LNAT for University College London LLB admissions 2025 and 2026

The University College of London (UCL) is a prestigious and globally renowned institution, situated in the heart of the vibrant capital city. Established in 1826, UCL is the third oldest university in England and has consistently ranked among the top universities in the world.

One of UCL’s crowning achievements is its esteemed Faculty of Laws, which has a rich history dating back to 1826. The Faculty is renowned for its cutting-edge legal research, pioneering educational programs, and world-class faculty members. UCL’s LLB programmes have earned a reputation for providing a comprehensive and intellectually rigorous legal education, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the competitive legal profession.

UCL offers a diverse range of LLB programmes, catering to the varying interests and aspirations of its students. The flagship LLB Law programme provides a solid foundation in the core areas of English law, with opportunities for students to explore a wide array of elective modules in their final year. Additionally, UCL offers a number of innovative dual-degree programmes, such as the LLB Law with French Law, LLB Law with German Law, and LLB Law with Hispanic Law.

In this article, we will take a look at how UCL uses the LNAT scores in their LLB admissions process.

Does UCL have a specific cut-off LNAT MCQ score?

Yes, there is a cut-off LNAT MCQ score below which applicants will not be considered.

The cut-off changes from year to year, depending on the LNAT scores of the applicant pool for the previous year.

For a recent previous year, the cut-off was 23/42, which gives us a fair idea of the applicant pool.

Does University College London consider the LNAT essay?

Yes. The essay is marked internally by the university admissions tutors.

Through the essay, the admissions tutors will seek to identify candidates exhibiting several essential qualities for success in legal education:

• Reasoning skills – Candidates should demonstrate advanced comprehension, interpretation, analysis, synthesis, and the ability to distinguish between broad and fine concepts through induction and deduction.
• Analysis and Problem solving – Candidates should display skills in analyzing and solving problems using logical and critical approaches, discerning fine distinctions, and separating relevant from irrelevant information. They must make precise and critical observations, present their ideas through well-reasoned arguments, and demonstrate creative and flexible thinking.
• Argument exploration and idea development – Candidates should have the skill to create, expand, and defend arguments, particularly in written form.
• Communication skills – Candidates must be willing and able to clearly and effectively express their ideas, listen to others, and provide thoughtful responses. In addition, the syntax and vocabulary will also be assessed.
• Motivation – Candidates should be capable of applying themselves to various tasks and engaging with intense, sustained work; all of which are attributes essential in the study of law.

The essay is scored on a scale of 1 to 5. For a recent admission cycle :

• The minimum essay score was 2.5
• The maximum essay score was 5
• The average essay score was 3.45

The essay carries considerable weight in the selection process as it demonstrates your writing skills and ability to formulate, develop, and defend arguments, which are essential for legal studies. UCL primarily looks for candidates who have the necessary skills and aptitude for studying law.

What is the average LNAT score for candidates with an offer  from UCL?

The above table shows that there has been a slight upward trend in the average LNAT among offered candidates.

However, given that the applicant pool remains fairly similar year on year, we expect the LNAT score for offered applicants for 2025 and 2026 will be similar at 27 – 28 out of 42; and unlikely to go below 26.

Important! – The above numbers do not paint a complete picture. The averages will be different, if we drill down at a program level. For example, the average for LLB Law (M100) may actually be higher – at 30/42. The averages for other programs, such as LLB combinations with French, German or Hispanic law may be lower at around 27/42. The ground rule is that aim for the highest possible LNAT MCQ score and write a polished essay to maximize your chances of admission.

How popular are the LLB programmes at University College London?

The numbers below, from some recent years is a good indicator of the growing popularity of the LLB program at UCL.

A = Applications and O = Offers

The numbers for 2025 and 2026 admission cycles are also likely to be similar.

University College London LLB admissions process

As per the UCL website, the application process consists of three stages.

• The first stage involves checking whether your application meets the minimum academic entry requirements. If your application does not meet these requirements, it will not be considered further due to the high level of competition.
• The second stage involves assessing your LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) performance. UCL sets a benchmark threshold score based on the average score of the previous year’s applicants. If you meet the threshold score, your application will be considered by Admissions Tutors.
• The third stage involves passing your application to an Admissions Tutor for academic consideration. The Admissions Tutor will assess all information provided in your application, including academic history, motivation to study law, extracurricular activities, academic reference, LNAT multiple-choice score, and LNAT essay score.

* If you have applied for European law LLB programmes, you may be called for an interview to test assess your language competency.

When should you take the LNAT for UCL LLB admissions?

You should refer to the following sources for the dates and deadlines for taking your LNAT:

• The LNAT website Dates and Deadlines page
• The official UCL applying and program requirements page and the relevant program section
• The UCAS website