London South Bank University
London South Bank University is a public university in Southwark, south London, which opened in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute and took university status in 1992. Its main campus is around Elephant and Castle.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. London South Bank University is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is London South Bank University?
London South Bank University is a public university in London, founded in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute, taking university status in 1992. Its main campus is in Southwark around Elephant and Castle, and it keeps the applied character of its polytechnic tradition.
The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 allowed polytechnics to take university status. The institution is listed as South Bank University in the recognised bodies order of 1997, and under its present name, London South Bank University, in the order of 2003.
02
Which subjects stand out at London South Bank University?
The subjects London South Bank University is known for are engineering, nursing and health sciences, business and finance, architecture and the built environment, law and social sciences and computing. The applied, placement-led shape of the provision comes out of the polytechnic tradition.
engineering
mechanical, electrical and electronic, civil and chemical programmes
nursing and health sciences
nursing, midwifery and clinical placement programmes
business and finance
business, accounting and finance in LSBU Business School
architecture and the built environment
architecture, construction management and real estate
law and social sciences
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
computing
cyber security and software programmes
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at London South Bank University?
London South Bank University admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at London South Bank University?
London South Bank University publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, London (monthly) | £1,529 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in London?
The campus is in the London borough of Southwark, within walking distance of Elephant and Castle station, and the museums and galleries of the South Bank are a few stops away. Three halls sit ten minutes' walk from the campus.
Elephant and Castle is on the Northern and Bakerloo lines, so Westminster, the South Bank cultural strip and Borough Market are short journeys from the campus. Off-campus housing is private student accommodation or rented flats.
06
How is an application to London South Bank University made?
Undergraduate applications to London South Bank University go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to London South Bank University directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does London South Bank University issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. London South Bank University appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- London South Bank University — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- Discover Uni — Course-level continuation, outcome and student satisfaction data are published by Discover Uni. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
- London South Bank University — Founded in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute. The live page refuses automated access, so this was checked against the archived copy of 9 January 2026 — 26 August 2026
- legislation.gov.uk — Education (Recognised Bodies) Order 1997 — The institution listed as South Bank University in the recognised bodies order of 1997 — 26 August 2026
- legislation.gov.uk — Education (Recognised Bodies) (England) Order 2003 — The institution listed as London South Bank University in the recognised bodies order of 2003 — 26 August 2026
