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There is an international need for professionals who can provide sustainable and resilient infrastructure to help alleviate poverty in low to middle-income countries. This programme will create future engineers who can work in a global context and with the skills and understanding to address the challenges of poverty worldwide.
Application notice
Please note that the UCL graduate application portal will be unavailable between 9am (BST) on Wednesday, 7 April until 10am (BST) on Tuesday, 13 April 2021. Applications through other institutions should remain unaffected.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Full-time students usually attend 2 to 3 days per week; part-time and flexible students, 1 to 3 days per week. All students are advised to undertake at least a further day’s independent study each week. All attendance depends on module choice. Flexible students may have terms with no modules at all. Email cege-pg-admissions@ucl.ac.uk with specific duration queries.
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.
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.
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.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Standard
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. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
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.
Select your country:
About this degree
Students gain understanding of infrastructure design and delivery processes in resource-limited settings, and learn how to mobilise technical expertise to develop solutions with local stakeholders in a global context. The wide range of taught modules also provides opportunities to critically engage with the complexities and ethical dilemmas of working as an engineer internationally.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of three core modules (45 credits), a collaborative project (30 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
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.
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Engineering for International Development. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Engineering for International Development.
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
- Appropriate Technologies in Practice
- Collaborative International Development Project
- Engineering and International Development
Optional modules (indicative list):
Students choose three optional modules from the following (subject to availability):
- Catastrophe Risk Modelling
- Clean Energy and Development
- Conflict, Humanitarianism and Disaster Risk Reduction
- Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities
- Environmental Modelling
- Environmental Systems
- Food and the City
- Gender in Policy and Planning
- Geospatial Programming
- Housing Policies: Practical Dimensions and Alternative Options
- Life Cycle Assessment
- Sustainable Infrastructure and Services in Development
- Urban Flooding and Drainage
- Waste & Resource Efficiency
- Water & Wastewater Treatment
- Further information about these modules is available on the department website.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 to 15,000 words.
Teaching and learning
This programme will be delivered by a selection of taught modules, collaborative projects with overseas clients and practical activities. Where possible, the programme will also include a site visit to the Centre for Alternative Technologies in Wales. Assessment will range from group project presentations, coursework, and examinations to essays and a compulsory dissertation over the last term.
Additional costs
A site visit to the Centre for Alternative Technologies in Wales will incur costs of c. £300, contributing to accommodation and food.
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
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 & Wellbeing team: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding.
Funding
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding 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.
Careers
Graduates can expect to find employment in the following areas:
- the Department for International Development
- international development agencies and engineering consultancies
- organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Union
- non-governmental agencies worldwide, such as Practical Action, WaterAid, and Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor.
Employability
Engineering for International Development MSc graduates will be able to pursue a career in the field of engineering, working on projects in low-middle income, developing countries, as well as the broader international development sector in different capacities and within various organisations currently operating in the field, such as the UN, the EU or NGOs such as WaterAid, Practical Action, Habitat for Humanity and more.
Why study this degree at UCL?
UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering is an energetic and exciting department with well-established research projects and networks in environmental engineering, transportation, urban resilience, wastewater provision, human settlements and renewable energy.
UCL is also home to Engineers Without Borders UCL, the international development organisation's largest UK branch and the Engineering for International Development Hub which is an umbrella entity for student activities in relation to international development. Self-financed summer schools can potentially be organised to Ethiopia to gain exposure to the water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme of the UN.
Students benefit from UCL's strong links with industry-leading partners in the heart of London, through collaborative projects with businesses, charities and utility companies who work in low-middle income regions such as Water Aid, and renewable energy start-ups such as BBOXX. Current student opportunities are advertised through the International Development (ID) Hub social media pages and Moodle.
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.
Department: Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering
Application and next steps
Applications
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.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
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: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
This programme is suitable for students from any engineering discipline or built environment background who are keen to gain exposure to real-life applications of engineering solutions in international development.
Application deadlines
- UK/EU applicants
- 31 May 2021
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
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 this programme 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.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 1 April 2021
