University of East London

About University of East London (UEL)

UEL is a careers-first, modern London university that says it prepares students “for the jobs of the future” and traces its teaching heritage across more than a century (celebrating ~125 years). It emphasises employability, applied learning and strong links with local industry and communities.

Why choose UEL (shortlist)

• Careers-focused teaching (employability and work placements are central).

• Great London location(s) — immediate access to east London (Stratford, Docklands) with strong transport links (DLR, Elizabeth Line, London City Airport).

• Improving recognition — recent awards/shortlists show growing national recognition for teaching quality and impact.

Rankings & accreditations (high-level)

• UEL highlights subject and social-impact recognitions (e.g., strong performance in THE Impact Rankings historically) and was named University of the Year for Teaching Quality in the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025. It’s also been shortlisted for Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year 2025.

• External ranking snapshots (QS/THE/Complete University Guide) vary by year — QS places UEL in the 1001–1200 band in the 2026 QS world rankings, while national guides show stronger movement in student satisfaction/teaching metrics. Always check subject-level tables for a clearer view of your course.

Campus locations & what each offers

UEL has three main campuses in east London:

• Docklands Campus — waterfront campus near Cyprus DLR; 24/7 library; close to Canary Wharf and London City Airport. Good for many core courses and student services.

• Stratford Campus — near Stratford town centre and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; home to childhood & social care and clinical education facilities (podiatry, physiotherapy, sports science).

• University Square Stratford (USS) — central Stratford location used for teaching and student services.

Types of courses & study levels

UEL offers the usual UK range:

• Undergraduate degrees (BA, BSc, with many programmes offering a foundation year), certificate and diploma routes.

• Postgraduate taught (MSc/MA/MBA) and research (MPhil/PhD).

• Short courses, apprenticeships and professional CPD options are also available.

Mode of learning

• Primarily on-campus delivery across Docklands/Stratford/USS for most full-time programmes.

• UEL provides January intakes for many courses and some flexible/blended options for postgraduate or professional learners — check the course page for the delivery mode your intake will use.

How many programmes?

• UEL lists over 100 undergraduate courses across 17 subject areas and a broad set of postgraduate options — so expect hundreds of programme choices across levels and specialisms. Use UEL’s course search to filter by level, subject and campus.

Highlights & student experience

• Careers guarantee & employability focus across degrees.

• Excellent transport links & east London location — Stratford/Docklands puts students near major employers, the Olympic Park, cultural venues and Canary Wharf.

• Recognition for teaching quality lately (Times Good University Guide 2025 award) — useful if teaching quality and student support are priorities.

Latest updates (what changed recently)

• UEL was named University of the Year for Teaching Quality in the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and was shortlisted for THE University of the Year 2025 — both signals of recent momentum in teaching & institutional recognition.

• UEL promotes January intakes, updated campus facilities and rolling news on course launches — check UEL’s News page or course pages for the most recent announcements (admissions, new programmes, partnership/health training updates).

Scholarship

1. International Scholarships (overseas fee-paying students)

What: A tuition-fee reduction of £500 to £5,000 off your first year’s tuition fees for eligible international students.
Who’s eligible:

• You must be a fee-paying international (overseas) student (i.e., non-UK fee status) with an offer to study an undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme.

• You must submit a complete application including personal statement and supporting documents.

• The scholarship is not available for: short courses; exchange/study abroad programmes; franchised programmes; Pre-Masters; international foundation programmes; pre-sessional English.
  How to apply:

• No separate scholarship application; you’ll automatically be assessed once your application for study is complete and you receive an offer.
  How much:

• Amount determined by your course and eligibility, shown in your offer letter if awarded. Range: £500-£5,000 off first year’s tuition.
  Special notes:

• It is for first-year only (unless stated otherwise).

• It is discretionary (a university decision) and not all applicants get the maximum amount.

2. Alumni / Loyalty Discounts & Global Campus Scholarship Scheme

Global Campus Scholarship Scheme:

• This is for graduates of UEL or UEL’s Global Campus / partner institutions who want to undertake postgraduate taught or research programmes at UEL.

• Discounts:

  • Graduates moving directly (no gap year) and achieving certain honours: Up to 25% off tuition.

  • Graduates with some gap or lower result: 10% discount.

• Eligibility:

  • Must normally have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree (or be from a partner institution) recognised by UEL.

  • Applies to postgraduate full-time/part-time study at UEL campus.

• Application: No separate application, the discount is applied automatically if eligible.

• Note: This is more of a “loyalty/alumni” discount, rather than a general international award for new students.

Alumni Scholarship / Discount:

• If you already studied at UEL you may be eligible for postgraduate fee discount (for example 15-25% of tuition) when progressing directly.

• While relevant, this is less likely to apply to an international student who is coming fresh to UEL (unless you are a UEL graduate).

3. Early Payment Discount & Course-specific / Sports Scholarships

Early Payment Discount:

• For international students, UEL offers a 5% discount on tuition if you pay your undergraduate or postgraduate tuition in full before a specified date (e.g., mid-September) for the starting year.

• Note: This is not strictly a “scholarship” but a payment-timing discount; you must pay fees in full by the deadline.

Sports Scholarships:

• UEL offers sport-related bursaries for international (non-EU) students: up to £6,000 a year plus support services if you qualify as a high-performance athlete.

• This is very specific (sports eligible, must be high calibre athlete) and may not apply to many applicants.

Quick Eligibility Summary for International Students

• You must be assessed as overseas / international fee-paying (non-UK) for many of the international scholarships.

• Must hold an offer from UEL for an eligible course (undergraduate or postgraduate taught) and have submitted all required application materials. (No missing personal statement/supporting docs)

• The scholarship must apply to your type of course: full-time (often), undergraduate or postgraduate taught; excludes short courses, foundation programmes, pre-Masters, franchised programmes etc.

• For alumni/loyalty discounts: must meet criteria like UEL graduate or global partner institution, direct progression etc.

• For payment-based discount: pay full tuition early by the deadline.

• Note: Whether you’re eligible for the maximum award depends on your course, your academic standing, the department’s offer and internal assessment.

Important Details, Timeframes & Things to Watch

• For the International Scholarship (£500-£5,000): The scheme is already approved for September 2025 intake and winners are being notified (as of the latest update) — so eligible applicants should act early.

• Remember: Not all courses/programmes are eligible (e.g., foundation, pre-Masters, franchise/partner institution courses are excluded).

• The exact amount (£500 to £5,000) depends on your course, fee amount, the department’s budget and assessment.

• The early payment discount requires full tuition payment by a specific date — if you cannot pay in full, you may lose the discount.

• For living costs: Even with tuition scholarship, you’ll need to budget for living expenses (especially in London). The university mentions cost-of-living support.

• Check the fee status: Some programmes may assess you as UK/home fee status (less common for international students) — ensure you’re clear whether you are non-UK fee payer.

• If you change your programme after enrolment, check whether the scholarship/discount remains valid.

• Always keep documentation of your scholarship or discount (offer letter, email) for visa/immigration if needed.