Home

Architectural Design MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Architectural Design MPhil/PhD (2025/26), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£6,400

£3,200

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£31,300

£15,650

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

October 2026

February 2027

May 2027

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but should be submitted at least three months prior to your preferred start date.

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject, is essential. Exceptionally: where applicants have other suitable research or professional experience, they may be admitted without a Master's degree; or where applicants have a lower second-class UK Honours Bachelor's degree (2:2) (or equivalent) they must possess a relevant Master's degree to be admitted. We expect any successful application to include a sufficiently strong and convincing proposal, and those holding a Master's degree are typically well prepared to provide one. Relevant work experience is highly desirable.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

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.

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

Equivalent qualifications

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. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This MPhil/PhD course encourages the development of architectural research through the creative combination of designing and writing. A research-by-architectural-design thesis has two inter-related elements of equal importance - a project and a text, that share a theme and a productive relationship. Integrating varied research methods, the thesis emphasises the creative interdependence of drawing, writing, and building in the development of innovative practices and theories of architecture.

There is an option of auditing modules from Architectural History MA as well as from the Situated Practice MA. Candidates are also encouraged to take advantage of the variety of skills development courses run by the UCL Doctoral School and the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education. (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.)

Who this course is for

Students are expected to be independent thinkers, to make an original contribution to knowledge and expand the disciplinary discourse in the field of inquiry. While most students come from an architectural background, we have welcomed artists, a medical practitioner, a site-specific poet, geographers, a theatre practitioner, and urbanists to the course. Students should be reflective within the shifting boundaries of their discipline and the rapidly changing nature of the architectural profession, and aware of how these are affected by societal and institutional challenges. The research proposal is crucial to our decision about the application since it demonstrates the student’s ability to identify and articulate an independent line of research inquiry.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

The Bartlett School of Architecture is one of the world's most exciting architecture schools, in one of its most inspiring cities. Our name stands for provocative ideas, boundary-pushing research and high-achieving lecturers and students.

The school is a multi-disciplinary department with researchers active in architectural design, history, theory, practice, computation and space syntax, who bring together approaches from the arts, humanities, social sciences and engineering to the study of architecture.

Our internationally renowned and award-winning design and research work is published and exhibited at galleries and events worldwide, helping our students become the most sought after in Europe. An inspiring programme of lectures and seminars by international academics and practitioners is supplemented by workshops and access to advanced digital fabrication tools. Our central London location makes us ideally placed for architectural education, research and practice, in close proximity to an exceptional concentration of built environment firms and related agencies.

The Bartlett is ranked #1 in the world for Architecture and Built Environment studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. We remain global #1 for the third year in a row, and #1 in the UK for the 11th year in a row.
91% of research at The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment has been deemed ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’, and the faculty is #1 for Research Power in the built environment (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

London is ranked the best city for students in the UK and Europe and holds third place worldwide (QS Best Student Cities 2026).

PhD study at The Bartlett School of Architecture offers a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment for architectural research. Discover innovative work from our research students and their visionary designs at The Bartlett Shows, via our latest PhD Research Projects publication and by exploring our current students’ research profiles.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

Graduate study at The Bartlett School of Architecture is enriched by our contact with a vibrant community of specialist consultants and research associates in industry and academia. Located in central London, we collaborate on projects with a variety of national and international research centres and public engagement institutions.

Graduates in our department find employment in a wide range of careers as built environment professionals internationally, including in academia, government, public service, policy formation and architectural, engineering and media companies (Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2017-22).

They also benefit from the most advanced and extensive facilities available in any similar faculty in the EU. This combination of networks, knowledge and technical expertise makes our graduates some of the most sought after in the world.

Employability

Students enrolled in the Architectural Design MPhil/PhD can gain a wide range of employability skills that are highly valued across academia, industry, and the public sector. Skills including:

Networking

We provide a number of regular networking opportunities for our students, including book launches and social events, lectures, a conference and exhibition, and collaborative projects visits.

PhD Research Projects is an annual conference and exhibition related to doctoral research at The Bartlett School of Architecture. It takes place in February. The conference is open to the public and involves presentations by PhD students, including those from the Architectural Design MPhil/Phd course, to an audience including several international respondents. The exhibition showcases projects encompassing history and theory, architectural design, digital methodologies and other forms of practice-based research enquiry. Methods and media include drawing, physical models, video, photography, games and performance. The purpose of the conference (one day) and exhibition (two weeks) is to encourage productive discussions between presenters, exhibitors, staff, students, critics, and the audience.

Our course was the first architectural design PhD course in the UK, and we have graduates in academia, industry, and the cultural sector across the world. Every year, we invite five to ten alumni to speak to current doctoral students about their research and careers since completing the course.

Teaching and learning

Over 400 staff from around the world teach at The Bartlett School of Architecture. Our MPhil/PhD courses are supported by expert teams. Explore our staff profiles and their research interests.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time.

Initially, students will be registered for the MPhil degree. If students wish to proceed to a PhD, they will be required to pass an 'Upgrade' assessment. The purpose of the upgrade is to assess the student’s progress and ability to complete the PhD course to a good standard and in a reasonable time frame. It is expected that a full-time student will attempt to upgrade between 9 and 18 months of registration.

Students have the option of auditing modules from Architectural History MA, subject to availability.

Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the variety of skills development courses run by the UCL Doctoral School and the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should demonstrate the student’s capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline. Architectural Design thesis submissions combine a design project and a text of typically 60,000 to a maximum of 100,000 words.

A typical full-time PhD student is expected to spend the equivalent of a full-time job, approximately 37 hours per week, working on their PhD. However, this can vary widely, with some periods of more intensive research. Primarily, students are expected to conduct independent research, with guidance and supervision. The course places emphasis on a close one-to-one working relationship between students and the supervisor. The Principal Supervisor will establish a timetable of regular meetings with students at which all matters relating to work can be discussed.

Research areas and structure

Research areas

Design is the core activity of The Bartlett School of Architecture. Design research is the means by which we discover not only the world that exists, but the world that is possible in the future. It results in the completion of highly contextual and inventive buildings, many of which are distinguished with significant awards.

Structure

Developed through individual research investigations and supported by regular tutorials with a principal and a secondary supervisor, an Architectural Design thesis integrates design projects and a text of around 60,000 words. Stimulated by the 500-year history of the architectural book and the many forms it has taken globally, over 30 graduates have had their thesis published as an authored book.

In your first year, you will be registered as an MPhil student and will then be expected to attempt upgrade within between nine and 18 months of registration. As a full-time candidate you will be expected to complete the PhD in three years, or as a part-time candidate you will be expected to completed your degree in five years.

Every year, we organise a series of regular seminars and events, including:

Research introductions: Initial presentations by new MPhil students.
Research conversations: In-depth seminars to meet the criteria for upgrade from MPhil to PhD status.
Research projects: An annual PhD conference and exhibition with international critics as respondents, so that students can present and discuss work-in-progress. Read the PhD Research Projects publications on Issuu.

You will also have the option of auditing taught modules from the Architectural History MA.

Research environment

Supervision and mentorship is typically available from researchers with national and international contacts and collaborations across policy, government, industry and academic sectors. These links provide real opportunities to network and collaborate with a variety of external partners. Students will usually have the opportunity to showcase research at national and international conferences. Students may lead their own networking initiatives, organising seminars and workshops for staff and students. Students will usually also gain access to networking events, career workshops and seminars held by the Bartlett School of Architecture.

The Architectural Design and Architectural and Urban History and Theory MPhil/PhD routes jointly run a series of events which students will be expected to attend. There are 'Research Conversations', fortnightly work-in-progress seminars and reviews for new MPhil/PhD students, and 'Research Projects', an annual PhD conference and exhibition with invited critics as respondents, organised by the AUHT and AD courses of The Bartlett School of Architecture.

Students will be expected to undertake independent research, with supervision and guidance, and normally also expected to attend structured courses to learn about research methods in the field.

The course encourages the development of architectural research through the combination of designing and writing. Students will typically be required to present a thesis consisting of a project and a text that share a research theme and a productive relationship. The project may be drawn, filmed, built, or whatever media is appropriate can be used.

Students will be expected to undertake independent research, with supervision and guidance, and normally also expected to attend structured courses to learn about research methods in the field.

The course encourages the development of architectural research through the combination of designing and writing. You will typically be required to present a thesis consisting of a project and a text that share a research theme and a productive relationship. The project may be drawn, filmed, built, or whatever media is appropriate can be used.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£6,400	£3,200
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£31,300	£15,650

Route code RRDBARSADE01

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

As a research student, your additional costs may include expenses such as books, conference attendance and field research, in the UK or overseas. As an estimate, £700-£5000 across the duration of the course. As each PhD project is unique in nature, the exact amount will depend on the needs of the individual research project and will be discussed with you at the time of application.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies, including our Research Excellence Scholarship.

In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue PhD studies. Please see the UK PhD scholarship pages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.

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

Please visit the Architecture MPhil/Phd Application Guidance webpage for important information about applying for a scholarship.

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

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Whilst admissions applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, candidates are asked to submit their admissions application, at a minimum, four months in advance to their proposed start date. Please note the department does not process any applications in August and September for entry within the same academic year. During university breaks of Summer, Christmas, Easter, and in reading weeks in November and February, slower responses can be expected.

Please visit the Architecture MPhil/Phd Application Guidance webpage for important information to help students applying for an Architecture MPhil/Phd course.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Research Degree: Architectural Design, Full-time

Research Degree: Architectural Design, Part-time

Year of entry: 2025-2026