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Engineering for International Development MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Set yourself up for a rewarding career in engineering for international development on this comprehensive, one-year MSc at UCL. Delving into everything from infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, and social impact, you’ll build the specialised expertise needed to have an impact in this critical field and combat poverty in low to middle-income nations. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£20,500
£10,250
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£39,800
£19,900
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 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

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (such as engineering, architecture, geography, urban planning, mathematics) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Normally, however, only candidates with either a first- or upper second-class degree will be accepted, although applicants with a lower second-class degree supported by extensive relevant work experience will also be considered.

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


If you’re passionate about using the power of engineering to help solve challenges on an international scale, this is the MSc for you.

The comprehensive curriculum of our Engineering for International Development MSc covers urban resilience, wastewater solutions, human settlements and renewable energy. You'll also study the delivery processes within resource-limited contexts and ethical quandaries inherent in international engineering work.

You’ll also learn all about the decisions engineers need to make from a social, technical, and environmental standpoint. A global perspective will help you understand the context of your work as an engineer, so you can go out and create engineering projects that solve some of the world’s most pressing resource, climate, and sustainability challenges. 

There’s a big emphasis on transferable skills like stakeholder engagement, project management, contextual intelligence, problem solving, and critical thinking.

When coupled with your technical expertise, you'll be highly sought after for engineering jobs in global entities such as United Nations, World Bank, and European Union, consultancies, international agencies, government and non-governmental bodies.

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal if you aspire to use your engineering skillset to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges.

We welcome applications from those with a first degree in engineering, or a similar field. If you have questions about your eligibility, feel free to contact us via email for clarification.

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.

  • A postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide. 
  • Work with expert academics and researchers in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, who specialise in different disciplines, including environment, water, sanitation, energy, transportation, and more. 
  • Become a part of the UCL International Development Hub (ID Hub) and gain access to extracurricular initiatives, talks, workshops, hackathons, and internships. 
  • As part of the module on Infrastructure Systems for the Developing World, you will take on the Engineers Without Borders Design Challenge with your cohort.
  • Build strong collaborative skills, working alongside experts from UCL and carrying out research projects with one of our industrial partners, whenever possible. You'll also attend seminars and exhibitions by industry leaders like Arup, Isles Utilities, SOLSAN ltd, WSUP, Economad Solutions, and WaterAid. 
  • Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: Tsunami defence

Our work on fluid dynamics has created new ways to model tsunami waves, so we can defend against these disasters.

The foundation of your career

Graduates of this MSc have found work across a wide range of sectors, industries, and organisations, including Arup, MACE, Network Rail, TfL, and WaterAid.

Others have gone on to research positions in world-leading academic institutions, such as the University of Cambridge, UniSA, TU Delft, and more.

The Engineering for International DevelopmentMSc was a great course to introduce me to the world of delivering infrastructure in resource-challenged settings. It was a great course to understand the diversity of disciplines involved in addressing development challenges, with engineering as an entry point. Most projects were developed in teams, preparing me for the real-life application of the topics we studied.

UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Margarita Garfias Royo

MSc Engineering for International Development

Employability

Graduates unlock multiple pathways due to their comprehensive skillset, in-depth expertise in the subject matter, and broad contextual knowledge. Our graduates either pursue further studies at a PhD level or find work across a wide range of sectors, industries, and organisations such as international engineering consultancies, design practices, agencies, government, and non-governmental organisations. 

Networking

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

  • Engage with peers, industry experts and faculty members at guest lectures and special seminars.
  • Take part in collaborative group projects, field trips, site visits, case studies, and workshops within the department and with industry partners.
  • Access UCL Careers for a variety of resources and events to support your career development, including CV workshops and 1-2-1 guidance.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree. See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

Teaching and learning

This MSc programme is delivered through a mix of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, projects and practicals, which frequently draw upon real-life industry case studies. You'll also engage in site visits and field trips, where it is possible to arrange these. 

For your research project, you may expect to run laboratory experiments, computational analyses, or field investigations, depending on your project's specific requirements.  

Assessment is through examinations (short-answer and multiple-choice questions), presentations, essays, coursework, and your individual research project, which you will submit as a dissertation.

Full-time students can expect 12-16 hours of contact time per teaching week. The exact number of contact hours, composition, and assessment varies throughout the terms, and depends 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.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) consisting of three core modules (45 credits), a collaborative project (30 credits) and three optional modules (45 credits) is also offered.

Modules

The programme consists of three compulsory modules, a collaborative project, three optional modules, and a dissertation/report.

Compulsory modules

  • Engineering and International Development (15 credits)
  • Appropriate Technologies in Practice (15 credits) 
  • Collaborative Project International Development (30 credits) 
  • Dissertation (60 credits) 

Optional modules 

Any 15 credit module at FHEQ Level 7 that is approved by the Programme Director, including but not limited to: 

  • Conflict, Humanitarianism and Disaster Risk Reduction*
  • Environmental GIS
  • Environmental Modelling
  • Environmental Systems Engineering
  • GIS Principles and Technology
  • Natural and Environmental Disasters
  • Urban Flooding and Drainage
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Critical Urbanism Studio I – Learning from Informality: Case Studies and Alternatives
  • Critical Urbanism Studio II – Learning from Informality: Investigative Design
  • Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities
  • Food and the City
  • Post Disaster Recovery: Policies, Practice and Alternatives
  • Sustainable Infrastructure and Services in Development
  • Urban Water and Sanitation, Planning and Politics
  • Clean Energy and Development
  • Water and Development in Africa
  • Housing as Urbanism
  • Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture

*This module is strongly recommended.

The programme structure for part-time students encompasses a total of 180 credits over the course of 2 years. 6 compulsory modules (75 credits) tailored to the chosen pathway form the core. You'll then select 3 optional modules (45 credits) to complement your specialisation. In Term 3, you'll complete an individual research project (60 credits).

The programme structure for modular/flexible students encompasses a total of 180 credits over the course of their studies. 

Compulsory modules




Collaborative International Development Project (CIDP)



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 Engineering for International Development. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Engineering for International Development.

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.

Where you'll study

UCL PEARL building pictured from outside on sunny day

The Department boasts award-winning next-generation research facilities across UCL’s estate. Over the past few years, we have developed new state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to versatile and ambitious research aimed at creating safer and more inclusive public spaces. CAVE (Controlled Active Ventilation Environment) and PEARL (Person Environment Activity Research Laboratory) are two innovative research spaces that provide a full-scale testing facility where researchers can simulate real-life environments. These facilities are in line with UCL's Sustainability Strategy, supporting our bold ambition to become a net-zero carbon institution by 2030. PEARL is UCL's first net-zero carbon building. The StrEnTHE (Structural & Environmental Testing at Here East) laboratory offers large-scale structural and environmental testing capabilities, including the UK's only integrated environmental-mechanical rig for testing masonry wall specimens and other large structural elements under various loading and environmental conditions.

Find out more

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £20,500 £10,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) £39,800 £19,900

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

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

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

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

The programme may involve some additional costs, which can vary depending on the specific modules and activities chosen. Not all of these will apply to every student, but these could include expenses for course materials, participation in site visits, necessary equipment for certain settings, or other project-related needs.

For this specific programme, students should budget for an additional cost of approximately £330, towards travel and subsistence for a visit to the Centre for Alternative Technology.

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

Chevening Scholarship - www.chevening.org

Saïd Foundation - www.saidfoundation.org

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: 26 June 2025
Value: Tuition fees plus £16,000 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. Further information can be found at Application fees.

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

  • why you want to study engineering for international development at graduate level
  • why you want to study engineering for international development at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional 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 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

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering

cege-pg-admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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