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Fire Safe Design MArch

London, Stratford (UCL East)

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Fire Safe Design MArch (2024), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

£18,400

£9,200

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)

£36,500

£18,250

Duration

1 calendar year

2 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 degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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 seeking a specialist Master’s in fire safe design and architecture, this is the programme for you. It is the UK's first programme specifically dedicated to fire safe design.

Governments are increasingly holding architects accountable for fire safety in design. This programme was developed in response to the Architects Registration Board Code of Conduct and Practice, to train architects in fire safe design and increase fire awareness.

Bringing together theory with extensive hands-on experience, the course covers diverse aspects of fire safety and architecture—from fire engineering and sustainability to building design. You'll receive training on how to lead projects from the initial concept to the construction of fire-safe buildings and urban spaces.

You’ll also learn all about the decisions architects and fire engineers need to make from an environmental and societal standpoint to tackle the urgent challenges of our time, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. This “Bigger Picture” element will help you understand the context of your work as an architect, so you can contribute to the global shift toward a zero-carbon, safe, and sustainable future.

There’s a big emphasis on transferable skills too, like communication, problem-solving skills, professional judgement, creativity, project management, and critical thinking – which, when coupled with your tech expertise, will make you highly sought after for roles in architecture, design, and civil engineering.

Who this course is for

This programme is designed for qualified or practising architects. We require an undergraduate degree (ARB/RIBA Part 1 or equivalent).

We also welcome those from diverse backgrounds, such as engineering graduates, aspiring to cultivate specialised knowledge in fire-safe design and lay a solid foundation for further research in this critical field.

Our programme is designed to accommodate professionals and ensure you can balance your studies while maintaining full-time employment.

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.
The MArch programme is approved by Jane Duncan, former President of the RIBA, who leads the RIBA committee on fire safety.
Gain advanced understanding of fire-safe design within the construction industry, including procurement processes, building production, and relevant legislation.
Work with expert academics and researchers in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, who specialise in different disciplines, including policy, architecture, structures, infrastructure planning, transport, energy, and more.
Take advantage of our research and industry links, including attending seminars and exhibitions by industry leaders taking place at UCL.
Access the department's start-of-the-art and award-winning facilities across London such as Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory (PEARL), Controlled Active Ventilation Environment (CAVE), and Structural & Environmental Testing at Here East (StrEnTHE).
Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). What's more, our new UCL East campus boasts state-of-the-art lecture facilities to enhance your learning experience.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This is a new programme having launched in 2023, so accurate alumni destination data is not yet available.

Alumni from UCL's long-standing MArch programmes have gone on to high-level roles at firms include Foster and Partners, Arup, Zaha Hadid Architects Ltd, Aecom, and several UK Government departments.

Others have gone on to further research at UCL and other leading universities worldwide, including University of the Arts London and Universidad Ricardo Palma.

This course has the potential to unlock design options available to you as an architect that you never knew were possible.

Professor Jose Torero

MArch Fire Safe Design

Hear more about the programme

Employability

We're in a fast-moving environment where governments are pressing for architects to take responsibility for fire safety in design.

Graduates of this programme unlock multiple pathways, as they leave UCL with in-depth expertise of programme content and broader contextual understanding of their area. Some pursue further studies at a PhD level, while others have secured high-level roles in architectural firms, consultancies, construction companies, and government agencies.

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.

Teaching and learning

This MSc programme is delivered through a mix of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, projects and practicals. These frequently draw upon real-life industry case studies with ample opportunities to gain hands-on experience.

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

You can expect on average 4-6 hours of contact hours a week on this programme, which encompasses lectures, workshops, 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 hours a week, divided between contact hours, self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments.

Modules

The programme begins with an introduction to how fire has shaped our buildings and cities, and the link between fire risk and social deprivation. The first module covers the chemical and physical behaviour of fire and smoke, and how legislation in this area has evolved over time.

Concurrently, you will start the first of 2 skills classes focusing on engineering concepts behind fire-safe design. Topics will include selecting appropriate materials and using both passive and active technologies for structural fire protection and escape routes. These classes become more complex over Terms 1 and 2, incorporating mathematical models of fire risk and simulations of fire, smoke, and evacuation scenarios.

You will work on 2 major design projects, starting in Term 1 and concluding the following summer. 1 project will involve a tall multifunctional tower in the UK, while the other will focus on a large multifunctional assembly space, like a theatre, on an overseas site with different fire regulations. You'll work in groups but produce individual portfolios, evaluating the projects from a fire safety perspective. You will explore how fire safety affects design and the balance between fire safety and energy conservation, as well as the impact of construction legislation and building procurement on fire safety strategies. Final designs will be assessed for both design quality and fire safety.

In Term 3, you will begin a personal thesis on a topic related to fire-safe design, which can be either a design-based study or a written analysis, depending on your chosen subject.

In the first year of the part-time programme of study, you will complete Contextual Theory for Fire Safe Design, Skills for Fire Safe Design 1, and Skills for Fire Safe Design 2.

In the second year, you will complete Design Study 1, Design Study 2, and Fire Safe Design Thesis.

Compulsory modules

Contextual Theory for Fire Safe Design

Skills for Fire Safe Design 1

Design Study 1

Skills for Fire Safe Design 2

Design Study 2

Fire Safe Design Thesis

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 MArch in Fire Safe Design.

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)	£18,400	£9,200
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£36,500	£18,250

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.

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.

We estimate that students spend between £250-£500 on specialist materials throughout the programme. All students work differently so costs incurred depend on the approach they take to the brief given. We encourage students to use recycled materials in their models and presentations; not only is it sustainable, but also cost effective and potentially innovative. We also offer subsidies for exhibition costs.

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

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 fire safe design and architecture at graduate level
why you want to study fire safe design and architecture 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.

This programme only requires one reference in support of your application. Your reference should be academic unless you have been out of university education for more than four years. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.