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Architecture and Historic Urban Environments MA

London, Bloomsbury

This programme pioneers a fresh and critical approach to architecture and historic urban environments at a world-leading architecture school.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
£7,550
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
£17,200
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

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Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class UK degree in an appropriate subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. A design/creative portfolio is also expected. Applicants will be asked to submit a portfolio of their design work once their completed application has been received, and should not send or upload work until it has been requested.

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.

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


We are living in a time of planetary crisis. Historically, the built environment has been a major contributor to this problem, but in the future, in a world that has already largely been constructed, it must be the site of profound solutions. This programme strives to achieve an urgent and radical transformation, asking students to critically engage with the past to build a better future by reinterpreting, rejuvenating, recreating and rethinking urban environments at all scales. 

Using London as an outstanding laboratory for learning, students are encouraged to interrogate the past through a rigorous analysis of the present, identifying and addressing historical inequities – environmentally, racially, spatially, and socially – ingrained in the urban fabric and common to all cities.

Supported by an outstanding team of award-winning tutors comprising internationally renowned designers, historians and researchers, students learn innovative urban strategies and engage with key issues concerning urban and cultural heritage alongside the theory and practice of urban surveying, recording, mapping and analysis. Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to develop their own creative practice and critical voice, which are expressed fully in the production of a Final Project that responds to and reflects the programme’s aims of building equitable futures from inequitable pasts. 

Who this course is for

This programme welcomes applications from architects, urban designers, or those in cognate design fields, but is also open to those who are able to demonstrate the benefits of bringing associated skills to the kinds of urban issues that are studied. In the past, this has included artists, curators, product designers, furniture makers, photographers and historians. We welcome students from all countries, especially where there are strong tensions between development pressure and retaining continuity in urban forms and cultural values. 

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

What this course will give you

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 QS World University Rankings (2023) places The Bartlett as #1 for Architecture and Built Environment studies in the world, and #1 in the UK for the ninth year in a row. The Bartlett's research received the UK's most world-leading ratings for Built Environment research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.

This programme pioneers a new and critical approach to achieving a more sustainable future for the built environment by focussing on the historical conditions and inherent inequities that have contributed to our current planetary crises. These are interrogated through three key themes of racial, spatial and environmental justice. The programme includes modules that investigate numerous thematic approaches, research methods and international case studies, giving students the opportunity to carry out design research in cities within and outside the UK. A field trip each year to a non-UK city provides staff and students with the knowledge of, and links to, those who are working at the forefront of change aimed at sustainable planetary futures.

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

The foundation of your career

The MA equips graduates with the advanced knowledge and skills required to operate across the areas of urban research, design, management, implementation, policy and advocacy, combining subject expertise with design creativity, and linking theory, history and practice. Graduates typically pursue careers in professional practices associated with the built environment, as well as policy-making or heritage management, and academia.

Employability

Graduates of this programme often go on to assume leading roles in varied disciplines engaged with historic and contemporary urban environments at all scales. The programme is ideally suited for graduates seeking to widen their professional practice, enhance career prospects, or carve out new career trajectories in the built environment through design, public policy or advocacy. With experience of different cities and urban conditions in a global context, graduates are highly skilled in working flexibly, collaboratively and resourcefully in different cultural, geographic and professional environments, either in the public or private sector.

Networking

The Bartlett School of Architecture hosts numerous events throughout the year that feature industry guests and networking opportunities. These include lecture series, seminars, conferences, symposiums, book launches, and show launch events. The school also hosts a Future Practice event each year that links students with employers. 

Additionally, there are a broad range of university-wide career events to help current students and recent graduates develop their employability skills, explore different sectors, increase commercial awareness, build professional networks and more.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, fieldwork visits, and individual and group tutorials.

Assessment is through project critique reviews, project portfolios, coursework essays, individual and group presentations, and a Final Project.

In term 1 full-time students can typically expect between 15 and 19 contact hours per teaching week through lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials. In term 2 students can typically study between 9 and 12 contact hours per teaching week, as with term 1, they will be a mixture of lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials. In term 3 students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping in regular contact with their dissertation supervisor.

Outside of lectures full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Modules

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four compulsory modules (90 credits), one optional module (30 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Architecture and Historic Urban Environments.

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

Part-time students must complete 180 credits over two years. Students should select half taught modules in year one and half in year two plus the major research module.

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.

Modular/flexible students can choose any modules per year as long as they complete 180 credits within 5 years. Students will select all taught modules first and take the final research module in their last year of study.

If studying as a modular flexible student It is recommended that modular/flexible students:

1) Start with BARC0065  Surveying and Recording Cities
2) Complete both design modules in the same year (BARC0064 and BARC0033)
3) End with Final Project (BARC0068). BARC0063 and the option module(s) are more flexible and can be taken when suits the student’s circumstances.

Compulsory modules







Optional modules


E-Merging Analysis and Design Project

Histories of Global London, 1900 to the Present (I)

Histories of Global London, 1900 to the Present (II)





Sustainable Strategies


Theorising Practices: Architecture, Art and Urbanism


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 MA in Architecture and Historic Urban Environments.

Fieldwork

Students have the opportunity to join an annual field trip, subsidised by the school to an urban area of historic architectural interest. The field trip is designed to give students an intellectually and professionally rich experience and is planned around the deep professional connections that members of staff have with the host country/city. Previous field trips have been to the modernist UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Asmara, Eritrea and Tel Aviv, Israel, and Kaunas, Lithuania, which was European Capital of Culture in 2022.

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.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Architecture & Historic Urban Environments MA

Whether your ambition is to design better buildings, plan better cities, build sustainable communities or help meet the challenge of climate change, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment could be a big step towards it. Learn more about our courses through a range of taster lectures, Q&As and info sessions.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100 £7,550
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400 £17,200

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.

The programme's annual optional field trip costs students a maximum of £500 each. We estimate that students spend between £250-£500 on specialist materials throughout the programme.

Architecture students can expect to incur additional costs as part of their programme; however, the school aims to minimise these where possible. All students work differently so costs incurred depend on the approach they take to the brief given. The school encourages students to use recycled materials in their models and presentations – not only is it sustainable, but also cost effective and potentially innovative.

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 master's studies. Please see the UK Master's scholarship and Sub-Saharan Africa Master's scholarship pages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.

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 Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship

Deadline: 3 April 2024
Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Bartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarship

Deadline: 31 May 2024
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,364 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 20 June 2024
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 stipend ()
Criteria Based on 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.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Architecture and Historic Urban Environments at graduate level
  • why you want to study Architecture and Historic Urban Environments at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen profession
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • 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. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio when they apply, either in hard copy or digital format.

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 4 weeks and decline any other offers for programmes at the Bartlett School of Architecture. If you do not respond within 3 weeks, your offer will be withdrawn.

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: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Architecture
Bartlett School of Architecture

e.denison@ucl.ac.uk

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