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Nature-Inspired Engineering MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

Learn how to harness nature’s principles to design scalable, efficient, and adaptive technologies for sustainable manufacturing on this one-year MSc. This programme will equip you with the systematic methodologies and hands-on skills in nature-inspired engineering, preparing you to tackle complex manufacturing challenges across diverse fields – including materials engineering, process intensification, energy and environmental engineering, and biomedical and healthcare technologies.

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 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 lower second-class bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a cognate discipline – such as any Engineering discipline (including, Mechanical, Environmental Engineering, etc.), Materials science Chemistry, Physics, etc. – 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

New approaches are urgently needed in chemical processes and manufacturing to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and develop more adaptive and sustainable systems. Nature is a rich source of inspiration – many natural systems, materials or processes exhibit properties (e.g., resilience, scalability and efficiency) that outperform human-made technologies. If you're interested in designing the next generation of nature-inspired technologies that meet modern industry demands, this MSc is designed for you.

For instance – what can the structure of the human lung teach us about transport efficiency to redesign more efficient hydrogen fuel cells? How can the self-assembling behaviour of natural materials guide the design of alternatives to plastics? How can the nutrient distribution networks of trees inform the design of more efficient chemical reactors? And how can decentralised control strategies found in complex natural systems help build more resilient and adaptive industrial systems?

You'll study the principles behind nature’s designs and apply them to solve complex challenges in areas such as sustainable manufacturing, energy and environmental technology, functional materials, biomedical technologies, and the built environment.

Based at UCL East and the Manufacturing Futures Lab, this programme will give you access to top-class facilities – and the chance to build your expertise alongside world leading academics from UCL Chemical Engineering and the Centre for Nature-Inspired Engineering (CNIE), as well as industrial partners.
 

Who this course is for

We welcome students from all engineering and science backgrounds, including chemical and biochemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or environmental science. We also welcome applications from those with recent industrial experience.

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 from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2026), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide. 
  • Study at UCL Chemical Engineering, ranked 20th in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025) and internationally renowned for its research and teaching.
  • Implement fundamental principles borrowed from natural systems to formulate solutions and innovative designs to complex engineering problems.
  • Build skills in unconventional problem-solving and analysis, and learn how to work across traditional discipline boundaries, to accelerate innovation in a rapidly changing world.
  • Gain hands-on experience in applying nature-inspired engineering methodologies through practical projects in diverse fields such as materials engineering, energy, and biomedical engineering.
  • Put yourself in a strong position to build a stand-out career in research and development, entrepreneurship or industry.
  • Our new UCL East campus is designed to promote interdisciplinary thinking and ground-breaking innovation, and boasts accessible, state-of-the-art facilities including shared labs and workshop spaces.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: Nature's water purifier

We're looking to nature to create innovative ways to tackle water supply issues.

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, including University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, and TU Delft (Student Outcomes Survey 2017-22).

I chose UCL to be at the forefront of sustainable engineering, and this MSc delivered exactly that. It taught me a new way of thinking about problem-solving, providing a direct pathway to my career in developing novel sustainable materials.

A young man in glasses and white t-shirt faces the camera smiling

Alex Yanqing Chen

Nature-Inspired Engineering MSc

Employability

You'll be well positioned for roles at the forefront of the industrial transition towards more efficient, sustainable and resilient processes and products. The interdisciplinary approach of this programme and its firm foundation in research methods will equip you with a unique set of skills that is increasingly demanded across industry. Graduates will be particularly well suited for careers in sectors such as chemical and biochemical manufacturing, energy and environmental technology, materials science, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and the built environment.

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 seminars, to hear from expert academic speakers and/or industrial guest speakers talking about topical issues, and network afterwards.
  • 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 and engagement with researchers in academia and industry.

This programme is assessed via examinations, 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, with 17-26 hours of self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments expected.

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

You'll undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

In Term 1, you'll take 3 compulsory modules covering topics on nature-inspired solution methodologies. You'll receive lectures on nature-inspired solution methodologies and their applications in several areas (including sustainable and scalable manufacturing, energy and environmental technology, the built environment and biomedical engineering). 2 of the compulsory modules, focusing on the technical knowledge and skills necessary for research projects, start in Term 1 and continue into Term 2.

In Term 2, you undertake another 3 compulsory modules to further develop and extend the toolbox of nature-inspired methodologies.

In Term 3 and during the summer, your focus will shift to the individual research project, which culminates in a project report and an oral examination. You'll apply the acquired interdisciplinary knowledge and the nature-inspired methodologies to solve a possible challenge in engineering process and/or product design.


You may select 2 optional modules to study in Term 1 and Term 2.

Compulsory modules









Optional modules






Community Wellbeing, Health Inequalities and the role of Social Prescribing








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 Nature-Inspired Engineering.

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

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 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.

The cost of field trips, including travel costs and related personal costs, within the UK are to be covered by the student. This is estimated not to exceed £100/day.

Field trips are not expected to exceed more than half a day.

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

Please consult the bursaries and scholarships page of the Chemical Engineering website for existing funding opportunities.

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 Nature-Inspired Engineering at graduate level
  • why you want to study Nature-Inspired Engineering 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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