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Digital Manufacturing of Advanced Materials MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

This one-year MSc was co-developed with industry to equip students with interdisciplinary skills that are highly in demand. This Master's provides comprehensive training in advanced materials, high-throughput experimentation, robotics, automation, digitalisation, machine learning and AI, preparing our graduates for the laboratories and manufacturing sites of the future.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£21,500
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£42,700
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a lower second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course 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

Smart technologies and digitisation are radically changing the way new chemicals and materials are being developed and produced.

This MSc will prepare you to enter a rapidly-changing space, where R&D and manufacturing have moved on from the traditional and labour-intensive, manual experimentation and analysis.

Designed for the next generation of engineers and scientists, this programme champions a holistic digital approach, combining up-to-date synthetic and analytic procedures, automation, data science, and a variety of computational tools.

Developed in collaboration with industry partners, experiential learning sits at the heart of the programme. You'll learn through case studies and open-ended research questions developed with industry.

The curriculum combines lectures and tutorials with extensive hands-on sessions, covering topics such as Python programming (supported by flexible online materials and no prior experience required), software-hardware integration, advanced material synthesis and analysis, operation of robotic and flow-chemistry platforms for high-throughput experimentation, and the use of data to power machine learning models.

You will be based at UCL’s campus in Stratford, which is home to the brand-new Manufacturing Futures Lab. You'll have access to specialist materials production labs and the chance to build your expertise alongside world leading academics and industrial partners.

To learn more about the programme please watch this taster lecture.

Who this course is for

We welcome students from all engineering and science backgrounds, including chemical and biochemical Engineering, electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, environmental science and computer science.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates with relevant industrial experience or similar, including roles in manufacturing, materials processing, chemical or materials analysis. This may involve areas such as chemical, mechanical, biochemical, or manufacturing engineering, as well as chemistry, materials science, data science, or computer science.

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

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • Get a postgraduate degree at one of the world’s top 10 universities. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in 2026 QS World University Rankings), providing you with a qualification esteemed by employers around the world.
  • Study at UCL Chemical Engineering, internationally recognised for its world-leading research and exceptional teaching.
  • Learn from world-leading academics with industrial experience and backgrounds in chemical engineering but also other disciplines such as physics, chemistry, materials and data science in the brand-new Manufacturing Futures Lab. · Our new UCL East campus boasts state-of-the-art lecture facilities to enhance your learning experience.
  • Benefit from UCL’s and the departmental links with industry, as the programme is strongly influenced by our industrial advisors and collaborators representing various fields of manufacturing R&D in the UK and internationally, and take advantage of support through the UCL Careers team.
  • Tailor your course material based on your interests, through optional modules covering sustainability, nano-engineering, electrochemistry, nature-inspired engineering, material characterisation, precision manufacturing and more.
  • Gain unique hands-on experience and practical training across the full spectrum of digital manufacturing.
  • Benefit from direct exposure to advanced robotics, high-end automation equipment, and develop real-world skills in code development, hardware control, and fully automated material synthesis powered by AI and machine learning.
  • Build in-demand interdisciplinary skills through holistic training that integrates software, hardware, and smart manufacturing workflows. Learn the tools and approaches driving modern industry, giving you a strong competitive advantage in advanced materials production.
  • Learn directly from industry experts and take part in dedicated career sessions. Gain first-hand insights into industry hiring practices, in-demand skills, and emerging trends to make informed career decisions and stand out to employer.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This programme launched in 2023/2024, so complete alumni destination data is not yet available. However, UCL Chemical Engineering graduates have historically gone on to high-level roles in manufacturing, healthcare and diagnostics, pharmaceutics, energy and pharmaceutics. Destination companies include Transport for London, Johnson Matthey plc, Unilever, EY, and Trading Gas. Others have gone on to further research at UCL and other leading universities worldwide, such as the University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, TU Delft, and the National University of Singapore (Student Outcomes Survey 2017-22).

Employability

With a firm foundation in research methods, insight into topical research, and strong interdisciplinary skills, you will be well placed for roles in research and manufacturing environments driving innovation and digital transformation. The programme emphasises hands-on learning in material development and production, guided by industry needs, with the Term 3 research projects designed to further strengthen practical skills and industry readiness.

Networking

You will have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s.

  • Take part in events hosted by UCL Careers to get 1-2-1 support, and enhance your CV writing and interview skills. 
  • Take part in regular seminars, to hear from expert academic speakers and industrial experts talking about topical issues, and network afterwards.
  • Throughout the year, you will hear from 5-7 industrial guest lecturers, selected for their relevance to the programme and their senior roles across industry. These high-calibre speakers come from sectors such as fine chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare and medical technology, reactor and process development, advanced materials, and sustainable technologies. Each session is followed by small-group career discussions, offering direct insight into hiring practices, essential skills, application strategies, and the best areas to pursue career opportunities.
  • Complete an optional >70 h of work at a placement or project through the optional “Find your Future” module in Term 2.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, individual and group coursework, as well as hands-on experience with relevant tools and engagement with researchers in academia and industry.

This programme is assessed via examinations (short-answer and multiple-choice questions), presentations, essays, coursework, and a research project. Please note that assessment will vary according to the module choices of the student.

Research projects are provided to extend knowledge and understanding of the topics studied and to encourage critical thinking. Creativity and innovation are encouraged.

You can expect on average 14-18 hours of contact hours a week on this programme, which encompasses lectures, workshops, laboratory activities and tutorials. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the terms depending on the module choices of the student. This is a full-time course, which means students should expect a working schedule of approximately 35-40 hours a week, divided between these contact hours, and a further 17-26 hours of self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments.

Some modules may have content online on Moodle (which you can study at your own pace), which complement weekly face-to-face sessions on campus. These sessions are a chance to talk to your lecturers and ask questions.

All teaching sessions take place Monday – Friday 9am to 6pm. Wednesday afternoons are normally kept free. There may be additional events, such as careers sessions, which may take place outside of these hours.

Modules

The MSc in Digital Manufacturing of Advanced Materials is a full-time programme and students will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The 12-month-long programme is structured into 3 terms.

Term 1 offers a comprehensive introduction to key concepts in materials and data science, teaches coding from the ground up (with a lot of support), and presents digital manufacturing in a way that is accessible to students from diverse educational backgrounds.

Term 2 focuses on advanced data science concepts with an emphasis on machine learning and their application in automated materials manufacturing. Practical modules in specialised labs provide hands-on experience, allowing you to apply digital manufacturing methodologies and integrate them with AI-driven approaches.

Term 3 will be devoted to a research project, covering elements of data-driven materials manufacturing, with an emphasis on experimental and/or computational work. Each project will be supervised.

The programme consists of 6 compulsory modules, of which one is the MSc research project in Term 3, as well as 2 optional modules, one of which must be taken from List A and one from List B.

Optional Modules: List A (15 Credits)

Sustainability Analysis of Engineering Systems
Advanced Characterisation
Electrochemical Materials
Nature-Inspired Materials Engineering
Advanced Characterisation & Laboratory Techniques
Fundamentals of Nanoengineering

Optional Modules: List B (15 Credits)

Community Wellbeing, Health Inequalities and the role of Social Prescribing
Foundations of Citizen Science
Sustainability and Decision-Making
Inclusive Design and Environments
Innovation for a Fairer World
Find your Future
Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
East London Lab

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 MSc in Digital Manufacturing of Advanced Materials.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities are being considered for this programme.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £21,500
Tuition fees (2026/27) £42,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, 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.

Students may be required to cover costs of printing of final project reports and/or posters, as well as for minor laboratory equipment such as a laboratory logbook. Indicative prices for printing can be found here and UCL poster printing prices can be found here. Typically laboratory logbooks can be purchased for approximately £2-£5.

This programme incorporates teaching in data science and machine learning, but associated tasks will not require a high specification laptop.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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

Current funding opportunities on offer can be found on the bursaries and scholarships page of the Chemical Engineering website.

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

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 25 June 2026
Value: Tuition fees plus £17,096 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Digital Manufacturing of Advanced Materials at graduate level
  • why you want to study these topics at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic, professional, and personal background meets the demands of this 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.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (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: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering

pg-chemeng@ucl.ac.uk

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