XClose

The Bartlett School of Architecture

Home
Menu

Programme overview

This programme explores what history can do for architecture. It examines architecture, not just as autonomous buildings, cities or designs, but through the society in which they are located and the ideas and debates they give rise to.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2021

Modes and duration

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
Flexible: 2-5 years

Full-time students study for 37.5 hours per week during term time. Typically, lectures and seminars occur on two days per week. Part-time and Flexible students normally attend half this amount.

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 9 November 2020
Close: 30 April 2021

Tuition fees (2021/22)

UK:
£12,500 (FT)
£6,250 (PT)
Overseas:
£28,500 (FT)
£14,250 (PT)


Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.

Fee deposit: All full-time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £1,000 for this programme. All part-time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £500.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

The normal minimum qualifications are a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

Consideration will also be given if the qualification is a degree of lower than second-class Honours standard, or an equivalent overseas qualification, in a subject appropriate to the programme, plus extensive background and experience in the field. The latter implies considerable experience as a professional at a senior level. For applicants without a first degree or full professional membership, but with relevant and substantial work experience in the field, a special qualifying examination may be set. Details of this route can be obtained from the Bartlett's  Faculty Office.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

About this degree

Students work with some of the world's most respected historians and theorists to examine architecture and cities from Early Modern to contemporary contexts. Rather than focusing on the work of individuals, stylistic classification or normative categories, the programme locates architecture within social, ideological, creative, political and urban processes, exploring the boundaries of what constitute legitimate architectural objects and sites of study.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a report (60 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MA in Architectural History.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

Students undertake compulsory modules to the value of 120 credits.

  • Critical Methodologies of Architectural History (30 credits)
  • Research and Dissemination of Architectural History (30 credits)
  • Architectural History Dissertation (Report) with Oral Examination (60 credits)

Optional modules

Students undertake optional modules to the value of 60 credits.

  • Architecture in Britain since the 17th Century (30 credits)
  • The Representation of Cities (30 credits)
  • Critical Spatial Practice: Site Writing (30 credits)
  • History and Theory of Digital Design (30 credits)
  • Materialist Ecological Architectures (30 credits)
  • Multiple Modernities Architecture (30 credits)
  • Practices of Criticism (30 credits)
  • Practices of Criticism Part 1 (15 credits)
  • Materialist Ecological Architecture Part 1 (15 credits)
  • Multiple Modernities Architecture Part 1 (15 credits)

Dissertation/report

Students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a 10,000-word dissertation and an oral examination.

Fieldwork

An annual programme field trip (optional) takes place, normally in May.


Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, building and gallery visits, film screenings, group working and one-to-one tutorials, and a field trip (optional). Assessment is through coursework, consisting of short exercises, classroom presentations, and longer essays for individual modules, a 10,000-word report and oral examination, and verbal presentations.

Additional costs

Average study-related costs are £200 for printing and paper usage. The annual optional field trip costs students a maximum of £500. 

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Funding

UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies.

Any additional funding available from The Bartlett School of Architecture and the Built Environment Faculty Office are advertised on the respective websites.

Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.

Bartlett Promise Scholarship - Master's

Note:
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Value:
Tuition fees plus £15,364 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)
Eligibility:
UK
Criteria:
Based on financial need

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

Graduates from The Bartlett School of Architecture are very successful in gaining subsequent employment in the UK and internationally. At present there is a growing demand for our Master's graduates from a wide range of both public and private employers. Many graduates from the programme have gone on to research, teach and publish at universities and other institutions worldwide, including national media, publishing and heritage organisations, art galleries and museums.

Employability

Postgraduate study at The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment is situated within a vibrant graduate and research environment, including a large cohort of PhD students and an extensive range of faculty members with interests in architectural history and theory. Students on the Architectural History MA are immersed in one of the world's largest and most innovative centres for architectural history and theory, and are able to engage in many other seminars, research networks and other events. Our graduates are highly sought after. Some choose to continue with academic research or teaching, others go on to roles in the visual arts, education, publishing, heritage, design and architecture.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The Bartlett is the UK's largest multidisciplinary Faculty of the Built Environment, bringing together arts, humanities, scientific and professional specialisms required to research, understand, design, construct and operate the buildings and urban environments of the future.

Located in London, it is at the heart of a large cluster of creative architects and engineering firms and has all the resources of a world city at hand.

This MA is the UK's longest established programme in its field, and prioritises the exploration of new and existing methodologies and critical theories as they might be applied to the study of architecture and cities.

Department: Bartlett School of Architecture

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.

Who can apply?

The programme is suitable for architects who are already qualified or in the process of qualification, and for graduates of other disciplines such as art history, the visual arts, history, journalism, geography or anthropology who wish to develop a specialist knowledge of architectural history or acquire a foundation for research in this field.

Application deadlines

All applicants
30 April 2021

For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

What are we looking for?

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Architectural History at graduate level
  • why you want to study Architectural History at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • what do you see as the main issues facing historical and critical study of architecture
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Tier 4 Student Visa holders are advised to meet the English language proficiency of their offer no later than the end of June, in order to allow sufficient time to obtain a CAS number and visa.

To accept your offer, you must pay the non-refundable fee deposit within 6 weeks and decline any other offers for programmes at the Bartlett School of Architecture. If you do not respond within 6 weeks, your offer will be withdrawn.

Please note that the School of Architecture does not allow deferred entry to any of its postgraduate programmes. If you have an offer of admission but cannot take it up, you will not be able to defer it and will have to apply again for entry the following year. 

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

Page last modified on 28 August 2021