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Architecture and Digital Theory MRes

London, Bloomsbury

This programme explores digital theory, history, and cultures, in all their guises: from design and fabrication, to many related fields and disciplines that are being affected and transformed by the new digital paradigm.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£14,100
£7,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£26,200
£13,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

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

The English language level for this programme 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. International Preparation Courses

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

Students on this programme gain an advanced understanding of the history, theory and criticism of computational design and fabrication. 

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for candidates considering a career in the design professions, with a particular theoretical or critical interest in digital design and fabrication, including architecture graduates holding a BSc or MArch or equivalent overseas qualifications. It is also suited to professionals specialising in digital theory and with careers in academia, museums, publishing, digital media, video game design, software development, geographic information systems, and construction industry consultants.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Conceived as a research laboratory, this programme offers a hybrid pedagogical format where learning and experiments, inspired by today’s evolving design technologies, are conversant with the culture of the design community, and informed by relevant recent scholarship in the arts and humanities. 

Students’ projects will be mentored by the programme’s leading instructors and by invited lecturers. Students will be encouraged to pursue a curatorial or research topic leading to an actual exhibition and/or publication.

The Bartlett School of Architecture helps students to prepare for successful careers in a range of fields. We aim to be an exciting and innovative place to study architecture, located in the heart of London with global perspectives. Our students have the opportunity to develop their creativity, curiosity and dynamism, and learn the skills they need to build a better future for people and the planet. Our school is consistently ranked highly in UK and global league tables, and our staff are at the forefront of international research and teaching with award-winning buildings all over the globe.

The Bartlett is the UK's largest multidisciplinary Faculty of the Built Environment. Our work is all about human spaces. That means physical structures like homes, buildings and cities, but also the invisible structures that govern these things: political and legal systems; financial frameworks and social norms; even our understanding of the past, present and future. Combining design, history, theory, digital representations and models across all of these areas, we understand the structures shaping society today – and we work to make them fairer and more prosperous. The Bartlett is ranked #3 globally in the Built Environment and Architecture subject area (QS World University Ranking 2022), and our research is recognised as internationally leading (UK REF 2021).

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

You will gain highly specialist knowledge throughout this programme, in a field of burgeoning global importance. 

You will also develop skills in communicating, presenting, advocating, interrelating and responding to people from a wide variety of backgrounds within a professional context. 

Employability

The Bartlett School of Architecture is recognised as one of the world's leading schools of architecture and graduates from our Master's programmes are highly sought after. 

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of informal and formal presentation to critics, lectures and seminars, and personal tutorials. Assessment is through coursework, written papers and public presentations.

Modules

In Term 1, you have a choice of two out of three optional transferrable skills modules, each worth 15 credits.

You also undertake a research mini-project worth 30 credits, this module is a compulsory module for the MRes Architecture and Digital Theory (ADT) programme. This is a mini-project to be presented at the end of the first term in December. You will be asked to present your work verbally and your presentation will be filmed.

In Terms 2 and 3, you undertake a subject-specific taught module worth 30 credits and commence your 90 credit research project which concludes at the end of the Summer.

These compulsory modules are managed by the MRes ADT programme directors. For the major research task, to be submitted at the end of the 12 month programme, you will be asked to produce a dissertation.

Year 1 Year 2

Compulsory modules





Optional modules






Compulsory modules



Optional modules



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 are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Architecture and Digital Theory.

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £14,100 £7,050
Tuition fees (2023/24) £26,200 £13,100

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

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

All students are required to pay a fee deposit of £2,000 for this programme.

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the Programme Administrator, Ms Kim Van Poeteren, by e-mailing k.vanpoeteren@ucl.ac.uk or telephoning +44 (0)20 3108 7872.

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.

Any additional funding available from The Bartlett School of Architecture 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 Scholarship - Master's

Deadline: 31 May 2023
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,364 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship

Deadline: 31 March 2023
Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Brown Family Bursary

Deadline: 8 June 2023
Value: £15,000 (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

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.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • what particularly attracts you to this particular programme
  • why you want to study this subject in the UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, rather than elsewhere
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • if you are aware and comfortable with the fact that the programme includes courses on statistics and quantitative analysis, as well as a general emphasis on the scientific method and empirical research
  • 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.

Interest in and/or experience of research and writing on historical, theoretical, or critical topics. 

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. 

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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Architecture
Bartlett School of Architecture

bartlett.pgr-admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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