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Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

£6,035

£3,015

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)

£28,100

£14,050

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

October 2024

February 2025

May 2025

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

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 programme is: Level 1

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

Studying at CASA gives students a unique opportunity to develop research within a strong academic centre, linking different areas, such as geography, mathematics, physics, urban planning and architecture, in collaboration with different national and international universities. CASA also has partnerships with industry and the government, facilitating insertion within these areas.

Who this course is for

Applicants should be: Curious and imaginative; Academically excellent; Self-motivated and organised; Resilient and adaptable; Precise and attentive to detail; Capable of producing high quality written work.

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

What this course will give you

The UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) is a leading research centre within the UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. It has a world-leading PhD programme which has welcomed over 80 students since 2007.

Its multidisciplinary perspective, ranging from urban planning and policy, to complexity theory, gives the student a wider overview than more traditional programmes with a restricted focus. As a result, many CASA alumni now have successful academic careers, or have become key advisers to government and industry. The programme is intensive, as students are encouraged to contribute to CASA’s research community alongside taking any taught courses they may wish to.

In REF2021, 51% of The Bartlett's research was awarded the maximum rating of 4* (world-leading), with a further 40% recognized as 3* (internationally excellent). The Bartlett submitted the largest quantity of 4* world-leading research outputs of any university submitting to the Architecture, Built Environment and Planning sub-panel. Furthermore, 67% of our impact case studies were rated 4*, and the Bartlett received the highest score for the vitality and sustainability of its research environment- of any institution submitting to the Architecture, Built Environment and Planning sub-panel.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

Studying for a CASA PhD offers unrivalled opportunities to interact with world-leading researchers in a truly interdisciplinary environment. We frequently host visitors from around the world and encourage attendance at leading conferences across a range of disciplines. There are also opportunities to present and network as part of our seminar series as well as to hear about the research of others. Much of our research is applied in the commercial and policy context, so our graduates develop the expertise to secure demanding roles at top-level organisations. Many often return to CASA as visiting researchers to further strengthen our links with the wider academic, commercial and government sectors.

Employability

CASA graduates have gone on to work in world-leading universities (in the US at Berkeley, University of California, George Mason, University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University; and in the UK at King’s College London, the Universities of Bristol and Liverpool), where they lecture and set up their own research centres. Graduates moving into the private sector have become key players in geospatial organisations (Transport for London, Dr Foster and AGI) and advisers to large government departments including the Ministries of Defence and Transport, and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Networking

As a part of London's "Global University" there are a huge number of networking opportunities for CASA students to benefit from. We have a weekly seminar series and social event that attracts people from across London to hear about the latest cities research. This provides a relaxed atmosphere in which CASA students can get to know one another and the CASA research network. In addition, our students are encouraged to represent CASA at key events, such as academic conferences, where they become known to the broader community. Finally we are keen to attract funding and students who have commercial or government partners.

Teaching and learning

A doctoral degree is a self-driven qualification. Students are allocated two research supervisors, with whom they will meet regularly to discuss their work. However, they are expected to define their own research directions and questions, to teach themselves the necessary skills and tools to address these questions, and to manage their own time, both over the long and short term.

More formal instruction is also available, both through the extensive catalogue of doctoral skills training courses offered by the university, and through the opportunity to request to audit (sit in on) any lecture course offered across the university, space and resources permitting.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) consists of a piece of independent research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time. It is an exciting opportunity to nurture and channel your imagination, to dive deep into the details of the subjects that most interest you, to take responsibility for your own learning and development, and to discover new knowledge and new approaches to difficult and meaningful problems.

Formal assessment for this doctoral programme is in two parts.

Firstly, between 9 and 18 months (or between 15 and 30 months, if part-time), students are required to pass an "upgrade" assessment. This involves the submission of documents on your progress and research plans, the delivery of a departmental seminar, and an interview, in which you set out your research before a panel of experts. Success in the upgrade results in transfer from the MPhil degree to the full PhD programme.

The main assessment of the PhD, at the end of the course, is by means of a written thesis (of a maximum of 100,000 words), and a formal "viva" examination - an oral defence of your research before two expert examiners.

This is a full-time doctoral research position (36.5 hours per week). Students will be expected to meet with their supervisors regularly throughout the year.

Research areas and structure

Complexity: spatial network analysis, scaling and explanatory mechanisms
Design and visualisation: GIS and datavis; CAD, multimedia and 3D models; virtual cities; virtual and augmented realities
Geodemographics: neighbourhood profiling; health; crime; public service delivery
ICT in society: web-based cities; the spatial organisation of the internet; social media; the Internet of Things
Simulation: agent-based models, spatial models, land use transportation models.

Research environment

The UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) is a research centre within the Bartlett, UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment. We aim to provide you with opportunities to interact with researchers in an interdisciplinary environment. We frequently host visitors from around the world and encourage attendance at leading conferences across a range of disciplines. There are also opportunities to present and network as part of our seminar series as well as to hear about the research of others.

Our main areas of research are: complexity (spatial network analysis, scaling and explanatory mechanisms); design and visualisation (GIS and datavis, 3D models, virtual cities, virtual and augmented realities); geodemographics; ICT in society; simulation (agent-based models, spatial models, land use transportation models).

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is normally 3 years for full-time students. You will register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an 'upgrade' assessment, typically between 9-18 months after initial registration.

Primarily, you are expected to conduct independent research, with guidance and supervision. The programme places emphasis on a close one-to-one working relationship between you and your supervisor. Your supervisor may suggest that you enrol in, or audit, an additional taught module. Taught modules do not form part of your MPhil/PhD programme and so are not formally assessed.

Between 15 and 30 months following enrolment, part-time students “upgrade” from MPhil to PhD status.

The upgrade process requires a presentation to peers and the creation of a detailed written report which demonstrates the importance of the planned research and the key milestones required to achieve it.

MPhil/PhD students studying part-time should aim to complete their research, submit their thesis and take the final examination within a period of 5 years. The minimum period of registration is three years for part-time students.

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 and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£6,035	£3,015
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£28,100	£14,050

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme 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.

The Built Environment Faculty Office provides financial support to students through the Bartlett Student Conference Fund, Bartlett Doctoral Initiative Fund, Bartlett External Training Fund and Bartlett Extenuating Circumstances Fund. However, please note that these funds are limited and available through competition.

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

Funding your studies

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

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 Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis and the Built Environment Faculty Office are advertised on the respective websites.

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

: Bartlett Promise PhD Scholarship

Deadline: 19 May 2024

Value: Full fees, plus £19,668 maintenance (Normal duration of programme)

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS)

Deadline: 12 January 2024

Value: UK rate fees, a maintenance stipend, conference costs and professional development package (3 years)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Prospective MPhil/PhD applicants are encouraged to send an informal research enquiry before applying. This should be sent directly to the academic you would like to supervise you. Please refer to the staff list on the department website and see UCL's Institutional Research Information Service (IRIS) for staff profiles. Please attach to your e-mail a referenced research proposal of around 1,000 to 2,000 words and your curriculum vitae (CV).

Further details on how to apply to an MPhil/PhD can be found on the UCL Graduate Admissions website.

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

This programme 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.