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Sustainable Construction MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Sustainable Construction MPhil/PhD (2024), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

£6,215

£3,105

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)

£29,800

£14,900

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

October 2025

February 2026

May 2026

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 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

PhD research at our School extends much further than the name of the School suggests: beyond construction and beyond the conventional confines of project management. Our research degrees are truly interdisciplinary programmes, in which we nurture the values of academic research, collaborations and networks.

Our diverse faculty are leaders in their fields of research, and students benefit greatly from the opportunity to learn from and interact with them. Our PhD students usually conduct research in the following areas:

Climate change

Climate change is one of the largest challenges facing humanity. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, global carbon dioxide emissions must reach net zero by early mid-century in order to limit global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. The UK aims to achieve net zero by 2050. Construction accounts for such a large share of global greenhouse emissions, and BSSC explores solutions to this end. BSSC has been publishing climate change related papers in top journals and effectively engaging with policymakers. BSSC hosted workshops at UN Climate Change Conferences (e.g., COP26 and COP27) to discuss carbon credit, carbon accounting, climate finance, and decarbonisation of built environment. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Climate change economics
Climate finance and carbon market
Climate justice
Climate change integrated assessment model (IAM)
Carbon footprint and accounting
Decarbonization of built environment
Interactions between climate change, air pollution, and health
Technological innovations for the low-carbon transition

Digital transformations in built environment

The construction sector is headed towards a digital future. The increasingly rapid advance of technology is shaping the way the built environment is created, sustained and managed — and BSSC is leading the charge. Drawing on digital advances, BSSC is dedicated to improving process and cost-efficiencies, promoting sustainable futures, and enabling social and cultural transformations. We interrogate digital innovation as it strives to enhance the design, construction and operation of buildings, systems and cities. Continued dialogue between our academic research and role as educators with policy makers and practitioners marks our commitment to a collaborative and integrated digital future. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Artificial intelligence (AI)
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Business model innovation
Digital twins
Smart cities

Facilities and built management

Facilities and built management are critical to support the functionality, safety and sustainability of built environment. BSSC aims to make a significant contribution to the design and management of high quality, inclusive and sustainable built environments where people work, play, learn, and live. Specially, BSSC has leading research on healthcare facilities management and learning environments. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Facilities management
Asset management
Healthcare facilities
Learning environments
Equality, diversity and inclusion in built environment

Infrastructure

Infrastructure plays a crucial role in the economic, social, and environmental development of a region or country. It forms the backbone of modern society and facilitates the functioning of various sectors and activities. Investment in infrastructure is crucial for addressing current and future challenges, from economic development to environmental sustainability and social well-being. BSSC research pays attention to the investment, finance, delivery and impacts of infrastructure, and its links with climate change and sustainability. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Affordable and reliable energy services
Infrastructure and international development
Infrastructure economics and finance
Infrastructure engineering
Infrastructure investment
Major infrastructure delivery
Smart and resilient infrastructure

Project and programme management

The management of projects and programme is one of the School's leading research areas. It addresses the strategic development of projects throughout the project life cycle and is particularly concerned with the effects of, and the need to influence, project context. Key areas of interest include leadership for effective delivery of projects and programmes: hence topics such as strategy alignment and development, success measures, value creation, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement feature strongly. In doing this, it provides a vital link between enterprise management and project, program and portfolio management as well as innovative. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Major programmes and megaprojects
Project delivery
Project leadership
Organisational culture
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
Social networks and stakeholder engagement
Whole life design
Professionalism in project management

Real estate

BSSC is rethinking the traditional view of real estate. Many varied forms of built asset are defined as real estate, which currently accounts for around 60% of the world’s tangible wealth. But to recognise real estate solely in terms of its financial value – as a commodity in a tradeable market – is only part of the story. BSSC defines real estate as ‘immovable assets’ which implies two things: 1) that it is land or is attached to land, rendered ‘immovable’ by gravity; 2) that it is an asset and therefore has value, but this value may not be measured solely as economic, it may take the form of social or environmental value for example. Real estate is foundational to the concept of equity: social, environmental and financial. Its stewardship and control reflect our creativity and imagination and has an impact on our societies, our economies, and our planet. BSSC brings together academics and practitioners with a wide variety of different backgrounds and disciplines who are passionate about real estate in all its forms and who work on projects addressing the most important questions. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Real estate economics
Real estate investment
Real estate finance
Real estate resilience and sustainability
Affordable housing
Healthy urbanism, placemaking & community inclusion
Occupier experience
Age-inclusive living spaces

Sustainability in the built environment

Sustainability in the built environment is essential for preserving the planet's natural resources, mitigating climate change, promoting human health and well-being, and creating resilient, economically viable, and liveable communities. It represents a responsible and forward-thinking approach to urban development and construction that benefits both current and future generations. Sustainability is a cross-cutting theme that influences and connects with all other areas of research within the school. This research priority focuses on various aspects related to environmental, social, and economic objectives in the context of the built environment. Main themes of research under this priority include:

Circular economy
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Healthcare service for ageing society
Resilience of built environment
Sharing economy
Sustainable behaviour
Sustainable cities
Sustainable materials
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The programme emphasises close staff-student collaboration in research and offers a variety of research seminars and training activities that are intended to equip you with advanced research skills and competences. It is intended that you will take part in research events and meetings with academics and practitioners and contribute to a thriving academic community. If you are funded by the School, you will usually contribute to teaching and related duties for approximately 25% of your time. Academics and students typically interact to stimulate ideas, and develop and hone conceptual understanding and analysis, with the aim of generating original contributions to knowledge.

Who this course is for

We welcome PhD and MPhil proposals from outstanding applicants related to the above research topics. The research degrees of PhD and MPhil are awarded for the most advanced level of study available at UCL. The aim is to make an original contribution to knowledge leading to the enhancement of academia and practice. Academic record and research interest are key criteria for candidate acceptance.

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

What this course will give you

In REF 2021, 91% of research in The Bartlett was deemed ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’ and it was number one in the UK for Research Power in the built environment.  Within the national results, The Bartlett accounts for the largest submission to the discipline across the UK; 725 examples of interdisciplinary and collaborative research from 332 colleagues were submitted and all of the 12 case studies submitted by The Bartlett were deemed to be internationally excellent and world leading.

We recruit students who are highly motivated and qualified, willing to push the boundaries of knowledge and effect real- world change. We are proud of the diversity of our research programmes, both in terms of student backgrounds and research projects.

Find out more about the benefits of researching at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

The programme is intended to support graduate PhD students with expertise in research areas relevant to the school expertise.

Employability

Many of our PhD students have secured academic positions in top universities and jobs as leading practitioners in major organisations of the private and public sector. Since the programme's original inception, graduates have gone on to pursue a wide variety of careers in local government, urban planning, software development and academic research. This is indicative of the breadth of knowledge and opportunities afforded by our programme.

Networking

The school maintains close collaboration with a large number of significant external private and public sector organisations. We provide a number of networking opportunities for our students, including social events, lectures, collaborative projects and visits, team-building and student-led conferences.

Teaching and learning

Initially, you will be registered for the MPhil degree. If you wish to proceed to a PhD, you will be required to pass an 'Upgrade' assessment. The purpose of the Upgrade is to assess your progress and ability to complete your PhD programme to a good standard and in a reasonable time frame. It is expected that a full-time student will undertake the Upgrade assessment within 18 months of registration (30 months for part-time students).

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) involves supervised research normally undertaken over a period of four years full-time (including 1-year Completing Research Status) or seven years part-time (including 2-year Completing Research Status). Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline.

A typical full-time PhD student is expected to spend an average of approximately 36.5 hours per week working on their PhD, although this will vary, with some periods of more intensive research.

Students will be expected to meet with their supervisors regularly throughout the year.

Research areas and structure

Research environment

The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction is a centre for interdisciplinary research in the built environment. We are part of the Bartlett, UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment, the top institution in its field in the UK (REF 2021) for 'research power'.

Postgraduate research is an important part of the school’s activity. Academics and students interact to stimulate ideas, and develop and hone conceptual understanding and analysis, in order to generate original contributions to knowledge. Our PhD research is at the leading-edge, making new advances in the field.

We are proud of the diversity of our programme, both in terms of interdisciplinary research, domains and student background.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is normally 3 years for full-time. You will normally register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an 'upgrade' assessment, typically at the end of your first year and no later than eighteen months from registration (full-time).

During your first year, your supervisor may advise you to attend specific skills training courses offered by UCL. In addition, the School normally offers its PhD students an Induction event, two PhD study days and regular seminars in our key research areas.

By the end of the second year, it is expected that you will have engaged significantly in fieldwork. You are usually required to attend conferences, submit conference articles and organise PhD events.

In the third year, you are normally required to analyse your key findings and form conclusions about them to write up your thesis.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may be permitted to register with Completing Research Status (CRS) while you write up your thesis (one year full-time or two years part-time 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 two supervisors. Your supervisors may suggest that you enrol in, or audit, an additional taught module. Taught models do not form part of your MPhil/PhD programme, and so are not formally assessed.

The PhD programme is expected to be completed over five years for part-time students. Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may be permitted to register with Completing Research Status (CRS) while you write up your thesis (one year full-time or two years part-time registration).

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£6,215	£3,105
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£29,800	£14,900

Additional costs

There is no application fee for this programme.

As a research student, your additional costs may include expenses such as books, conference attendance and field research, in the UK or overseas.

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 £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. 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.

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

Support Available to Cover Additional Costs

We can provide laptops, and we have grants available towards the costs of conference attendance, training and software.

Any additional funding available from The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction 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

Next steps

Candidates apply online (not via email) with a personal statement and a full research proposal showing academic rigour. Further documents needed for the online application include a CV, two references, of which at least one should be academic, academic transcripts provided in English and in electronic format and a proof of English language proficiency.

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.