Bio-Integrated Design MSc

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
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£18,400
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
Duration
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 30 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants will also be asked to submit two short pieces of writing. Details on this will be provided once the completed application has been received by the department.

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


Bio-Integrated Design uses breakthroughs in biotechnology and computation, as well as innovative new approaches to addressing the challenges of climate change, to form a foundation for exploring radical design solutions that can shape our future society. Nature plays a central role in the programme, not merely as a model or inspiration, but as the medium of a new multi-layered design approach that is biologically, materially, and socially integrated. 

Taught jointly by UCL's Department of Biochemical Engineering and The Bartlett School of Architecture and Bio-Integrated Design brings together a spectrum of multi-disciplinary academics, practitioners, and students. 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 informed by advances in biotechnology and synthetic biology, material science, and computation. They apply real biologic growth to the built environment to create innovative spaces and products that will shape life in our future cities. 

Two distinct Bio-Integrated Design programmes are available: an MArch degree and an MSc degree. Applicants should choose which to apply depending on their background. The MArch is more suited to those seeking to specialise in more exclusively design outputs. The MSc is more suited to those interested in more science-driven outputs. 

You can apply to the MArch version of this programme here.

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for students from a scientific background, with an undergraduate degree in biology, biotechnology and synthetic biology; civil, biochemical and envrionmental engineering and material science. Students from other technical backgrounds who can demonstrate skills and experience from iGEM or biohacking are welcomed.

This programme is also open to students from architecture or other design backgrounds who can demonstrate a strong scientific ability, academically or professionally. 

What this course will give you

Bio-integrated Design MSc is a science-orientated programme, in which students undertake cutting-edge research, analysis and experimentation with new modes of architectural simulation and production. This programme is co-directed by the Department of Biochemical Engineering and hosted by The Bartlett School of Architecture, providing you with access to unique facilities for both design and scientific research.

The interdisciplinary nature of the degree merges a wide range of expertise, employing laboratory testing in biotechnology and synthetic biology; novel design as a research tool to encompass high-end computation and fabrication; multifunctional and bio-receptive materials; ecology and space

Students studying Bio-integrated Design will participate in The Bartlett's annual Autumn Show, an exhibition of student work in Bloomsbury attended by the industry and public alike each autumn.  In the past three years, students also exhibited at a 2-day open-house exhibition that is part of the London Festival of Architecture. Selected work was also presented at the Festival of Engineering at UCL.

UCL helps students to prepare for successful careers in a range of fields. 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. 

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.

For the second year in a row, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment was ranked #1 in the world for ‘Architecture and Built Environment’ in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2024, and #1 in the UK for Architecture in The Guardian University Guide 2025. In addition to this, 91% of its research has been deemed ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’ in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). 

Find out more about the benefits of studying at The Bartlett School of Architecture.

The foundation of your career

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

Students will be prepared for a broad scope of jobs in various industries, including the integration in research teams and/or architecture and engineering offices. 

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. 

93.3% of Bartlett School of Architecture graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2017-21).

Top industry sectors for Bartlett School of Architecture graduates in work are construction, built environment and property (68% of graduates); performance and creative arts (7%); academic research and higher education (6%) and technology (6%).

Bartlett School of Architecture graduates are working in 52 countries around the world.

Employability

The Department of Biochemical Engineering and the Bartlett School of Architecture are both leading international programmes, and our graduates enjoy excellent employment opportunities. 

Networking

The Department of Biochemical Engineering and 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 workshops, seminars and project reviews. The programme promotes learning via research and enquiry, in particular through iterative design, material studies and laboratory work. 

Assessment will be mainly via coursework, but also through on-going evaluation of transferable skills including presentations, crits, as well as work ethic in the lab and general teamwork. Your key assessed elements include design portfolios, physical prototyping, 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 and summer 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

This programme consists of an intensely taught first year with six taught modules (180 credits) followed by two modules in year two, one of which is a comprehensive, integrated research project (90 credits). All modules are compulsory.

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 MSc in Bio-Integrated Design.

Fieldwork

Students have the opportunity to join an annual, optional field trip that is partly subsidised by the school.  

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.

Online - Open day

The Bartlett Bio-Integrated Design Master's Degrees Virtual Information Session

Join us for an online information session about the Bio-Integrated Design master's degrees at The Bartlett School of Architecture. Discover more about the two degree routes (MArch and MSc), the programme modules, and the facilities available, and ask any questions you have about postgraduate study at The Bartlett, UCL.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £18,400
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500

Full-time students undertake 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2. As such, the fee in Year 1 will be £18,400 (UK) or £36,500 (Overseas) but the fee in Year 2 will be approximately two-thirds of the Year 1 fee.
For Modular (Flexible) students, the full-time fee indicated will be pro-rated based on module selection.

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

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 books, 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.

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

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.

Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship

Deadline: 28 March 2025
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 2025
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,864 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 26 June 2025
Value: Tuition fees plus £16,000 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online 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 this programme
  • how your academic 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.

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: 2025-2026

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.