University of West London

The University of West London (UWL) is a higher education institution offering over 100 undergraduate degrees alongside 82 postgraduate taught courses and 32 research degrees. It has been named the UK's best university for student experience and teaching quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (TGUG), 2024).

The university has invested over GBP 150 million into the transformation of its teaching, study and leisure facilities. Furthermore, UWL's research is globally recognised, with 80 per cent rated world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework, 2021).

Degrees offered by UWL are all career-focused and taught by industry experts. Courses enable students to broaden their knowledge and skillset, whilst also preparing them effectively for life after graduation. UWL has been ranked as Silver overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023), receiving a Gold rating for student experience.

International students from over 100 countries form part of the student body, and students enjoy a diverse and friendly academic community. UWL offers an extensive range of support services to support students throughout their study journey; these cover areas including careers, immigration, study skills and health.

UWL has campuses in Ealing and Brentford, both in west London. These locations give students easy access to vibrant local areas with parks, shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Each site is close to train services that can reach the centre of London in less than 30 minutes.

As the UK's best university for student experience and teaching quality (TGUG, 2024), the University of West London boasts a number of accolades and achievements, and is co-led by Vice-Chancellor and President Peter John, who was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contribution to higher education.

Lecturers and teaching staff are all experts in their fields and students benefit from hands-on learning with industry professionals. Curricula are designed to meet industry standards, ensuring students graduate with all the skills needed to enter the competitive professional marketplace.

Students learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Depending on the specific course, they may also engage in laboratory work, group and individual project work, research projects, and industry placements.

Further evidencing the high calibre of its teaching, UWL's Claude Littner Business School was named Business School of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards (THE, 2019).

UWL also offers extensive academic and study support to its students, including:

• One-to-one support sessions
• Study skills workshops
• English and maths support
• Peer mentors
• Royal Literary Fellows writing support

Students can choose from an expansive range of courses at the University of West London, including undergraduate degrees, postgraduate taught and research degrees, degree apprenticeships and professional development courses.

Courses are taught through the university's twelve specialist schools and colleges:

• College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare
• Drama Studio London, offering a specialist conservatoire setting
• London College of Music, the UK's largest specialist performing arts and music institution
• London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism
• London School of Film, Media and Design
• School of Medicine and Biosciences, the university's newest academic school with state-of-the-art laboratories
• School of Computing and Engineering
• School of Human and Social Sciences
• School of Law
• The Claude Littner Business School, 2019 winner of Business School of the Year (THE)

Students benefit from industry-standard facilities, with all schools and colleges boasting an extensive network of professional connections. Many courses are accredited by the relevant professional bodies, further boosting employability.

Subjects available to study at UWL include:

• Accounting and finance
• Aviation, tourism and hospitality
• Biomedical Sciences
• Business
• Computing and Cyber Security
• Design, fashion, film and photography
• Education
• Engineering and Built Environment
• Food sciences, nutrition and culinary industry management
• Gaming – design, development and esports
• Law, criminology and forensic science
• Mathematics and statistics
• Media, communications, English and journalism
• Music and performing arts
• Healthcare
• Politics and internation relations
• Psychological sciences
• Sociology and social sciences
• Sport and exercise science

International students must meet the University of West London's academic and English language entry requirements.

Academic requirements

Academic entry requirements at UWL vary considerably between courses, but as a minimum, students must hold:

Undergraduate

• A-Levels from a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points, or
• International Baccalaureate Diploma from a minimum of 25 points or IB Certificates (minimum x2 IB Higher Level required) which meet the UCAS tariff points requirement, or
• A recognised high school qualification from the student's country of residence.

Postgraduate taught

• A degree equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree with second class honours (2:2 minimum), or
• An equivalent qualification.

PhD

• A degree equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree with second class honours (2:1 minimum), and
• A degree equivalent to a master's degree with a merit or distinction.

English language requirements

Most international students will need to provide proof of their English language proficiency. English language requirements may differ for specific courses, but generally speaking, the minimum IELTS requirements to enrol on a degree at UWL are:

• Undergraduate degrees: overall score of 6.0 (with no lower than 5.5 in any band)
• Postgraduate taught degrees: overall score of 6.5 (with no lower than 5.5 in any band)
• PhDs: overall score of 6.5 (with no lower than 6.0 in any band).

Other recognised language tests are accepted at an equivalent level, including TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, Duolingo and Cambridge B2 First / C1 Advanced. UWL also offers a range of online and onsite pre-sessional English courses to accepted students.

In recent years, UWL has invested over GBP 200 million into its top-notch facilities, designed to enhance students' study experience and learning potential, including:

• Industry-standard course facilities such as recording studios, a training restaurant and a flight simulator
• State-of-the-art laboratories, including an electronics lab, concrete testing lab, geotechnical lab, structural lab, biomedical sciences lab and a hydraulics lab
• One of the largest music studio complexes in Europe
• A mock courtroom, crime scene room, and high-tech forensic tools
• Heathrow exhibition and archive, a permanent display of unique artefacts and history from the airport.

The university's Paul Hamlyn Library provides students with access to an extensive range of books, journals, computer workstations, study spaces and other essential resources.

At both of UWL's west London sites, local facilities include cafes, parks, shopping centres, football pitches, cricket greens, restaurants, gyms and bars.

Accommodation

UWL has made arrangements with local, purpose-built student accommodation providers to bring students better rates than direct bookings and provide the added support of booking through the university.

Chapter White City, Chapter Ealing and The Collective Old Oak are all located in either North Acton or East Acton, with quick access to Ealing Broadway station and the UWL shuttle bus to the Ealing and Brentford sites. Close to Central line tube stations, central London is only 20 minutes away.

Canvas Wembley, Scape Wembley, Sterling Court Wembley and Pavilion Court are located in Wembley Park, an area buzzing with things to do, including a cinema, restaurants, bars, a designer outlet shopping centre, and Boxpark. The area is a hub for students and is perfect for those who like to have fun and socialise.

From Wembley Park students can quickly get into central London via the Jubliee or Metropolitan lines. The 483 bus takes students to the Ealing Broadway campus.

The University of West London provides a number of scholarships and bursaries to its international students. These include department and course awards.

The value of the scholarships currently available ranges from GBP 200 to GBP 10,000.

Students need to apply directly to be considered. Many scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, for example academic excellence, or financial need.

Alumni discount

Eligible postgraduate students who hold a related undergraduate degree from UWL automatically receive a discount of GBP 500 – GBP 2,000 on their postgraduate course fees.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees vary between courses. International students can review the tuition fees and funding opportunities and other financial information, such as guidance about opening a bank account, on the university website.

University rankings

UWL's recent notable rankings include:

• Best modern London university (non-specialist) (Complete University Guide, 2025)
• Number 1 London university (non-specialist), (National Student Survey, 2024)
• Ranked 30^th university in the UK, (Guardian University Guide, 2024)
• Best university for student experience and teaching quality in the UK (TGUG, 2024)
• 80 percent of research rated as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) (Research Excellence Framework, 2021)

Transformed support for international students from an international UWL graduate

New international students receive personalised support at UWL by someone who understands what they're going through.

Overseas graduate student, Andreea-Daniela Coroama, is UWL's Senior International Student Experience Officer. Andreea studied her degree in business studies and marketing at UWL and is now dedicated to helping international students have the best university experience possible.

She says: "I understand the challenges so many students face when they come to the UK. I learnt that the best way of enjoying my time at university was to get involved and take every opportunity to be part of this incredible community. This is the message I share with students as I want them to love their time here as much as I did.

"UWL has supported me throughout my journey, and I am so happy to be able to give that level of help back to others. This is what makes the university so special, and I am delighted to be a part of it and make a difference to our students."