Moving from a pre-degree course into an undergraduate degree is a defining moment for many UAL students. It's a shift from experimentation to specialisation, and from exploring creative identity to beginning the next stage of a professional journey.
At UAL, we support pre-degree students throughout this transition with clear timelines, structured guidance and access to progression resources that help them make confident, informed decisions about their next steps. For most students that next step is to progress onto further study at one of our 6 UAL Colleges or the Creative Computing Institute.
From one-to-one tutor meetings and portfolio-building support to course leader talks, campus visits and tailored UCAS advice, students are given a framework that allows progression to feel structured.
“The School of Pre-degree Studies emphasises transparency, ensuring students know when to apply, where to get help and how to prepare for undergraduate study.” – Trudi Esberger, Engagement and Progression Director, UAL School of Pre-degree Studies.
For many students, the real value of pre-degree study lies not only in the support itself, but in how that support shapes their confidence, creative process and sense of belonging. Below, 3 UAL students, Sophia, Zarlakhta and Syed, share their journeys through pre-degree study and into the undergraduate courses they’re pursuing today.
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Photograph: Sophia Lyu
More on: Sophia's pre-degree Story
From uncertainty to creative confidence.
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Photograph: Zarlakhta Edris
More on: Zarlakhta's pre-degree story
A stepping stone towards architecture.
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Photograph: Syed Mursh
More on: Syed's pre-degree story
Rebuilding momentum after the pandemic.
A supported journey, shaped by students’ ambitions
Sophia, Zarlakhta and Syed each came to UAL with different experiences, levels of confidence and creative interests. Their stories reveal not only the range of progression support available to pre-degree students, from portfolio tutorials to structured UCAS guidance, but also how these experiences shape personal and professional growth.
“Whether students join us to gain clarity, build confidence or explore their future pathways, UAL’s pre-degree courses provide the space, resources and support they need to make informed progression choices.” - Trudi Esberger, Engagement and Progression Director, UAL School of Pre-degree Studies.