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USA

We welcome students from the USA

Birkbeck's campus in central London brings together people from all over the world. Our friendly and supportive community is made up of students and tutors from over 140 different countries.

Birkbeck is part of University of London and when you complete your studies with us, you will graduate with a world-renowned University of London degree.

If you are from the USA and thinking about moving to London to study with us, here’s our guide to help with your application and help you understand what life is like in London and at Birkbeck.

 

Entry Information for students from the USA

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

  • The English language requirements for our courses are provided on individual course pages as minimum IELTS scores, however we accept many other tests and qualifications.
  • Please visit our English language requirements page for more information. 

POSTGRADUATE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  • For entry onto a Master’s Degree, most US students would need to have completed a Bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.2 GPA (for courses requiring a UK 2:1); students from highly ranked institutions may also be considered with a GPA of 3.0/4.0. For courses requiring a UK 2:2, a GPA of 2.8 is required. The terms below are used to recognise students with particularly high GPAs:
    • Cumulative GPA 3.9 (alternative name: Summa cum laude)
    • Cumulative GPA 3.7 (alternative name: Magna cum laude)
    • Cumulative GPA: 3.5 (alternative name: Cum laude).
  • Please note that all applications are considered on an individual basis and you may be admitted to a Master's programme with a lower-level degree if you have work experience relevant to the degree applied for.
  • If you do not meet these criteria, you can apply for OnCampus' Master's Foundation programme, which is available for two- or three-term progression onto a wide range of Master’s Degrees at Birkbeck.

Undergraduate entry requirements

  • Applicants from the United States of America are generally required to have:
  • High School Diploma with a GPA of 2.8/4.0 PLUS one of the following:2 or 3 AP (Advanced Placement) Examinations (Group A subjects) with grades of 4 or more AND 3 SAT Subject Tests with a minimum of 600 points each; for programmes with subject requirements, SAT Subject Tests should be in relevant subjects
  • New SAT with a combined score of 1200/1600 with 600 in each SAT section
  • Old SAT (Reasoning Test) with a combined score of 1800/2400 with 600 in each SAT section
  • OR 2-3 APs (as above); for programmes with subject requirements, SAT Subject Tests should be in relevant subjects 
  • OR American College Testing (ACT) Programme with a composite score of at least 27 AND SAT Subject Tests OR APs (as above)
  • An Associate Degree from a good institution with a GPA of at least 3.2/4.0 can be considered for entry onto a Bachelor’s degree.
  • Applicants with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or A-levels will be considered for direct admission to our undergraduate degree programmes. IB requirements range from 28 to 30, depending on the course.
  • A-level, SAT and AP exam conversionA-level (A) = SATs (680) = AP exam results (5)
    • A-level (B) = SATs (630) = AP exam results (4)
    • A-level (C) = SATs (580) = AP exam results (3)
  • A-level, UCAS tariff point and AP exam conversionA-level (AAA) = 144 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (5, 5, 5)
    • A-level (AAB) = 136 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (5, 5, 4)
    • A-level (ABB) = 128 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (5, 4, 4)
    • A-level (BBB) = 120 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (4, 4, 4)
    • A-level (BBC) = 112 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (4, 4, 3)
    • A-level (BCC) = 104 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (4, 3, 3)
    • A-level (CCC) = 96 UCAS tariff points = AP exam results (3, 3, 3)
  • A-level to SAT conversionA-level (AAA) = SATs (2040 averaged over three subjects)
    • A-level (AAB) = SATs (1990 averaged over three subjects)
    • A-level (ABB) = SATs (1940 averaged over three subjects)
    • A-level (BBB) = SATs (1890 averaged over three subjects)
    • A-level (BBC) = SATs (1840 averaged over three subjects)
    • A-level (BCC) = SATs (1790 averaged over three subjects)
    • A-level (CCC) = SATs (1740 averaged over three subjects)
  • Please note that combinations of any of the above qualifications are also acceptable (e.g. an applicant with a HSGD, an SATR score of 1700 and two AP exams with appropriate scores for the course would meet minimum entry requirements).
  • For foundation degree courses, applicants must have obtained a HSGD and at least two AP Exams with scores of 3 or above.
  • Research degrees entry requirements
  • The usual entrance requirement for a research degree is a Master’s degree from a recognised university; schools may accept students with high grades in the undergraduate degree.
  • Applicants are strongly urged to contact potential supervisors within the department before submitting a research application.

 

fulfil Your career ambitions by balancing work and study

"I wanted to continue working full-time and also pursue my legal career. I never thought it would be possible, but Birkbeck did offer evening degrees, which was life changing."

Hear from Birkbeck students who grew their careers through a balance of work and study.

 

 

US Student Loans

Birkbeck is authorised to administer a range of loans for students from the United States.

The US Department of Education has produced some videos that students may find helpful during the loan application process in addition to the US Department of Education website and Facebook page. 

 

International partnerships

Birkbeck has agreements with Columbia University and Villanova University.

 

Contact Us

If you are from the USA and you are interested in studying at Birkbeck, we would love to hear from you. 

 

More Information

Financial support

  • As an international student, you will be expected to self-finance your studies, so before you apply to join a programme you should be aware of the fees that you will be required to pay and any discounts or bursaries that you may be eligible for.
  • Birkbeck is committed to providing advice and support to help you finance your studies.
  • We offer a number of scholarships specifically for international students. Some are offered directly by Birkbeck, others are offered in partnership with other organisations.
  • You may be eligible to apply for faculty and school funding linked to your programme of study.
  • Birkbeck offers flexible payment options that allow you to spread the costs of your fees across the year at no additional cost.

Online events

  • Our open events and taster sessions are a great chance to find out more about your chosen course and studying at Birkbeck, University of London.
    A taster session will provide you with a more in-depth view of the University and your chosen school.

Talk to a current student on Unibuddy

virtual campus tour

  • Explore the campus from the comfort of your home and visit our learning facilities, social spaces and amenities.