UCAS LL80, three years
A three-year BSc in the department of Risk and Disaster Reduction, based at UCL's Bloomsbury campus.
Undergraduate · UCL Global Humanitarian Studies
UCL Global Humanitarian Studies: humanitarian systems and crisis response
UCL's Global Humanitarian Studies BSc explores how humanitarian systems, governments and people respond to crises, combining academic theory with real-world application. It sits in the department of Risk and Disaster Reduction, asks for ABB or 16 IB points in three higher level subjects, lists no specific subjects and offers an optional four-week placement. The decision for an applicant is whether a humanitarian and disaster-risk focus suits them better than a health-led degree such as Population Health.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What UCL asks for in Global Humanitarian Studies
Taken from UCL's Global Humanitarian Studies BSc course page (a saved copy that UCL labels as possibly not showing recent changes) and read on 31 October 2026. For a normal 2028-entry application, made in 2027, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; UCL's 2028-entry requirements and dates are awaiting publication.
ABB
The A-level requirement is ABB with GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4, and UCL lists no specific A-level subjects.
IB 16 points in three higher level subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Fieldwork and an optional placement
UCL offers fieldwork and hands-on research projects and helps students find an optional four-week placement between Years 2 and 3.
An independent research project
In Year 3 students undertake an independent research project.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on UCL's Global Humanitarian Studies BSc course page (a saved copy that UCL labels as possibly not showing recent changes), which describes 2027 entry. UCL's department pages, the fees pages, the contextual-offer details and the 2028-entry values were not read, and the page lists no admissions test or interview so none is stated and are not stated.
The course
Humanitarian action, risk and data
UCL says core modules cover debates in humanitarian action, climate and natural hazard risks, the history of humanitarianism, geospatial data analysis and the international frameworks for crisis management, with advanced core modules through economics, law, programme management and policy. Optional modules span digital science, management science, global health, economics, anthropology and social science. This guide did not read the full module list.
Is it the right degree?
This degree against Population Health and international relations
UCL offers neighbouring degrees.
Choose this degree if
your interest is humanitarian response, risk and disaster reduction, with a social-science and data approach.
Choose Population Health Sciences if
your interest is health and disease at population level. Avandy's UCL Population Health Sciences guide covers it.
Choose International Social and Political Studies if
you want politics and social science without the risk focus. Avandy's UCL guide to it covers that.
Entry rules
ABB and no specific subjects
The A-level requirement is ABB with GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4. The IB requirement is a total of 16 points in three higher level subjects with no higher level score below 5. UCL's page lists no admissions test or interview. This page states no scores.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not UCL's.
Do humanitarian crises and risk interest you?
They are the course's central subject.
Are you comfortable with data and geospatial analysis?
A compulsory module covers statistical and geospatial analysis.
Would you take an optional placement?
UCL helps facilitate a four-week placement.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Applying for 2028 entry means applying in 2027, under rules UCL has not yet published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means UCL published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means UCL has not yet published it.
Grades, the subject requirements and the preferred-subject guidance: last verified for 2027 entry
These are the best guide to what to prepare. UCL has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
The UCAS deadline and the 2028-entry requirements: awaiting publication for 2028 entry
Check UCL's course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
What to do now
Confirm the required subjects, read the course structure and plan your preparation around it.
Support
Independent support with course choice and preparation
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with University College London or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here means course-fit advice, subject mentoring and ethical preparation; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write applications. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What does UCL Global Humanitarian Studies BSc require?
ABB, with GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4, in UCL's wording for 2027 entry.
What is the IB requirement?
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects with no higher level score below 5, in UCL's wording for 2027 entry.
What does the course cover?
Humanitarian action, climate and natural hazard risks, the history of humanitarianism, geospatial data analysis and international crisis frameworks.
Is there a placement?
UCL helps facilitate an optional four-week placement in the UK or internationally between Years 2 and 3.
Are specific A-level subjects required?
The page lists a grade requirement and GCSEs but no specific A-level subjects.
Does Avandy state offer scores?
No. This page records UCL's wording for 2027 entry and states no scores or probabilities.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are UCL's wording for the 2027 application cycle. Check the course page again when UCL publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about UCL Global Humanitarian Studies
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their interest in humanitarian response, their subject mix and how this degree compares with Population Health, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.