Please note that the following departments have restricted entry / very limited capacity for study abroad students:

The following departments will be closed for Academic Year and Fall 2023:
Computer Science
Law
Planning

The following departments will be restricted for Academic Year and Fall 2023:
If a department is restricted it means that there will be a very limited cohort, but you can still apply. If you were planning on taking courses in the department, but you didn't plan on applying directly there, you should talk to your academic advisor because there may not be seats available for classes in that department.

Biochemical Engineering
Biomedical Sciences
Earth Sciences
Education
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Geography
History
Management
Mathematics
Phonetics and Linguistics
Political Science and International Relations
Population Health
Psychology
Slade School of Fine Art
Social Research Institute


For more up-to-date information visit the program webpage.

Overview

University College London (UCL) is a school for the open-minded and ambitious. In 1826 it was founded under the name "University of London" as a secular alternative to the strictly religious and conservative universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and in that vein it was the first UK higher education institution to accept students of any race, religion, or political belief, and the first to admit women on equal terms with men.

Today it ranks among the top five universities in the UK and is a member of the elite Golden Triangle along with Oxford and Cambridge. Perhaps because of the school's dedication to liberal understanding and diversity, UCL alumni range from Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Browning to the current members of award winning British band Coldplay and the current Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi.

Located in the exhilarating urban arena of central London, the school is surrounded by a constellation of other renowned institutions, including the British Museum, the British Library, the University of London, and of course all the multifaceted monuments of London's universal appeal.
 

Academics

UCL is the oldest and largest member of the University of London federation. Often described as a "university within a university," it is among Britain's most diverse and prestigious institutions. The academic year is divided into three academic terms. You may study for the fall term, two terms during the spring, or the full year.

UCL offers excellent academics across the board, but the English department is particularly prestigious. Your academic experience will be specialized and in-depth, with study in no more than two departments. Many popular choices for Rice students in the past have included English, Anthropology, Economics, History and Psychology.

A sample of UCL's areas of study are listed below.  To access a full list of offerings, see the UCL online catalog. 

Anthropology, Architecture, Art History, Arts, Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Diverse studies available, Economics, English, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Italian, Jewish Studies, Latin, Latin American Studies, Law, Math/Statistics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Russian, Sciences, Spanish

Student Life

Located in the heart of London, University College London (UCL) offers excellent academics and a truly urban experience for the study abroad student. Extensive activities and entertainment are available on and near campus, thanks to an active student's union that provides inexpensive events, bargain shops, cafes, and a sports and fitness center. In addition, the arts are particularly vibrant at UCL. Bloomsbury Theatre allows students to stage productions in professional surroundings, and UCL's well known Operatic Society puts on a full-length opera each year.
 

Housing

Students typically live in flats. There is some very limited space available to student in the UCL international student dorm, though students generally prefer the convenience and location of the provided flats.
 

Location

UCL is located in Bloomsbury, an area known for its lovely squares, elegant houses, and connections to the University of London. Because UCL is part of the University of London, you'll have access to the University of London Union with all its facilities, sports fields, and events.

London has a population of 9 million and boasts as many as 20 million visitors a year. The capital of Britain has been an inspiration for artists and poets alike throughout the centuries. Its busy streets and waterways with their historical buildings, monuments, and bridges offer the visitor a magnificent overview of British history and heritage. London offers the visitor innumerable outstanding museums and galleries, royal palaces, monuments, quaint squares and peaceful green parks, excellent shops, and exciting nightlife.