4. Translation of Certificates and Transcripts

If your certificates and transcripts are printed in a language other than English you will need to have them officially translated into English. Official translators are usually listed in local telephone directories. When you have located one near to you, take your original certificates and transcripts to their office. The Translator should take a copy of the originals and stamp / emboss them with an official seal and sign them. The originals should be returned to you.

After the translation into English is complete, the Translator should stamp / emboss these with the same official seal and sign them. Each of the stamped / embossed / signed documents both in English and the original language should be sent to the University in London in support of your application.

If it is a Master level programme which you are applying to join, your official translations will not be sent back to you. If it is a Bachelor level programme which you are applying to join and you would like the official translations returned to you, add the sum of GBP5 to your Application Handling Fee and the University will return them to you by Recorded Delivery.  

5. Acknowledgement and reference number.

The University will acknowledge receipt of your application and will send you a reference number.

Everyone who applies is allocated a student number. This does not mean that you have been accepted onto the programme but it helps the university to keep track of your application. If you have not received an acknowledgement within three weeks of sending in your application form, please make contact the External Admissions Office giving your full name, date of birth, the name of the qualification for which you have applied, and the date when you posted or sent your form and application handling fee by courier.  

6. Application Assessment Process

When your application is received, it is initially accessed only for the programme you have applied for. If you do not hold the necessary qualifications for entry and are therefore not automatically eligible, your application will be passed to the Special Admissions Panel for further consideration. The Panel will initially assess your application for your chosen course and if they feel that they are unable to offer you acceptance directly onto the degree of your choice, they will assess the application for any other possibilities such as the Access Route.

7. The University’s Decision.

When the University has reviewed your application, they will send you a letter to tell you of the decision they have made. You will be given one of the following responses:

(a) If you are qualified and eligible to join the programme of your choice, the University will send you:

OR

(b) If it appears that you are qualified, you may be sent a provisional acceptance but in order to receive a final 'Offer Letter' the University will ask you to submit further information and / or documentary evidence. The additional information or evidence will be specified in the letter, which will also confirm the qualification you applied for on your application form.

OR

(c) If the University requires more information and / or documentary evidence before they can make a decision on your application they will let you know. It may be necessary for your application to be referred to the Special Admissions Panel for a final decision.

OR

(d) If the University is currently unable to accept you onto the programme of your choice they will automatically consider you for the Access route or make some suggestions as to what you might do to become qualified. If you subsequently obtain the qualification(s) specified within the validity of the application form (five years from the original date of receipt in the Admissions office), you should send clear evidence. If it is then confirmed that the conditions have been met and the programme is still available to External students, an offer of registration will be issued. Under these circumstances you will not need to submit a second application or pay a second application handling fee.

8. Initial Registration

Once you have received an ‘Offer Letter’ and Registration form, you will be able to register. To do this you must complete and return the form to the Student Registry at the following address, with the initial registration fee. These must reach the University by 30 November in the year before you plan to sit your first examination.

External Admissions Office
External System
University of London
Stewart House
32, Russell Square
London WC1B 5DN
United Kingdom

When your registration form and fee are received, the Examinations Office will send you confirmation of your registration and details of how to apply for examination entry forms.

The Despatch Office will also send you your study materials.

9. Continuing Registration

You have a maximum of eight years to complete any of these degrees by distance learning.

In order to maintain your registration throughout your study period, you will be required to pay an annual continuing registration fee. You will receive an invoice each year (normally in June), together with a study materials questionnaire. The questionnaire and fee must be returned by 1 September. If you do not pay the fee your registration will lapse and can only be reinstated when you have paid all of the outstanding fees. You will receive an acknowledgement that the fee has been received and the Despatch Office will send you the Regulations for the following year and any study materials that are due to you.

If you do not pay the continuing registration fee, you will not receive any new or updated study materials and you will not be permitted to enter any examinations.

Documentary evidence (UK)

Evidence of your full name (including any change of name) and date of birth

You must send to the University a photocopy of one of the following:

• birth certificate
• passport
• marriage certificate
• deed poll
• statutory declaration
• alien's registration certificate
• National ID card

Evidence of every qualification you have listed on your application form

Documentary evidence (outside UK)

Evidence of your full name (including any change of name) and date of birth

You must send to the University a photocopy of one of the following:

• a birth certificate
• passport
• marriage certificate
• deed poll
• statutory declaration
• alien's registration certificate
• National ID card

Evidence of every qualification you have listed on your application form

• You must send either the original certificate/s showing the final award/s for each qualification, or photocopies of these original documents verified by a British Council official.
  Note: The University Admissions Office cannot accept photocopies that have been verified by anyone other than a British Council official.

• If the British Council is unable to provide this service, you must submit:
  either the original certificate for each qualification
  or you should contact the appropriate awarding / examining authority and arrange for them to send a certified statement of results direct to the Admissions Office in London.

• Although the University may be able to start processing your application without receiving all the required evidence, they cannot issue a decision until all the documentation has arrived and been reviewed.

• It is strongly recommended that you send all original documents by registered post or international recorded delivery together with payment for their return by the same method (£5 sterling is usually sufficient, or £15 if you wish your documents to be returned by courier). If you do not pay the return postage the University will return the documents by airmail.

• If any evidence you submit is either incomplete or unacceptable to the University for admission purposes or if they need further information about a particular qualification (e.g. a transcript and/or syllabus), you may be asked to contact the appropriate awarding or examining authority to ask them to write direct to the University Admissions Office giving further details of your qualification/s.

• You can send the original result slip/s of any 'A' Level examinations for which the final certificate has yet to be issued. Result slips from previous years cannot be accepted - you will need to submit the original certificates.

• The University Admissions Office must receive all documentary evidence requested after the application form has been submitted within one month of the date of the request. If you are unable to meet this deadline you must let the Admissions Office know without delay.

• The University reserves the right to ask for further evidence of your qualification/s if required.

• It is your responsibility to arrange for all the necessary documentation to be obtained in support of your application. The University cannot undertake to do this on your behalf. (This also applies to any translation(s) of documents submitted by the applicant that may be required). Certificates which are not in English often need to be translated by a certified translator and both the original / copy of the original, and the translation need to be sent to the Admissions office. If you are a foreigner in another country you can sometimes go to their own country’s Embassy to have the translation done.