A “careers first” approach and a commitment to social mobility prevail at the University of East London (UEL), which started life as the West Ham Technical Institute in 1898. With two campuses in Stratford and one in Docklands, the university is embedded in the East End’s regeneration. Its Connected Campus programme has been boosting resources — adding space for the students’ union, upgrading the Source theatre venue in Newham, and upping students’ access to the latest facilities among three-year rolling upgrades.
Practice-based, immersive-style settings have been brought on stream — such as those added to the Clinical Education building at the Stratford campus, which has mock wards, private consultation rooms, and a theatre that offers a realistic hospital experience with pre-op, scrub-up and recovery rooms modelled directly on NHS environments and standards. There is more healthcare focus to come: UEL has the go-ahead for a new Stratford Medical Campus where students will be able to live, study and socialise while they gain the skills for a career within the NHS — with the aim of helping to fulfil its need for 72,000 more nurses and health workers by 2031.
What is the University of East London’s reputation?
Investments in the student experience appear to be working. Based on our National Student Survey (NSS) analysis the university soared 77 places up our teaching quality index to rank 12th last year — earning it our teaching award. It remains in the upper reaches in this year’s NSS analysis too (20=) showing consistency in students’ evaluation of their teaching. Satisfaction with the wider experience is 53= (down from 30th last year but still way up from 92= the year before).
A silver rating overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) was a step up from bronze six years earlier. UEL was commended for its “highly effective” approach to ensure that its students “succeed in and progress beyond their studies,” as well as for its “outstanding rates of completion for its students and courses”.
A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in 2021 showed UEL to be a significant engine of social mobility with more than three times as many graduates from the lowest-income households going on to “impactful” careers than the national average across universities. A completion rate of 87.5 per cent places it 115th in the UK. Yet in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), the best results came in computer science, allied health, and social work and social policy. Performance in a broad range of research subjects improved markedly in the Research Excellence Framework 2021, since the previous assessment in 2014, but against sector-wide gains UEL fell from 76th to 104th in our research rankings.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
An expanding curriculum will add programmes in paramedic science, with three new nursing specialisms, mental health, children’s and adult in 2026.
UEL’s portfolio of degree apprenticeships spans 16 programmes in fields including podiatry, youth worker, civil engineer, teaching, and digital technology.
What are the University of East London’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
UEL does not make contextual offers, but it does apply a holistic approach to admissions and accepts a wide range of professional qualifications. The university will also make assessments based on significant and relevant work experience, as well as portfolios, interviews and auditions. Almost half of the entrants in 2023 came via clearing, and in 2024 the university welcomed more than 4,500 new students — its highest intake in a decade.
What are the graduate prospects?
Among UEL’s career-boosting initiatives is the Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme, which puts soft skills such as critical thinking and digital proficiency into every course to help students stand out in job interviews. Achievements in the modules are recorded in a digital career passport and count towards a graduate’s final degree results. Paid internships are another option taken up by more than 100 students per year.
The university’s entrepreneurship programme — BACK:ED — offers funding, support and mentoring to student start-ups. UEL degrees lead to more than 100 accreditations for professional, statutory and regulatory bodies and the university’s career zone helps students to make the transition into graduate careers.
In time such efforts may shift the dial on graduate outcomes. For now, UEL ranks 119th overall for graduate prospects, based on our Graduate Outcomes analysis, which shows 63.6 per cent of graduates in highly skilled work or postgraduate study within 15 months.
What is the University of East London’s campus like?
When the Docklands base was completed in 1999 as London’s first new campus for 50 years, its striking architecture was described as “poetry”. The Royal Docklands Centre for Sustainability, a centre for burgeoning business in east London, opened in 2023. More than £20 million is being invested into the three campuses through the UEL Connected Campus programme. As well as laboratories for health and primary care teaching, a mock courtroom, a trading floor and a Harvard-style lecture theatre are among innovations.
Since 2013 UEL has also had a base at the University Square Stratford development, built in partnership with Birkbeck, University of London, using the extra space to add facilities for the Royal Docks School of Business and Law.
When can I visit?
uel.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of East London’s student life and wellbeing support
Westfield Stratford City could not be more conveniently located, while the Docklands Light Railway provides easy access to the rest of the capital. Students get free off-peak membership of SportsDock, a multimillion-pound facility on the Docklands campus.
A wellbeing service provides access to appointments with counsellors in person and by video or phone calls. They can also seek support through stress management programmes, mental health workshops and a 24/7 student assistance line.
What do the students say?
“UEL has profoundly shaped my values and perspectives, particularly around the importance of community and the power of diverse voices. Through group projects and extracurriculars, I experienced collaboration and inclusivity first-hand. My UEL network has been a cornerstone of my career progression, opening doors to key opportunities and providing invaluable mentorship. This network pointed me towards a leader in my field, which led to an internship that proved to be a pivotal career moment. UEL is a university that truly offers lasting support and encouragement well beyond graduation.”
Daniel Jinadu, Maidenhead FC goalkeeper and UEL psychology graduate
What about student accommodation in the University of East London?
UEL has two distinctive waterside halls of residence on campus. First-years who want to live in are guaranteed a room if they meet the eligibility criteria and apply by the deadline.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of East London?
In our social inclusion index UEL ranks 44=, up from 51st. Most undergraduates are from ethnic minority populations (65.1 per cent, ranked 19th) and 61.1 per cent are the first in their family to go to university (11th).
The university’s pre-entry programmes offer those aged 19 and above who have no formal qualifications the opportunity to convert their skills, experiences and knowledge into academic competencies during a ten-week course, accepted as an entry qualification. UEL’s subject-specific summer schools give students a chance to “try before they buy” higher education.
A significant proportion of undergraduates (34.6 per cent) are at least 21 on entry and the university offers the option of starting courses in January as well as September.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of East London
Around half of students receive some financial help. The largest award is the merit-based vice-chancellor’s scholarship of up to £28,605, available to recipients as cash or a fee waiver over three years. Dean scholarships, also merit-based, are worth £13,500, while the prestigious UEL sports scholarship is worth up to £6,000 per year.
The university also offers engagement, progression and hardship bursaries of up to £3,000 per academic year for students from low-income households .
