintenance allowances) to international students from low-income backgrounds.
2. Departmental or subject-specific awards — Check your faculty or programme page for any special scholarships tied to your subject area
3. External funding — UCL advises students to consider external bursaries or grants available through charities, foundations, or national schemes in their home country.

How to maximise your chances of funding

1. Check eligibility early — For bursaries based on household income or special status (care-leaver, estranged) make sure you understand the criteria and gather the required proof.
2. Apply for scholarships early — Some awards require you to both apply for your UCL course and submit a separate scholarship application before a deadline. For example, the UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship had a deadline in April for the relevant year.
3. Focus on your personal profile — For merit-based scholarships, academic achievement, leadership, community engagement and financial need may all play a part.
4. Don’t ignore smaller bursaries — Even smaller annual bursaries (£1,000 per year) make a difference over three or four years.
5. Keep checking your department — Some awards are very specific (e.g., subject, national background, disability) and may have limited availability. Departments often list them separately.
6. Prepare for living costs too — Funding often covers tuition, but living expenses in London remain a challenge. Part-time work, budgeting and early accommodation planning help.

Final Thoughts

Funding your undergraduate study at UCL is absolutely possible — whether you are a UK student or an international applicant. The key is to understand the different funding streams (loans, bursaries, scholarships), check the criteria for your specific fee-status and programme, meet deadlines, and apply strategically. By doing so, you can significantly reduce your financial burden and focus on your academic goals.

References

1. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/scholarships/funding-students-undergraduate-courses
2. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/ucl-global-undergraduate-scholarship
3. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/scholarships
4. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/widening-participation/sites/widening_participation/files/ucls_access_and_participation_plan_2025-29.pdf