Start your journey
A handy guide for how to apply, register and start studying
Your journey starts here
Whether you’re at the very beginning of your career, looking for a course to upskill yourself, or you’re ready to take your career to the next stage with a specialist programme, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
To apply for a University of the Built Environment degree programme, please use our online application form via the Apply now tab on the right-hand side of every web page or the Apply now button on the individual programme pages.
Our application form is easy to use and the video below will guide you through every step of the application process. You can save your application at any time and come back to complete it later. Remember to ensure you submit your application by the relevant application deadline, which can be found on the individual programme pages.
If you wish to apply for an apprenticeship programme, the admissions process is slightly different. See specific guidance on applying for an apprenticeship.
Please read the information below before starting your application:
Please ensure you are familiar with the programme entry requirements and time commitments. These can be found on the relevant programme page. It is also important to ensure you have reviewed the key dates for the semester. If you have any questions at this stage, please contact our friendly enquiries team via live chat or via the details at the bottom of this page.
Before commencing your application, ensure you have details of all your qualifications and employment history to hand.
You will also be required to provide supporting documentation with your application form, such as verified* proof of identification, verified* qualification certificates, CV or resume, academic transcript and syllabus information (if you wish to apply for credit transfer/exemptions)
*For more information on how to get your documents verified, please refer to our FAQs below.
We are unable to assess your application without copies of your qualification certificates. You will be prompted to upload these documents at the relevant section of the application form. If you are unable to upload your documents, you can log back in to your application form and upload them later.
You will be notified by email when your application has been received by the admissions team. You should receive an initial decision on your application within 10 working days.
Registration is an important step on your journey to becoming a student. You’ll need to complete your registration and accept your offer before you can begin your studies. Once your application has been accepted, you’ll receive an email inviting you to register. Carefully read the email and complete your registration by following the link at the bottom.
We’re here to help you every step of the way, so if you have any questions we please get in touch.
Fees for our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are charged per semester.
Students should register and pay online by following the link provided in their invitation to register email. If you cannot locate your invitation to register, please contact the admissions team (new students) or the student advice team (existing students).
If you are a new student, you may be eligible to apply for a bursary or if you are an existing student, for financial support. Take a look at all our bursaries, scholarships and financial support schemes to see if you are eligible.
Please note that payment (or agreement to pay) is a condition of registration on all programmes. There are several ways you can pay – explore our payment options to see which is right for you.
If you are paying by student loan, employer sponsorship or ELCAS funding, you will be required to provide our finance office with supporting information to enable completion of your online registration.
Admissions FAQs
Everything you need to know to apply
Entry requirements vary depending on the programme. You can see these on the relevant programme web page.
It is possible to defer your entry to the next intake provided you have been invited to register. To submit your request, you can either log an enquiry via the applicant portal or email the Admissions team. Offers may only be deferred once and only until the next available intake. Please note that the module fees are reviewed each academic year and therefore increases may apply.
As University of the Built Environment is a supported online learning institution, the admissions team are unable to view original copies of the qualifications or ID. Photocopies of your official documentation included with your application will need to be verified as a true and accurate copy. Having someone in a professional occupation verify your documents allows the University to check the authenticity of the documents without seeing them in person.
If you are based in the UK, the Post Office offer a documentation certification service.
If you are based outside of the UK or are not able to access a documentation certification service at your local Post Office, then your documents will need to be verified by someone in a professional occupation such as:
- Doctor
- Solicitor
- Teacher
- Police officer
- Commissioner of Oaths
- Manager/director of a company
- Member or Fellow of a professional body such as RICS, CIOB, RIBA or a chartered accountant
IMPORTANT NOTE: The person verifying your documents cannot be related to you, living at the same address as you or in a relationship with you.
*For a full list of acceptable occupations and further information on accepted formats, please refer to the Admissions Verification Policy document.
When getting your documents verified, you will need to show the individual verifying your documents both the original document and the photocopy that you have provided as part of your application. If the person verifying your documents is satisfied that they are genuine copies of the original, they will need to write on the copy:
- ‘I certify that this is a complete and accurate copy of the original’
- Sign and date the document
- Print their name clearly
- Provide their professional membership number if applicable (i.e. RICS member) or provide their job title, company name, email address and telephone number. If they are providing a membership number that is not for RICS, we will also require their contact details
This will need to be written on the front of every document that requires verification. We are unable to accept a piece of paper attached to a document; it will need to be written on the copy.
If you have studied a related subject to an equivalent or higher academic level, you may be eligible to transfer credit to one of our undergraduate programmes. If you wish to be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning, you must indicate this under the relevant section of the application form. We may ask that you provide a full academic transcript and/or a programme syllabus to support your request for credit transfer/exemptions.
Module exemptions will only be considered at the application stage and no retrospective exemptions will be granted once study has commenced.
Further information can be found in our Code of Practice: Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning.
We are committed to promoting equal opportunities for all students. The admissions policy is aimed at ensuring fairness to all applicants and to meet the required legal obligations and university college policies. Our full policy can be found in our Code of Practice: Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.
A transcript is a document detailing modules taken during a programme. It should show information such as the grades achieved for each module, the number of credit points, academic level and the award classification.
A diploma supplement is a comprehensive transcript that provides information on the subject area, level, context and status of the programme completed. They should also list the modules and grades completed during the programme.
A syllabus is a document that outlines the topics covered during a programme. It should also contain information such as how the programme is assessed and the credit value of each module.
RPEL is a process that allows people to receive formal recognition for the skills and knowledge they have already gained through relevant work experience.
All RPEL applications will be assessed individually by the programme leader. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that relevant, practical experience has been gained. RPEL will not be considered for credit transfer onto a UCEM programme.
You will be able to find the most up to date information on starting your APC on the RICS website.
University of the Built Environment no longer uses exams as a form of assessment and students are not required to travel to specific venues for assessments. All assessments will be submitted online.
As all our programmes are via supported online learning and students are not required to come to the UK to study, we are not a registered training provider for the UK Border Agency.
Totum has now replaced NUS Extra. Yes, as soon as you have registered for your programme you will be able to apply for a Totum card. To apply, please visit the NUS website and ensure you have your student number handy as you will need to enter the first seven digits to confirm your student ID.
Study FAQs
Everything you need to know to study
Our e-Library is a comprehensive, accessible and valuable online library, enabling staff and students to access a wealth of subject-specific and credible information to support students throughout their studies and supplement teaching and learning materials.
As a new student of ours it is very important that you are prepared for study before you start your programme. You may not have studied for a while, or may be new to studying online.
Four weeks before your programme starts you will be given online access to the induction module which provides guidance on how to use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and eLearning resources on key topics including understanding your learning style, how to manage your time, and how to reference your work.
In addition, you’ll be invited to join our induction week programme where you can meet your fellow students and your support teams, get signposted to all the help available and ask questions.
Once you have registered as a student and paid your fees you should receive an email giving you a username and password to the Virtual Learning Environment either:
- Approximately four weeks before the programme starts, or
- Up to two working days after you have paid (if this was after the programme start date)
You will receive your student email address after you have enrolled with us, enabling you to have a centralised point for all study related matters and access to a range of benefits.
All your study materials are provided online through the Virtual Learning Environment. The material is provided in a format that you can read on a mobile device, enabling you to complete your studies wherever you are, whenever you like.
As a University of the Built Environment student you will be given access to our e-Library, which contains journals, e-books and reference material to support your studies.
With us you are supported every step of the way. The student advice team is your main point of contact throughout. The academic team will guide and support your learning. We have dedicated teams to provide support for assignments, exams and technical issues. You’ll also have access to a wealth of library and online materials to support your studies.
The amount of study required varies by programme, so please check individual programme details to find out how much time you will need to commit. You will find these on the programme pages of our website.
The type of assessments used on our programmes includes coursework (such as essays, reports, portfolios, reflections, problem or short questions or video presentations), computer based assessments, and computer marked assessments (CMAs). The exact combinations of assessment will vary from module to module. All assessments are submitted online.
If your personal circumstances change for any reason, either at home or work in a way that might affect your studies or assessment performance, you should notify us immediately – our support team are ready to help you.
Yes, we offer the following full-time undergraduate programmes:
Regardless of where you are in your studies, we encourage students at the start of each semester to take part in a programme of activities to help you achieve your ambitions and feel supported while studying with us.
The BE Ready programme consists of a variety of resources and activities to enhance the student experience, including:
- Introductory webinars with Programme Leaders
- Understanding the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
- Top tips for studying online
- Using the e-Library
- Academic support and study skills
- Disability and welfare support, including mental health
- The student voice
- Careers support
- Apprenticeship-specific support
You can also take part in discussions on hot topics affecting the built environment, such as sustainability and equality, diversity and inclusion.
By participating, you will be equipped with the tools to support your own success throughout your journey with us.
Don’t forget to join New Student Orientation and Welcome Back Week.
Finance FAQs
Everything you need to know to plan
You can amend your payment plan card details using our customer update webpage.
You can use this link to make a single payment towards your outstanding fees. Do not use this link to make payments for registration, please refer to your email invitation to register to make payment.
Upon applying for a bursary award, you must have been offered a place on one of our programmes, having satisfied all of the usual eligibility conditions. More details for each bursary scheme can be found on the financial support section of our website. There are no exclusions for our bursary schemes, but they are designed to assist those on lower incomes or in need. You will be asked to provide a personal statement and supporting documentation upon application.
You should contact the Student Advice Team in the first instance via Student Central. Please note, the University accepts no liability for assignments or assessments missed due to fee non-payment issues. If you miss any assessments, you will be required to participate in the next resubmission attempt(s) for a capped mark(s). If you do not complete and pass the resubmission attempts, you will have to complete a full retake of the module(s) at the available opportunity, when you will incur a re-take fee(s) and the mark(s) will be capped.
Please raise a Student Central enquiry to inform us of your financial circumstances. We can highlight the support available and put plans in place to help manage your situation.
If you are a new undergraduate student and your student finance has been approved, contact our Finance team to update your record and register with the loan. If you are a returning student please raise a Student Central enquiry.
If you are a postgraduate student and your student finance has been approved, you can register yourself directly through the payment portal by choosing one of the payment methods. If you are a new student you can contact our Finance team for an alternative payment plan option to coincide with your postgraduate finance payments. All returning students please raise a Student Central enquiry.
We would first ask that your employer completes a sponsorship agreement form. If your employer requires the invoice to reflect a valid purchase order number, please provide this alongside the sponsorship agreement form. We will then update your student account so when your registration for the semester is completed, your employer will be invoiced automatically. We have 30-day payment terms, and we require a remittance advice to be sent to our Finance Team when the payment has been processed, otherwise the payment may remain unallocated. Non-payment by your sponsor will result in you losing access to the VLE and Student Central and ultimately being withdrawn from your programme.
If you are an undergraduate student and you have applied for student finance but you believe it will not be approved by the registration deadline you can set up a payment plan on the registration portal so you can complete your registration. Once your loan has been approved we will refund you any instalments you have paid for the semester. If it is not approved after you have registered, the payment plan will remain in place and you will be liable to pay all outstanding fees.
No, all undergraduate student loans cover your fees for two full semesters (one year), and you will need to re-apply every year.
University of the Built Environment is the trading name of University College of Estate Management. We remain listed as University College of Estate Management on the student finance portal.
Before transferring your mode of study please check with the Student Loan Company if you will be eligible for funding under the new mode. Please note you will be also required to submit a form for your transfer to the Student Loan Company. For more information please contact them.
For our programmes, students can only apply for undergraduate or postgraduate student loans, as appropriate. Our programmes do not fall into the criteria for advanced learner loans.
The payer can contact Flywire’s Payment Experience Team directly by email, or by phone on +1-800-346-9252. International phone numbers and live chat can be found on the Flywire website.
When you receive your Claim Authorisation Note (CAN) you need to email a copy to the Finance Team. This must be done prior to registering online. You will receive a notification by email confirming when your letter has been processed and then you will be able to register online. ELCAS regulations mean that you cannot register and pay fees yourself until your CAN is issued, so if you are not expecting to receive it by the deadline for payment please contact the Finance Team.
Useful contacts
Admissions Team
UK (Free): 0800 019 9697 (Option 1)
International: +44 (0)118 921 4696 (Option 1)
Finance Team
UK (Free): 0800 019 9697 (Option 3)
International: +44 (0)118 921 4696 (Option 3)