UoL has a long, esteemed history of administering reputable distance learning degrees, though information about their new BSc Computer Science is sparse due to its being new. This documentation seeks to explain the process behind applying in a concise and clear way so you know exactly what to expect when you do it yourself.
- Applying to the University of London Bachelors of Computer Science degree (UoL)
Students may apply to the programme in two of the following ways: Direct Admissions (where you are admitted to study as conventionally expected) and Performance-based Admissions (often used as an alternative route to getting admitted if you did not meet the academic requirements). Regardless of which route you would be falling under, you must meet an equivalent of three requirements for your track:
- The entry requirements for your track of admissions
- BSc Comp Sci's specific requirements of Maths at the appropriate level
- English Requirements
For Direct Admissions: UoL's General Requirements for entry must be met — your country's equivalent can be found here: https://london.ac.uk/entrance-qualifications
For Performance-Based Admissions: your requirements can be found here: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-london/admissions
If you're not sure which track you'll fall under — or whether or not you will be able to obtain admissions, UoL's general advice is to apply early and to apply anyway (see Application Process).
Every student, English-speaking country or not must prove their proficiency in English before applying. This is often proven by native English speakers by showing that you were educated in English. For those who were not educated in English, you must show that you have proficiency at the standards stated here.
Students with qualifications not listed have also been accepted. It is worth applying if you think you have an equivalent qualification not listed.
If you're familiar with the British UCAS system, which students use after sixth form (12/13th Grade) apply to university, the application is fairly similar. The only difference being that you're applying to one university and not five.
In the application you will be asked to supply them with the following things. It would be highly beneficial to have these prepared beforehand (especially academic documents) to ensure that your application decisions come in as quickly and efficiently as possible:
- A scanned copy of your ID
- A verified copy of the Academic Documents that back your meeting the requirements for the programme
- A 100-250 word Personal Statement (of prompt: "Why do you wish to study for this programme? Please give your reasons, you should include details about your education, work experience and current responsibilities, which are relevant to this application.")
It is worth noting that you do not have your certificates verified before applying. That being said, providing verification can be the most tedious and time consuming part of the application process. Getting this done before a high volume applications season can save you a lot of time and grief waiting for a response. Here is some guidance from the university on how you can get this done.
Upon submission, you will be assigned to an admissions advisor. An admissions advisor's role is to go through your qualifications to give you advice on whether or not they can admit you.
Students unsure of whether or not they meet the requirements for application should apply anyway to see if they can enter the programme. Likewise, those without verified copies at the time of application should apply to gain a decision made on their application. Their acceptance advice is granted when verified documents are sent through.
The link here documents very clearly the process on what decisions can be made on your application: https://london.ac.uk/applicationshow-apply/what-happens-next
A reality keen applicants and prospective students should know: the admissions office, those in charge of education, or help in general can be slow. I would advise everyone interested in applying to apply as soon as possible.
RPL is the exemption of modules taken if you had taken it before in a prior diploma or university. It can be seen as a form of credit transfer. Full regulations can be found in the programme regulations. Grades attained from the programme will not be transferred, however a listing of the grade will be written on your transcript.
You will have stated your intention to apply for RPL in your application form, and upon acceptance you will have been given detailed instructions on how to go about submitting proof for RPL.
Students can get RPL for up to 120 credits (8 modules).
You can apply for automatic or discretionary recognition of your prior learning.
Discretionary RPL costs 464 GBP for all 8 modules. Automatic RPL application is free of charge. The list of approved automatic RPL could be found here.
In particular, four non-university certificates provided via Coursera:
- Google IT Support Professional Certificate
- IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate
- IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate
- IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
RPL from a discretionary route will take awhile. Students have reported the process taking a full month before the process was complete. It would be wise to apply as soon as possible to avoid delays with module registration.
Q: My application to UoL/for RPL/some other administrative process is taking so long, have they received it/why's it taking so long?
A: It takes forever. Sorry mate. That's why an emphasis on applying early was made in the documentation. Applying early not only gives you peace of mind, it means your application doesn't pile up and done when professors aren't stressed out when they read your application.
RPL has taken a month, UoL admissions has taken longer than the 5 days they aim for. Should this happen, do write a nice email to nudge them: ensuring that they have all you need done when they get around to your application.
Q: What does my degree look like?
A: It looks like this.
Q: Where would we be graduating?
A: Here, at The Barbican in London
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- UoL Unofficial Students' Discord
- Do keep a look out for UoL's virtual open day if you're curious to learn more and speak to representatives for more information.