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UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering

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Sustainable building design and environmental engineering master's degrees

Our master's degrees explore all aspects of sustainable building design, engineering and operation preparing you for a career building a healthier, more sustainable built environment.

World-class, research-led education

You will learn from our leading academics actively researching to create a deeper understanding of the interactions between the built environment and health, human wellbeing, productivity, energy use and climate change. We are part of The Bartlett, ranked #1 for built environment studies in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024). Our faculty is where the UK’s most ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’ built environment research is undertaken in the UK (REF 2021).

Build your career in sustainable building design and engineering

The unique blend of applied skills and knowledge you gain during your studies will prepare you to launch a successful career helping build a sustainable built environment wherever you wish to work in the world. During your degree, you'll have opportunities to network with our accomplished alumni and industry advisors, who have established influential and international careers across the built environment.

Study in London

London is home to major engineering, architecture and built environment firms, offering unrivalled networking opportunities. As a student, you'll benefit from our strong connections with industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, who frequently deliver guest lectures at our Institute. London is also the best city for students in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025).

Our degrees

Environmental Design and Engineering MSc

To combat climate change and achieve net-zero carbon targets there is an urgent need for a sustainable, efficient, and healthier built environment. UCL's Environmental Design and Engineering MSc equips you for a successful career in sustainable building design and operation. It teaches you to use innovative approaches and tools to design and engineer buildings that are both sustainable and efficient that can be used in jobs in sustainable architecture, engineering and other built environment professions.

Learn more about Environmental Design and Engineering MSc ►

Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc

Innovative opportunities in the design and engineering of buildings with more efficient integrated services are being unlocked by advances in technology and artificial intelligence, combined with unprecedented access to building operation data. This accredited Building Services Engineering MSc will teach you to utilise advanced modelling tools, data analysis, and machine learning to engineer smarter, more sustainable buildings that create healthier environments for occupants. These skills will prepare you for a career in innovating the engineering, design, and operation of integrated building systems.

Learn more about Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc ►

Light and Lighting MSc

UCL offers one of the world's most comprehensive master’s degrees in Light and Lighting. We bring together the technical and creative sides of lighting design, to offer an extensive package of knowledge and skills for your career as a lighting professional working in the built environment. You will learn to design lighting as an integrated component of architecture, utilising exciting advances in science and technology whilst taking into consideration human responses to the lit environment.

Learn more about Light and Lighting MSc ►

Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc

UCL's Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc is designed to meet the growing demand for specialists to drive the health and wellbeing agenda in the design, assessment, retrofit and operation of sustainable buildings. This master's offers more than just knowledge; it equips you with the skills, tools and networks needed to advance your career across a variety of professions, in enhancing sustainability, health, and wellbeing within the built environment.

Learn more about Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc ►

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Careers in environmental design and engineering

Learn how our degrees open careers in sustainable and healthy building design, building services, lighting design and more. 

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Inside UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering

Read first-hand from our students and alumni what it is like studying with us.

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Do you have questions about studying with us? Chat to one of our students on unibuddy to have them answered.

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