As the 2023 application season heats up, UK universities are gearing up, seemingly having cracked the wealth code, by launching new faculties and programs to attract more students.
The UCL East campus, set to open and start enrolling this September, has become a key focus for many G5 applicants.
UCL East: A Brand-new Campus in East London
UCL East is University College London's new campus located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, which was built for the 2012 London Olympics.
UCL East is surrounded by world-class sports, business, innovation, culture, and leisure facilities, offering students opportunities to collaborate with local organizations, employers, partners, schools, and charities.
Key features of UCL East:
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Total area of 180,000 square metres, equivalent to 40% of the original campus size
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The size of 7 football pitches
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Phase 1 includes 2 buildings totalling 50,000 square metres
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1,500 free bikes provided
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560 square metres of green space on the Pool Street West rooftop
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1,000 square metres of solar panels on the Marshgate rooftop
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5,500 people engaged in over 60 public consultation events, roadshows, and exhibitions
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A 160-seat cinema
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500 student rooms
The new UCL campus not only boasts a large area but also incorporates various amenities such as bikes, a cinema, and exhibition spaces. Moreover, the buildings adopt the latest eco-friendly technologies and an exceptionally high level of greenery, which will undoubtedly enhance students' study and living experience.
Once all buildings on the new campus are fully operational in 2023, it is expected to accommodate over 3,600 students.
UCL's Brand-new Business School Welcomes First Cohort This September
Beyond the beautiful environment, students are most interested in the programme choices at the new campus. Currently, UCL East brings together 9 UCL faculties and departments, offering nearly 60 degree programmes.
We can see that many of these are existing programmes relocated to the new campus, while the majority of the new programmes are concentrated in the UCL Business School founded just last year.
UCL's first business school, the Global Business School for Health (GBSH), is the world's first business school dedicated to healthcare management and health.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, the healthcare management ecosystem has become increasingly essential. UCL, responding to the times, established the Global Business School for Health, committed to contributing to the transformation of global healthcare management.
The school started admissions in the 22 Fall intake and will welcome its first cohort together with the opening of UCL East this September.
Programme Offerings
UCL's GBSH offers three interdisciplinary taught master's programmes:
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MSc Global Healthcare Management with routes
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MSc Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management
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MSc Digital Health and Entrepreneurship
These three programmes (22 Fall intake) opened for applications last October.
Duration: 12 months
Start date: September 2022
International tuition fee: £28,500
MSc Global Healthcare Management with routes
This programme is more specialised compared to the other two. By providing opportunities to focus on analytics, finance, or leadership, it equips students with the necessary skills and networks to transform the healthcare sector.
The programme offers three specialist routes: Finance, Analytics, and Leadership, and applicants need to choose one when applying.
▼ Curriculum:
The programme comprises eight compulsory modules and two projects, totalling 180 credits, with no optional modules currently offered.
▼ Entry requirements:
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Applicants should have a relevant academic background or relevant work experience
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A UK 2:1 degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or a graduate with substantial relevant work experience
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IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no sub-score below 6.0
MSc Digital Health and Entrepreneurship
This programme is the most welcoming for students looking to switch fields, with a focus on disease prevention, early detection, and intervention—a growing trend in the health sector. It is ideal for students aiming to launch a start-up or join a start-up company. Moreover, it is the only programme among the three that does not require a specific academic background!
▼ Curriculum:
The programme includes eight compulsory modules and two projects, totalling 180 credits, with no optional modules currently offered.
▼ Entry requirements:
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A UK 2:1 degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or a graduate with substantial relevant work experience
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IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no sub-score below 6.0
MSc Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management
This programme is suitable for students with a science or engineering background who want to supplement their business knowledge. However, it holds the highest language requirement among the three.
The curriculum integrates pharmaceutical economics and also covers regulations and market access. It is tailored for students intending to pursue development and management in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, or to work as consultants in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries.
▼ Curriculum:
The programme includes seven compulsory modules and two projects, totalling 180 credits, with no optional modules currently offered.
▼ Entry requirements:
-
Applicants should have a relevant academic background or relevant work experience
-
A UK 2:1 degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or a graduate with substantial relevant work experience
-
IELTS overall score of 7.0, with no sub-score below 6.5
Are the UCL East Programmes Right for You?
Limitations of the new campus programmes
Keen-eyed students will notice that most new programmes at the new campus are related to environmental science and global health. For those wanting to get a head start, there may still be some entry barriers.
Take the new MSc Global Healthcare Management programme, for example. Although it is a business management programme, the official website clearly states:
This programme is more suitable for students who wish to develop in the healthcare field, aiming to cultivate healthcare management specialists.
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Reading between the lines, there is a clear preference for applicants with a background in health or science, or relevant work experience. If you are only interested in business but not particularly drawn to the healthcare direction, this programme may not be the best fit for you.
Basic Application Materials and Requirements
1. Academic background/work experience requirements
Most programmes at UCL East have preferred academic backgrounds or practical experience, and these preferences vary.
For instance, MSc Digital Health and Entrepreneurship recommends that applicants have a background in health, science, business, or economics, with relevant work experience being a plus.
Among all the new programmes at the campus, the following currently have no clearly stated requirements regarding discipline or work experience:
- Citizen Science
- Connected Environments
- Creative & Collaborative Enterprise
- Global Urbanism
2. Academic grade requirements
For students who did not complete their undergraduate studies in the UK, they can refer to the country-specific grade conversion on the programme's official page. For US undergraduate applicants, one programme suggests a CGPA of 3.3/4.0.
3. English language requirements
For students whose undergraduate instruction was officially conducted in English, UCL does not require an English proficiency test score. For students from Chinese mainland institutions, however, it is required.
Taking IELTS as an example, UCL classifies IELTS scores into three levels: Standard, Good, and Advanced, and different programmes have their own requirements.
In addition, documents such as personal statements, CVs, and recommendation letters are also basic requirements for UCL East programmes.
For specific application materials and requirements, please visit the programme's official website or confirm details during the online application process.
UK Postgraduate Applications: Prepare Early and Thoroughly
Most UK universities, including UCL, operate on a rolling admissions policy.
Although new schools and programmes mean more opportunities, you are far from the only applicant watching.
Given the application trends in the UK in recent years, even if the deadline is relatively late, it is very common for programmes to be overwhelmed with applications as soon as the portal opens.
UCL's official website has previously stated clearly that it is better to apply early rather than later, as the application channel will close once sufficient offers have been made.
The new application season has already quietly begun. For students planning to study in the UK, it’s never too early to start.
If UCL is your dream school, you can start preparing now by comparing and researching from multiple angles. We wish all students find the programme that suits them best and receive an offer from their dream school soon!
