Continuing students
Explore how to make your unit selections, how and when to pay your fees and what to do if you're considering a study break.
Selecting your course units
How to select your next unit and pay your tuition fees
Once you've started your studies, and about halfway through each of your units, you'll be able to select your units one by one as you progress through your course.
It’s at this point that you'll also be asked to pay your next tuition instalment. Tuition fees are payable on a unit basis. If you're using a loan to help pay for your tuition fees, your loan payment instalment dates may not match with our payment deadlines.
You'll have a 2-week window between week 7 and week 9 of each unit to undertake 3 tasks:
- Select your unit
- Confirm your personal details
- Pay for your next unit
We'll send you an email asking you to complete theses task as part of your unit enrolment each time.
You should complete these activities as soon as possible. If you have any questions, speak to the Student Success Team. If you fail to meet the deadline associated with this window, we'll not be able to enrol you and you'll have to take a break from studying in the upcoming teaching block.
How to change your award level or course
If you're considering changing your course or award level, your first step is to speak to the UAL Online Student Success Team. We'll advise you on your options and break down the process with you. We can also help you file the necessary paperwork. Once you have discussed your situation with the team, you'll be ready to request your transfer using the request form.
2025/26 Deadlines
Selections for January 2026
- Window opens: 21 October 2025
- Final deadline: 4 November 2025
Selections for May 2026
- Window opens: 24 February 2026
- Final deadline: 10 March 2026
2026/27 Deadlines
Selections for September 2026
- Window opens: 23 June 2026
- Final deadline: 7 July 2026
Selections for January 2027
- Window opens: 20 October 2026
- Final deadline: 3 November 2026
Selections for May 2027
- Window opens: 23 February 2027
- Final deadline: 9 March 2027
Selections for September 2027
- Window opens: 22 June 2027
- Final deadline: 6 July 2027
Units per course
All course units are strategically scheduled within specific teaching blocks throughout the year to give you a smooth, well-rounded online learning experience.
Need help planning your units? Contact the UAL Online Student Success Team for guidance.
Compulsory units
Depending on your course, you must complete any starting units and a Capstone Project. These can take place in any of the 3 teaching blocks each year.
Optional units
Optional unit opportunities vary depending on your chosen course and award level. You can choose your preferred units (when available) to help support your interests, skills and career goals. These are only available during specific teaching blocks.
If you'd like to take certain units, you may need to take breaks between units based on your starting point and when your chosen units are available.
Need help planning your units? Contact a Recruitment Advisor for help.
Learn more about each unit in the 'Course Units' section of the course page.
MA Graphic Design unit dates
Mandatory unit
You'll always start your course with the very first unit, Graphic Design: Practice, Context & Culture - whatever teaching block you start your course in. If you're doing the MA, you'll also finish your course with the 2 Capstone Projects, Major Project: Investigate and Major Project: Amplify. The other units are your choice and will always fall in the following teaching blocks below.
September
Design Communication
Critical Perspectives
January
Future Design
Situating Practice
May
Industry Focus
Systems Thinking & Society
MA Fashion Business unit dates
Mandatory unit
You'll always start your course with the very first unit, Fashion Means Business - whatever teaching block you start your course in. If you're doing the MA, you'll also finish your course with the Capstone Project. The other units (specialist and shared) are your choice and will always fall in the following teaching blocks below.
September
January
May
MA Fashion Marketing unit dates
Mandatory unit
You'll always start your course with the very first unit, Fashion Means Business - whatever teaching block you start your course in. If you're doing the MA, you'll also finish your course with the Capstone Project. The other units (specialist and shared) are your choice and will always fall in the following teaching blocks below.
September
January
May
MA Photography and Digital Practice unit dates
Introductory unit
You'll start this course with the first unit, The Photographic in the Digital Space - in whatever of the 3 teaching blocks you start your course in. You'll then complete the other units which will always fall in the teaching blocks below. If you're doing the MA, you'll finish your course with the 2 Major Projects. Capstone Project.
September
January
May
Connected Practices
MA Illustration Practices unit dates
Introductory unit
You'll start this course with the first unit, Illustration as Interrelated Practices - in whatever of the 3 teaching blocks you start your course in. You'll then complete the other units which will always fall in the teaching blocks below. If you're doing the MA, you'll finish your course with the 2 Major Projects.
September
January
May
Communication, Power and Voice
Taking study breaks
How to schedule a break in your studies
If you're considering a study break, the first thing you should do is speak to the UAL Online Student Success Team. We'll advise you on your options, including any financial, academic or logistical implications associated with taking a break. We can also help you file the necessary paperwork to submit your break request to UAL for approval. After this conversation, you'll be ready to fill out the study break form.
There are 2 types of breaks available to you.
- Study breaks are ordinarily used when you want to take a break from a single teaching block. They can be used for a break of up to 2 consecutive teaching blocks.
- Time out is used when you want to take a full year out from your studies.
You should note that you cannot take breaks in the middle of a teaching block. Breaks must be scheduled in advance, ideally before the enrolment window for the next block opens, but at latest by the date the enrolment window closes. The deadlines associated with these dates are below. The ‘Final deadline’ date is the latest date by which you must have filed your request to take a break.
If you select and pay for your next unit during this enrolment window without filing for a break by the deadline, you'll be committed to study in the next teaching block.
2025/26 Deadlines
Selections for January 2026
- Window opens: 21 October 2025
- Final deadline: 4 November 2025
Selections for May 2026
- Window opens: 24 February 2026
- Final deadline: 10 March 2026
Selections for September 2026
- Window opens: 23 June 2026
- Final deadline: 7 July 2026
2026/27 Deadlines
Selections for January 2027
- Window opens: 20 October 2026
- Final deadline: 3 November 2026
Selections for May 2027
- Window opens: 23 February 2027
- Final deadline: 9 March 2027
Selections for September 2027
- Window opens: 22 June 2027
- Final deadline: 6 July 2027
Changes to your loan payments while on a break
If you take a study break and are in receipt of a UK Postgraduate Master’s Loan to pay for your studies, your funding will ordinarily be paused during your break period. You don’t need to do anything. We’ll get in touch with the loan provider to advise them you're taking a break, and they’ll put your loan on pause.
As soon as you indicate that you’re ready to return to study, we’ll update your loans provider so they can resume your payments. Please note that there may be a delay in restarting payments, so your next instalment may not be sent to you before the payment deadline for your next unit.
More to explore
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Babett Kurschner working on a laptop, London College of Communication, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson,
Key dates and deadlines
Get information on key dates and deadlines for teaching blocks, assessments, and grade release.
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Image courtesy of UAL,
Student Centre
Explore the services and support available to UAL Online students.