UCAS LV01, four years
UCL describes a four-year BA that includes a year at a partner university abroad.
Undergraduate · UCL International Social and Political Studies
UCL International Social and Political Studies: a specialism, a language and a year abroad
UCL's International Social and Political Studies BA is a four-year degree that pairs a social science or humanities specialism with fluency in a language and a year at a partner university abroad. Its entry rules depend on your choices: Mathematics at A* for the full Economics specialism, Spanish at A if Spanish is the major language. The decision is whether you want that combination.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What UCL asks for in International Social and Political Studies
Taken from UCL's International Social and Political Studies BA 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.
A*AA, with specialism-specific subjects
The A-level requirement is A*AA; Mathematics at A* is required for the full Economics specialism and Spanish at A if it is the major language.
IB 19 points, with Spanish B at 6 if Spanish is major
19 points in three higher level subjects with no score below 5; Spanish B at grade 6 if Spanish is the major language.
A year abroad
Students spend a year at one of UCL's partner universities.
Language fluency plus a specialism
The degree blends a social science or humanities specialism with fluency in a language.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on UCL's International Social and Political Studies BA 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
Specialism, language and a year in another country
UCL says the course prepares students for an international career by blending humanities and social sciences with language learning: students gain expertise in a specialism, fluency in a language and spend a year at a partner university abroad.
Is it the right degree?
Against other social-science and language degrees
The language-plus-specialism structure is distinctive.
Choose International Social and Political Studies if
you want a specialism and a language studied together, with a year abroad.
Choose Politics and International Relations if
you want politics without a language requirement. Avandy's UCL guide to it covers that.
Compare LSE International Relations if
you want an LSE degree. Avandy's LSE guide records its own rules.
Entry rules
A*AA, with conditions that follow your choices
A-level applicants need A*AA, with a humanities or social science subject (or Mathematics) preferred, Mathematics at A* for the full Economics specialism and Spanish at grade A if Spanish is the major language. IB applicants need 19 points in three higher level subjects with no higher level score below 5, including Spanish B at grade 6 if Spanish is the major language. 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.
Which specialism and language?
Entry conditions differ by choice.
Is a year abroad feasible?
It is part of the four years.
Do you meet any language condition?
Spanish as a major language needs grade A or IB 6.
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 International Social and Political Studies BA require?
A*AA at A level, with Mathematics at A* for the full Economics specialism and Spanish at A if it is the major language, in UCL's wording for 2027 entry.
What is the IB requirement?
19 points in three higher level subjects with no higher level score below 5, including Spanish B at grade 6 if Spanish is the major language.
Is the language fixed?
The page names Spanish as an example of a major language with its own entry condition; this guide does not list the other languages.
How long is the degree?
Four academic years, including a year abroad.
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 International Social and Political Studies
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their language level (notably Spanish), their interest in a social science specialism and their readiness for a year abroad, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.