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Systems Engineering Management MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Systems Engineering Management MSc has been specifically designed for the needs of engineering professionals working in the field of complex systems development. The programme encompasses not only the technical tools and approaches needed to build success in this area, but also the management dimension of the relevant processes.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£24,100
£12,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£43,500
£21,750
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025

Applications closed

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 a second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. At least two years' experience working in an engineering/technology environment is expected.

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

Students gain an integrated, interdisciplinary view of complex systems and an advanced understanding of the systems engineering process. They gain the ability to apply this process to a variety of real-world situations and the management skills necessary to facilitate the development of complex systems on time and within budget.

The MSc programme requires the completion of eight 15-credit modules and one 60-credit module.

The 15 credit modules include five compulsory taught modules, one option taught module, and two minor research modules: the Project Concept module and the Systems Engineering in Practice Module (SEIP). The 60-credit module is the final research module.

It is recommended to choose one of Project Management or Leadership as the option module, although there are other alternatives.

Who this course is for

The programme is targeted at relatively experienced individuals in industry who are supported by their employer, from a range of careers including specialist design, engineering management, business development, production and support engineering, technical project managers, and engineering team leaders. Independent students with appropriate industrial experience will also be considered.

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

What this course will give you

This MSc combines academic rigour with the practical expertise exemplified by our collaborators in UK industry and government. The flexible programme enables participants to structure their studies to suit their own career goals.

The programme combines lectures, group exercises and case studies to reinforce key points. Lecturers are experts in the field, many of whom have engaged in the practice of systems engineering in industry, and all of whom oversee research across a broad range of subjects relating to systems engineering, project management and technology management.

Industry is operating in an environment where technology changes rapidly, and where global competition grows ever more intensive. The challenge to remain competitive means we must make the right thing at the right price. Our MSc equips graduates with the skills to meet this challenge.

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

The foundation of your career

Students from our programmes go onto a wide range of organisations including in consultancy, technology, systems and project roles. Examples of destination organisations include PwC, Goldman Sachs Group, Jaguar Land Rover, as well as those sponsoring students such as Network Rail, GE Aviation, Siemens, WPC and PA Consulting.

Employability

Complex systems are commonplace in many branches of UK industry including rail, aerospace, and manufacturing. The ability to create such systems effectively is crucial to the competitiveness of these industries and has a direct bearing on the wealth of the nation.

Previous graduates have secured employment in the following sectors: energy, natural resources and the environment; IT, technology and telecoms; and manufacturing.

Networking

Our programmes attract students who are already in work from a variety of companies and sectors. There are opportunities during teaching events to discuss and compare experiences. In some modules we invite industry speakers as part of the teaching. Alongside the module teaching we have a Professional Skills development series which typically includes talks from industry professionals, from alumni now in work and industry visits.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, discussion sessions, workshop activity, and project work.

Each taught course will be separately assessed through a combination of course work and a written examination. The project will be assessed through written dissertation and subsequent oral examination.

A taught module (15 credits) is assumed to require around 150 hours of study. This time is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as independent study.

Around 24 of these 150 hours will be taken with live teaching events and group work, but a significant proportion is independent study time. This includes working through the reading and recorded lectures, researching and responding to the assignment and, where applicable, revision for the exam.

For students on this programme, taught modules are delivered in a block format with contact hours of around 24 hours per block week. Modules in block mode are delivered from Monday to Thursday, and the number of block weeks will depend on the modules selected.

Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, students are expected to use their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. Students are expected to interact with tutors via the Moodle forums before and after class sessions. There are also additional welcome and wrap-up sessions online totalling 3-4 hours per taught module.

In term three and the summer period students will be completing the final report of the research project, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisor.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time one academic year, or flexible study up to five years) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time 12 weeks, or flexible study up to three years) is offered.

Modules

Over a calendar year you will complete all of the modules. The five compulsory taught modules and one option taught module occur across terms 1 – 3, with most of the teaching within the first two terms. The Project Concept is introduced in term 1 and concludes at the start of term 2, SEIP starts in term 2 and concludes early in the summer term. The final report starts at the end of the Project Concept and runs until the end of the summer term.

Part-time study: In the first year you will need to complete four to six taught modules. The five compulsory taught modules and one option taught module occur across terms 1 – 3, with most of the teaching within the first two terms. In the second year you will complete any remaining taught modules and undertake the Project Concept, Systems Engineering in Practice and the Final Report.

You can choose to complete the programme over the 5 years or less. In each year you will choose which modules you want to complete that year. Project Concept and Systems Engineering in Practice are typically taken in the penultimate or final year. The Final Report is conducted in the final year.

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.

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

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £24,100 £12,050
Tuition fees (2025/26) £43,500 £21,750

Programme also available 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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no programme-specific 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

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 Systems Engineering Management at graduate level
  • why you want to study Systems Engineering Management 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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

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