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Admissions Office: Frequently Asked Questions
Please find below a list of responses to common questions that we are asked in the Admissions Office concerning every aspect of application from both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. From the drop down menu, select the appropriate question, then press Go.
Should you be unable to find the answer to your query here, please do not hesitate to contact us
HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE / POSTGRADUATE COURSE?
For an undergraduate course, you will need an application pack from UCAS. We are unable to consider direct applications to undergraduate programmes.
For a postgraduate course, you will need to complete an application form that is available from any one of the following sources:
- Apply on-line for free, using our on-line application service
- Alternatively you may request an application pack to be sent to you for either a taught or research course from our Recruitment Office or call 00 44 (0)1784 443399.
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WHAT IS AN ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT?
Postgraduate students should include with their application an official academic transcript. This is an official document from your last institution that illustrates your degree results or current grades. This needs to bear an official stamp from your university. Unfortunately, your own summary of your grades, such as you would document on a CV, is not acceptable.
WHEN IS THE NEXT COLLEGE / DEPARTMENT OPEN DAY?
If you would like to attend a College Open Day, please visit
our Prospective
students' web-site for details.
For a specific departmental Open Day, you should contact the
department
concerned.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE COURSE, WHO SHOULD I CONTACT?
A query relating to programme details such as what subjects
will you study and what the time-table might be should be
directed to the departmental Admissions tutor for Undergraduate
programmes or Programme Director for Postgraduate programmes.
Contact details can be found on the relevant departmental
web pages.
However, any queries relating to your application to a programme,
should go to the relevant Faculty
Admissions Officer
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WHEN SHOULD I EXPECT TO RECEIVE A DECISION REGARDING MY APPLICATION?
This very much depends on the stage in the application cycle and if your department decides to interview. Not all applicants are interviewed. For undergraduates, you should expect to receive a decision within four weeks, or at the very least notification to attend an Open Day. If you have not heard by the end of this period, please contact the department direct.
For postgraduate applications, the application process is considerably hindered if you do not supply a complete application to the Admissions Office. Please do not send your application to the department. Your application should include a fully completed application form, 2 academic references, and an academic transcript. Some departments also request samples of written / practical work. For all Ph.D applications, you should include a detailed research proposal to enable the department to identify an appropriate supervisor. A complete application should enable the department to make a decision within four weeks. If you have not heard by end of this time, please contact the department direct.
I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, CAN I APPLY FOR A COURSE AT ROYAL HOLLOWAY?
Yes, we welcome applications from international students and we are familiar with many different qualifications. Should you wish to see how your qualification matriculates with the UK system, please contact any member of the Admissions team. For more specialised advice, contact the International Admissions co-ordinator Simon Moore in the Admissions Office.
I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT ROYAL HOLLOWAY AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT, IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Royal Holloway welcomes many students on exchange programmes
each year. If you would like to find out more information,
please contact the Visiting Student Admissions Co-ordinator
Mr Michael Strong
in the Admissions Office. Further information about options
for Visiting Students is available on the Royal
Holloway International webpage.
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WHAT ARE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH?
UNDERGRADUATES:
Depending upon which programme you apply for our English language
requirements vary between IELTS 6.0 overall to IELTS 7.0 overall
with no subscore below 7.0. For further advice contact the
appropriate Faculty Admissions Officer.
POSTGRADUATES:
For Arts and Social Science programmes you will be expected
to have achieved: IELTS 6.5 overall with 7.0 in writing. For
Science, you will need to achieve 6.5 overall.
WHAT IS YOUR INSTITUTION NAME, CODE AND CAMPUS CODE?
For UCAS purposes, Royal Holloway University of London is recognised as RHUL, code R72. We have no campus code as we are based on one campus.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT MEET THE CONDITIONS OF MY OFFER?
Undergraduates: If you miss the offer by a reasonable margin, your application is referred back to the department to be reconsidered. If the department(s) feels it is still possible to confirm your place, the Admissions Office are informed and UCAS is contacted with the decision. Should the department feel that they can no longer offer you a place, UCAS are informed that your application has been unsuccessful and you are then released to your insurance choice or into Clearing.
Postgraduates: All applications are referred back to their departments to be reconsidered. The Admissions Office will then convey all decisions direct to the applicant by letter.
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CAN I APPLY THROUGH CLEARING TO ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON?
Yes, some courses at Royal Holloway do have limited places available during the Clearing process in August. In order to apply you should contact the Clearing hotline number, where you will be greeted by a member of staff who will assess your suitability and if appropriate pass your details to the relevant departmental Admissions tutor. You should expect to apply through UCAS for a Clearing Entry Pack. NB: You should only send your Clearing Passport in to the Admissions Office, if you intend to accept the informal offer that we have sent you. Please do not send them on a speculative application basis, as we are unable to return them.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE COURSE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Your first step should be to contact the relevant Faculty Admissions Officer, by email or letter. We will then liaise on your behalf with the department(s) concerned. If necessary, your application form will be sent over to the relevant Admissions tutor to assess. This does not jeopardise your original course offer until the new course offer is made and replaces it. Once we have a decision from the department, we will contact you by letter.
CAN I DEFER / UNDEFER MY YEAR OF ENTRY?
In theory yes. You should contact the Admissions Office by letter or email. We will then liaise with the department on your behalf. Whilst this is not usually a problem, offers are made based upon numbers of students, so it may not always be possible. You will be notified by letter once we have received a decision from the department.
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WHEN CAN I HAVE MY CAS REFERENCE NUMBER TO APPLY FOR A VISA AND A BANK LETTER?
Your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) reference
number will be sent to the email address you have provided
in your application:
Undergraduates once you have an Unconditional offer which
you have accepted as your Firm choice.
Postgraduates once ou have an Unconditional offer which
you have accepted by either returning the Offer Reply Form
or paying a tuition fee deposit. Deposits are only payable
for taught Masters in the departments of Management, Media
Arts and Drama.
Please note that if you have been issued a conditional offer the conditions of the offer must have been met before we can issue your CAS reference number.
Further information about applying for a student visa is available on the Royal Holloway International webpage.
For a letter to open a Bank account in the United Kingdom, you will need to contact the Student Administration Centre, once you have formally enrolled with the University at the start of the new academic session and once you have collected your College Card, which is your proof of enrolment. The Admissions Office is unable to provide these letters as we are not an authorised signatory with UK banks.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
For details of the current tuition fees please click here. For information about instalments of please visit the Enrolment pages.
We cannot advise students about living expenses as costs will vary according to accommodation, the course and personal expenses. As a guide, your budget should include expenses for tuition fees, accommodation, groceries and course requirements (books etc). In addition, you should allocate funds for your social life. For guidance, you should contact your Bank's student advisor, who will be able to help you prepare a budget.
HOW IS MY FEE STATUS ASSESSED?
All undergraduates and postgraduates applicants are initially assessed on the information supplied on their application form by a fully trained member of the admissions team. If you disagree with this initial assessment then you can complete a Fee Status Questionnaire and return it to the Admissions office.
Note: The Admissions Office is unable to provide fee assessments over the telephone or email, nor is it possible to make an assessment on a student who has not applied to a course at Royal Holloway.
For further guidance, please view the UKCISA website.
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CAN I APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP?
Undergraduates: If the department has made you either an unconditional or conditional offer, the Admissions Office will send you a welcome pack that includes a funding guide, a downloadable copy is also available here. Included in this booklet are scholarship application forms. These should be completed and returned to the Admissions Office by the relevant deadline in order to be considered for an award. Applications received after this time may not be considered. If you have any other queries please contact the Admissions Office.
Postgraduates: You should indicate on your application that you wish to be considered for a departmental scholarship in the funding section. All postgraduate scholarships are awarded by the departments themselves. For further details please visit the Funding Postgraduate Studies page or contact the departments directly. For advice regarding AHRB and other funding bodies, please contact Dr Francesca Chiarelli, the Postgraduate Administrator in Registry Liaison.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION?
Details on campus accommodation and the application process are available on the Accommodation Application pages. Applicants who have accepted their unconditional or conditional academic offer can apply for accommodation online. Undergraduates applicants must have accepted Royal Holloway as their First choice. Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an automated acknowledgement - should you not receive an acknowledgement within 24 hours, please return to your application to check that it has been submitted successfully.
Please note that in order for an application to be complete, a £150.00 accommodation application fee must be paid, which will be deducted from the first term's accommodation fees. To ensure your accommodation place, please check the website for application deadline details.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE A READING LIST?
Undergraduates: All undergraduates holding offers can use the Status Checker to access pdf versions of the departmental reading lists, once their status is either Firm or Insurance. Please note that not all departments provide reading lists. However, if you go to the status checker, and follow the links for reading lists, you will be advised further regarding your department's policy.
Postgraduates: For advice about reading lists, you will need to contact the departmentall administrator. The Admissions Office does not provide reading lists for postgraduate courses.