Home

Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc

London, Bloomsbury

UCL's Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc explores how digital engineering can create smarter buildings that are better for their occupants and the environment. Drawing upon our world-leading research and exploiting our strong industry connections, this Master's provides you with the knowledge and skills to excel in relevant industry roles and academia.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2022/23)
£16,500
£8,250
Programme fees on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2022/23)
£29,400
£14,700
Programme fees on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2022
Applications accepted
All applicants: 18 Oct 2021 – 30 Jun 2022

Applications closed

Notification

Application closes at 17:00 GMT.

Entry requirements

A second-class or higher UK Bachelor's degree, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, is required.

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: Good

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.

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

Whilst studying Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering, you will learn about integrated building design, advanced modelling and simulation, machine learning in buildings, and performance evaluation. You will develop the expertise to utilise hard-edged engineering methods, quantitative and qualitative tools to test and evolve your designs, integrating quantitative performance considerations. This Master's is informed by the latest research advances and the evolving needs of the industry.

Who this course is for

You will have an engineering or science background and will aspire to drive engineering innovation in the built environment.

The programme is also relevant to early and mid-career professionals looking to expand their technical skills and knowledge and keep abreast of the latest developments in their field.

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

What this course will give you

UCL's Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc offers exceptional university graduates the opportunity to become experts in this innovative and developing discipline. We aspire to generate technology leaders, capable of delivering high-performance solutions in the engineering design of building systems.

This Master's is delivered by UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering in the Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, home to specialist institutes in energy, environmental design and engineering, resources and heritage. 

The Bartlett Faculty brings together the multidisciplinary specialisms required to research, understand, design, construct and operate buildings and urban environments of the future. The QS World University Rankings (2021)' ranks The Bartlett, our faculty, as #1 for Architecture/Built Environment studies in the UK and #2 in the World. The Bartletts research received the UK's most world-leading ratings for Built Environment research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.

As you student at the UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering you will benefit from:

  • A world leading, multidisciplinary learning environment. 
  • Studying in London, the centre of open innovation and the biggest cluster of engineering and architectural consultancies.
  • Our Institute's long-standing track-record of excellence in building design and engineering research.
  • Our long-standing strong established relationships with industry, policy makers and academia, who often give lectures and attend networking events. 
  • Our extensive alumni network, now within many of London and UK's major building engineering firms.
  • An inclusive environment that promotes global citizenship, and an ethos of equality and diversity.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

You will gain core knowledge and hands-on experience with monitoring and energy management systems and applying industry standards. You will use simulation tools including EnergyPlus, DesignBuilder and will become familiar with modelling languages like Modelica. These skills are highly sought after.

Members of the industry provide guidance to ensure teaching content and project briefs are relevant to industry needs. We regularly invite members of industry to give guest lectures to enhance your learning experience.

You will gain the confidence to undertake large interdisciplinary projects with many unknowns and uncertainties, learning to coordinate work, integrate across disciplines, and make balanced decisions, thus preparing you for professional life.

Employability

Successful graduates will be equipped with the skills and knowledge required for engineering and specialist roles in companies that provide engineering, design, planning and consulting services for the built environment.

Accreditation

This MSc has been accredited as suitable further learning to meet the academic requirement for Chartered Engineers (CEng) professional registration by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, problem-based learning and project work. 

Assessment is through a combination of methods:

  • Written coursework
  • Individual and group-based project work
  • Group work with a design component
  • Unseen examinations
  • Dissertation

A Postgraduate Diploma, six compulsory modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits), full-time up to nine months or flexible/modular up to five years is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate, four modules (60 credits) - of which at least three selected from the Core Modules, - full-time nine months or flexible/modular up to five years is offered.

Modules

Compulsory modules









Optional modules







Mathematical Modelling Methods for the Built Environment



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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering.

Fieldwork

Students will have the opportunity to participate in a field trip in term one which will include a mix of workshops, seminars and team building activities. There will also be opportunities to participate in site visits throughout the duration of the programme.

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.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc Open Day 2022

Virtual open day for the Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering MSc with Programme Director Valentina Marincioni and programme administrator Andrea Henny. A presentation about the programme followed by a live Q&A session with the audience.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Applying to The Bartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarship

Presentation and Q&A about the Bartlett Promise UK Master’s Scholarship.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2022/23) £16,500 £8,250
Tuition fees (2022/23) £29,400 £14,700

Programme fees 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

The costs of the field trip are covered by the department. Site visits that are within the Transport for London area and which are optional may incur additional transport costs.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies.

Additional funding available from our Institute and Faculty is advertised on the UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering's scholarships page and The Bartlett's scholarships page.

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
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.

Bartlett Promise Scholarship - Master's

Applications Open: 1 March 2022. Deadline: 31 May 2022
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,364 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship

Deadline: 18 April 2022
Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Ecclesiastical Insurance Bursary

Deadline: 13 May 2022
Value: Up to £24,150 (to cover the cost of fees and a stipend) (1yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
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 and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study at graduate level Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering
  • why you want to study Smart Buildings and Digital Engineering 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.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources Department
Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources Department

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.