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Bio-Integrated Design MArch

London, Bloomsbury and London, Hackney Wick (Here East)

Our habitat today is being fundamentally shaped by revolutions in biotechnology, computation and climate change. Bio-Integrated Design takes these life-changing phenomena as the foundation to explore radical, sophisticated, yet also critical, design solutions that will shape our future society.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£17,300
Full-time students undertake 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £17,300 (UK) or £34,400 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of the Year 1 fee (subject to UCL's annual fee increase). For Modular (Flexible) students, the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
Full-time students undertake 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £17,300 (UK) or £34,400 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of the Year 1 fee (subject to UCL's annual fee increase). For Modular (Flexible) students, the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.
Duration
2 academic 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

Apply for this course

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 along with a short piece of writing 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 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


This Master's degree combines iterative design experimentation and conceptual work methods with laboratory testing protocols using new modes of production and simulation. Students embrace radically new design agendas that are informed by advances in biotechnology and synthetic biology, material science and computation, applying real biologic growth to the built environment with the aim to create innovative spaces and products that will help shaping life in our future cities. 

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for students with an undergraduate degree in architecture, landscape architecture and design-related degrees such as product design, graphic design and fine art. 

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

What this course will give you

Bio-integrated Design MArch is an interdisciplinary, design-led programme, which empowers students to discover and innovate with new modes of architectural simulation and production over two years. Students work with world-leading designers and practitioners at The Bartlett School of Architecture, along with scientists and researchers from Biochemical Engineering, Ecology and Life Sciences, to create multi-layered designs which are biologically, materially and socially integrated. 

There is an urgent need for more sustainable and environmentally conscious design that is creative yet also critical about our future built environment. This programme enables students to gain advanced skills and knowledge of technologies and working methods in an area of growing global significance.

Students learn in a community of diverse, world-leading experts, learning alongside a sister Master's degree with a scientific and analytical focus, Bio-integrated Design MSc. Workshops will be held throughout the year, led by experts from a wide range of fields including art and design, robotics, biotechnology and synthetic biology, material science and bio-chemical engineering. 

This programme is part of B-Pro or Bartlett Prospective, which groups together five of the architecture school's graduate programmes with a unique philosophy and shared approach to the future of design, architecture and the urban environment. Students studying  Bio-integrated Design will participate in The Bartlett's annual B-Pro Show, an exhibition of student work in Bloomsbury attended by the industry and public alike each autumn. 

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 #1 in the world for Architecture and the Built Environment and remains #1 in the UK for the ninth year in a row (QS World University Subject Rankings 2023), 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

The programme has been structured to empower students to develop specialist skills and a unique design vision that merges expertise in design, biology and engineering.

Students will be prepared for a broad scope of jobs in teams of artists, designers, architects or engineers and especially equipped to join companies and organisations with a focus on experimental and advanced design, computation and bio or environmental integration. 

They will also be prepared to pursue research either in academia, such as PhD programmes or laboratories, or industry in integrated Research and Development groups that develop innovative products or work for the built environment. 

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. 

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

This programme is taught through continuous workshops, seminars and crits. The programme promotes learning via research and enquiry, in particular through iterative design and simulations, prototyping, environmental analysis, along with material studies and laboratory work. 

Assessment will be mainly via coursework, but also through on-going evaluation of physical outputs and transferable skills including presentations, criticism, evolving design skills and general teamwork. Your key assessed elements include design portfolios, physical prototyping, laboratory experiments, illustrated essays and reports, and final oral presentation. 

For year 1 students:
In terms 1 and 2 full-time students can typically expect between 15 to 20 contact hours per teaching week through lectures, workshops, Laboratory work and tutorials.
In term 3 students will be completing their own large project and keeping regular contact with their tutors.

For year 2 students:
In terms 1 and 2 full-time students can typically expect between 15 to 20 contact hours working towards their final project.

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

BIO ID MArch Students undertake modules to the value of 300 credits.

The programme consists of six compulsory modules in the first year (180 credits) and 2 compulsory modules in the 2nd year (120 credits).

Upon successful completion of 300 credits, you will be awarded a MArch Bio Integrated Design.

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 300 credits within 5 years. Students will select all taught modules first and take the final research module in their last year of study.

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.

Compulsory 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 300 credits. Upon successful completion of 300 credits, you will be awarded an MArch in Bio-Integrated Design.

Fieldwork

Students have the opportunity to join an annual field trip, subsidised by the school.

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: Bio-Integrated Design MArch/MSc

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
Tuition fees (2024/25) £17,300
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400

Full-time students undertake 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £17,300 (UK) or £34,400 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of the Year 1 fee (subject to UCL's annual fee increase). For Modular (Flexible) students, the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.

Additional costs

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

There is an optional field trip for this programme annually, which costs students a maximum of £500 each. Additionally, we estimate that students spend up to £1000 on specialist materials, prototypes and printing 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

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

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 Bio-Integrated Design at graduate level
  • why you want to study Bio-Integrated Design at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • 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.

We recommend that you apply for a maximum of two programmes. Multiple applications are less likely to result in an offer of admission.

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.

This programme welcomes students with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, design, including product design, textile design and graphic design, and art who will be asked to demonstrate high-level design skills and experience.

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

m.cruz@ucl.ac.uk

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