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Architecture MSci

London, Bloomsbury
Architecture MSci (2024)

Architecture MSci integrates the development of architectural design skills with an understanding of the complex social and technical environments in which buildings are produced. The programme combines undergraduate and postgraduate architecture taught over five years (ARB Part 1 and Part 2 ), including the final year in placement in an architectural practice.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
5 academic years
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£9,250
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£31,100
Programme starts
September 2025
Application deadline
29 Jan 2025
UCAS course code
K103
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
AAB
Subjects
No specific subjects. Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Contextual offers are typically one to two grades lower than the standard offer. Grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

Points
36
Subjects
A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. No specific subjects are required but a comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.

Contextual offer

Contextual offers are typically one to two grade boundaries (equivalent to A levels) lower than the standard offer. IB Diploma grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction. Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage

D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. No specific subjects are required but a Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.

A,A,B at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher). No specific subjects are required but a comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design or UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design in Creative Practice: Art, Design & Communication with the final overall mark of Distinction. Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAB. No specific subjects are required but comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview


Architecture MSci is a design-based programme, structured around four years of core taught modules and a fifth and final year in a placement in architectural practice. 

Students across the first four years look at an annual theme that consists of a broad architectural and social issue, changing each year. The chosen theme will be examined from a local and global perspective, both historically and in terms of current and future challenges. 

The annually-changing theme means that all students will be sequentially exposed to four different themes during their four years of academic study.

The final year of this integrated programme is in professional placement or, if unavailable, students have the option to take the two final-year modules from the school’s Architecture MArch programme.

What this course will give you

The Architecture MSci programme is a design-based degree which encourages creative research from early on, whilst the final-year placement gives students the opportunity to test their imaginative ideas in the world of professional practice.

Students work closely with tutors and practitioners throughout the course to explore and research design and construction issues which shape today's built environment, learning to incorporate specialist information with sophisticated designs, responding to different historical, cultural and physical settings.

Students have the opportunity to build up a professional network and learn about architectural practice first-hand during their final-year architectural placement. The programme allows students the opportunity to accelerate their education, increase earning power and save a proportion of their tuition fees.

Teaching and learning

Students complete 600 credits over a five-year period, 120 credits during each academic year, the final one of which is spent in a placement within an architectural practice.

Upon successful completion of 600 credits, you will be awarded a MSci (Hons) in Architecture.

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 is 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 are required to undertake twenty compulsory modules over five years to the value of 600 credits.

  • First Year: six modules (total of 120 credits) 
  • Second Year: five modules (total of 120 credits) 
  • Third Year: four modules (total of 120 credits) 
  • Fourth Year: four modules (total of 120 credits) 
  • Fifth Year: carried out as a placement in practice, students undertake one module (total of 120 credits) 
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Compulsory modules








Compulsory modules







Compulsory modules






Compulsory modules





Optional modules




Your learning

The majority of the teaching in this programme is design-based, with students exploring ideas through design in a studio group of approximately 16 students. Studios are led by design architects, supported by dedicated technical and history/theory experts who provide specialist tutorials in 1-to-1, small group, and seminar settings.

Students will have an opportunity to undertake an optional field trip during their study. The school will contribute towards the cost of the field trip. Students who choose to attend will need to pay an additional amount of up to £500 maximum.

In Year 5, you will join an architectural practice to learn how the skills that you have developed on campus are applied in the field. The school will actively seek placement positions for you through its wide network of architectural companies and practices.

If, for any reason, a placement is not available, students will take the final-year modules from the Architecture MArch programme. In this eventuality the student will be liable for full fees for their fifth-year studies.  

MSci Year 1: Typically, you will spend 20 hours per week in lectures, workshops and tutorials. This should be supplemented with further 15 hours of self-directed study, working on coursework assignments and doing additional reading.

MSci Year 2: Typically, you will spend 20 hours per week in lectures, workshops and tutorials. This should be supplemented with further 15 hours of self-directed study, working on coursework assignments and doing additional reading.

MSci Year 3: Typically, you will spend 10 hours per week in lectures, workshops and tutorials. This should be supplemented with further 25 hours of self-directed study, working on coursework assignments and doing additional reading.

MSci Year 4: Typically, you will spend 10 hours per week in lectures, workshops and tutorials. This should be supplemented with further 25 hours of self-directed study, working on coursework assignments and doing additional reading.

Assessment

Design work is assessed through a portfolio examination, presented by your tutors in Years 1-3 and by the student themselves in Year 4. Written coursework will be first- and second-marked with feedback returned to students.

The academic work undertaken whilst on placement in Year 5 will consist of a research-by-design project, assessed as above but with your Year 5 academic mentor presenting your work for examination together with your placement record.

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 team.

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The foundation of your career

The school's graduates have an excellent record of employment, and destinations vary from internationally renowned offices to small-scale specialist practices. The Architecture MSci encourages close ties with practice from early on in the programme. 

The structure of the Architecture MSci programme encourages students to develop collaborative links with practice, and provides an opportunity to develop real-world experience, building up their professional network and knowledge of the industry.

Employability

Architecture MSci is designed to support students to becoming highly-skilled architects. 

Accreditation

The Architecture MSci programme combines undergraduate and postgraduate architecture and is accredited by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) as meeting the requirements for ARB Part 1 and ARB Part 2. Students who successfully complete the programme are thus exempt from Part 1 and Part 2 of the ARB examinations.

Students choosing to exit the programme at the end of Year 3 can obtain a BSc Architecture and Practice (ARB Part 1) degree. 

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £9,250
Tuition fees (2024/25) £31,100

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

The average cost for materials and study-related items, including producing the end-of-year portfolios, is £600 in the first year and £800 in the subsequent three years of study. Additional costs are not anticipated for the final year in professional placement. 

Architecture students can expect to incur additional costs as part of their programme; however, the school aims to minimise these where possible. All students work differently, and so costs incurred depend on the approach they take to the project brief they have been given. The school encourages students to use recycled materials in their models and presentations – not only is it sustainable, but also cost-effective and potentially innovative.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

Funding may be available from the Bartlett School of Architecture or Bartlett Faculty Office.

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We are looking for evidence of creative ability and critical thinking in regard to spatial design, alongside a strong awareness of the relationship of the built environment to the natural world, and therefore also about issues of environmental and ecological sustainability. We expect our students to have a real curiosity and desire to contribute to society. We also expect them to be keen and ready for the challenge of this innovative research-led course.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

Once we have established that you meet (or are likely to meet) our entry requirements, we will contact you to request a digital portfolio of your design or creative work, giving you instructions on how to prepare this. Please do not send this unless requested to do so. This need not be included in your initial application. You may then be invited to interview. If so, this will be conducted online using Zoom.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Architecture
Bartlett School of Architecture

architectureoffice@ucl.ac.uk

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