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
After your first unit, you will be able to select your units one-by-one as you progress through your course.
It’s at this point that you will also be asked to pay your next tuition instalment. Tuition fees are payable on a unit basis. If you are using a loan to help pay for your tuition fees, your loan payment instalment dates may not match with our payment deadlines.
About 2 months before your next unit starts, you'll have a 2 month window to undertake 3 tasks:
- Confirm your enrolment details with the university
- Select your next unit
- Pay your tuition fee for your next unit
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 will not be able to enrol you and you will have to take a break from studying in the upcoming 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
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.
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 will 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 will 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 will 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
Taking study breaks
How to schedule a break in your studies
If you are considering a study break, the first thing you should do is speak to the UAL Online Student Success Team. We can help advise you on your options, including any financial, academic or logistical implications associated with taking a break, and can help you to file the necessary paperwork to submit your break request to UAL for approval.
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 will 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 are 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.