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Materials for Energy and Environment MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The global challenges of climate and energy require new technologies for renewable energy sources, methods of energy storage, efficient energy use, techniques for carbon capture and storage, climate engineering, as well as an appreciation of the impact of these on the environment. This is a broad-based MSc, ideal for you if you wish to acquire skills in energy and materials chemistry in order to participate in the emerging challenges to meet climate change targets.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,000
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 close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

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 second-class Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering 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

Taught modules are delivered through a mixture of lectures, workshops and tutorials. These modules will enhance your subject knowledge in materials science, and chemistry as applied to the areas of energy, and environment, and also develop your transferrable and professional skills.

Who this course is for

This MSc offers science and engineering graduates with a strong chemistry background the opportunity to expand into materials science and is suitable for materials graduates who intend to focus on energy and climate-related careers.

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

What this course will give you

This programme is designed for graduates from a wide range of science and engineering backgrounds who wish to broaden their knowledge and skills into materials science with an emphasis on the energy and climate change issues that will drive markets over the next century. It delivers courses from two departments depending on options and includes a self-managed research project which is intended to introduce the challenges of original scientific research in a supportive environment.

Research activities span the whole spectrum of energy-related research from the development of batteries and fuel cells to the prediction of the structure of new water-splitting catalytic materials.

Students develop experience in scientific method, techniques for reporting science and in the many transferrable skills required for a future career.

UCL Chemistry is among the top departments in the UK for this subject area and is currently 5th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings for Chemistry 2025.

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

The foundation of your career

Graduates from this MSc pursue careers across a wide range of sectors, with the majority entering highly skilled roles (41%) or continuing into postgraduate study, such as PhD programmes (30%). Key employment areas include: manufacturing; IT, technology and telecommunications; energy, natural resources and the environment; engineering; scientific research, development and analysis; accountancy and financial services; as well as consultancy.

Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey (HESA) aggregated over five years from 2017-18 to 2022-23.

Employability

The UK has committed to 80% reduction in CO2 emissions on a 1990 baseline by 2050. CERES, the organisation that represents the largest institutional investors would like to see 90% reduction by 2050. National Systems of Innovation (NSI), which includes the universities, research centres and government departments working in conjunction with industry, will need to apprehend new opportunities and change direction, diverting personnel to energy and climate issues in response to changing markets and legislation. This MSc will contribute to the supply of personnel needed for the era of sustainability.

This MSc programme seeks to train the next generation of materials scientists with particular interest in the energy and environment fields and strong relevance to net zero target. Students will gain skills in materials synthesis, characterisation, analysis and applications by using the state-of-the-art methods and equipment and in many areas that are closely related to energy storage, energy conversion, sustainability, biochemistry, and so on, many of which have direct relevance to industry and practical use.

Students will gain the skills through teaching delivery and project participation, as well as important professional skills learning. The MSc will equip students with strong awareness of energy and environmental issues, in-depth knowledge of materials chemistry, communication skills, practical skills via research projects, critical thinking, and problem solving ability. All of these are valuable to enhance students’ employability.

Networking

You will have opportunities to visit the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Society (both situated in central London), to attend public lectures and meetings given by eminent national and international scientists. The student run ‘Chemical Physical society’ which is the oldest student run chemical society also holds weekly social events and scientific discussions and seminars on a variety of topical chemical and physical aspects. In addition, there are many scientific events offering networking opportunities organised by several societies across UCL, ranging from Life Science to Data Science.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Accreditation of degree programmes by the Royal Society of Chemistry is a mark of assurance that teaching and learning meet the standards expected from a university. Furthermore, accredited programmes ensures the needs of employers and students are fulfilled.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face lectures, seminars and workshops, self-study and research supervision.

 Assessment is through unseen written examination and coursework. The literature project is assessed by written dissertation and the research project is assessed by a written report, supervisor assessment, an interim oral presentation with a viva voce and poster presentation.

On average it is expected that a student spends 150 hours studying for each 15-credit module. This includes teaching time, private study and coursework. Modules are usually taught in weekly sessions (approx. 2 hours per week) over 10 weeks each term.

In Terms 1 and 2, full-time students can typically expect 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In term 3and during the Summer period, students will be embedded in a research group completing their Master's research project, spending an average of 36.5 hours per week working on their project.

Modules

Students take all of the following compulsory modules, totalling 150 credits, including a 90-credit research dissertation.

Students take a total of 30 credits (2 optional modules) drawn from the list of optional modules.

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.

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits across a variety of key disciplines. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Materials for Energy and Environment.

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) £16,000
Tuition fees (2026/27) £42,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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 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.

There are no programme-specific costs.

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

Students can be self-funded or find sponsorship from alternative sources, for instance via those shown on the UCL scholarships and funding pages

If you are seeking support through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme and have submitted an application for this Scholarship to support your MSc in Materials for Energy and the Environment, please notify us directly at masters.chem@ucl.ac.uk.

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

Bseisu-UCL Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27 ENTRY
Value: Fees plus stipend (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 25 June 2026
Value: Tuition fees plus £17,096 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 course 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 Materials for Energy and Environment at graduate level. Please elaborate on the motivational factors that have drawn you to our subject. Our experience is that applicants from many different first degree backgrounds participate in the programme and you should explain how your own background leads you to this MSc.
  • Why you want to study Materials for Energy and Environment at UCL. Tell us how UCL can help to improve your career path and give an indication of your willingness to participate in the wider UCL activities in energy and environment during your time here.
  • How your academic background meets the demands of a challenging programme. The MSc is a broadening degree which will lead you into areas that lie outside your first degree subject. How comfortable are you about that? We find that some students have a clearly defined academic identity which inhibits them from applying their skills to subjects outside their boundary. How will you respond to this? How adventurous are you?
  • What would you like to be able to do following your Master's?

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

Chemistry
Chemistry

masters.chem@ucl.ac.uk

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