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Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources BSc

London, Bloomsbury and London, Hackney Wick (Here East)

The time to act on climate change is now. We need a new generation of experts with the skills to make our buildings, towns and cities more sustainable, healthier places to live. This sustainability undergraduate degree is designed to provide you with skills needed for a career in sustainability, take action on climate change, and help build a better future.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 calendar years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
Programme starts
September 2026
Application deadline
14 Jan 2026
UCAS course code
K300
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
AAA
Subjects
Mathematics required. Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Enivironmental Systems and Societies, Environmental Studies and Geography preferred.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades
ABB more about contextual offers
Subjects
Mathematics required at grade A. Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Enivironmental Systems and Societies, Environmental Studies and Geography preferred.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Points
38
Subjects
A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects, including grade 6 in Mathematics, with no higher level score below 5. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level. Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Enivironmental Systems and Societies, Environmental Studies and Geography preferred

Contextual offer

Points
34 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, including grade 6 in Mathematics, with no higher level score below 5. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level. Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Enivironmental Systems and Societies, Environmental Studies and Geography preferred

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 33 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your BTEC syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, to include Mathematics. Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Enivironmental Systems and Societies, Environmental Studies and Geography preferred

A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), to include Mathematics at Advanced Higher. Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Enivironmental Systems and Societies, Environmental Studies and Geography preferred

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

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


Are you ready to join a new generation of sustainability experts helping to make our buildings, towns and cities more sustainable, healthier places to live? In the face of climate crisis, we need a sustainable built environment that is both climate-resilient and resource-efficient. This solution-oriented degree combines every aspect of sustainability, from social and environmental science to resource economics and engineering, giving you the skills to take decisive climate action and build a sustainable future. 

During your degree you will:

  • Learn social, environmental and economic theories to address climate change, achieve net-zero emissions, and improve health and wellbeing in the built environment.
  • Get hands-on experience overcoming real sustainability issues through sustainable buildings and sustainable cities challenges. Read about last year’s challenge.
  • Gain skills in data analysis, modelling and decision-making processes to design, construct, and operate sustainable buildings, neighbourhoods and cities.
  • Use digital tools to find creative, sustainable solutions.
  • Learn essential maths and statistics for sustainability, learning through real examples and with additional support provided. 
  • Have the chance to attend sustainability events, building experience for your future career. Read about Maria’s experience at the British Institute of Energy Economics Conference.

Depending on your ambitions, you can take the course as either a BSc (Hons) or an MEng. 

  • Students on the 3-year BSc (Hons) gain skills to build sustainability in the built environment, preparing for careers in various sustainability sectors.
  • Students on the 4-year MEng route are seeking to become sustainability engineers. They gain the same skills and knowledge as BSc students, while taking additional engineering-focused modules.

If you’re unsure which pathway is right for you, you can apply to switch routes up until the end of your second year. To do this you will need to successfully pass your first-year modules.

What this course will give you

World-class education with experts shaping a sustainable built environment

UCL is a global top 10 university (QS World University 2025) and #1 in the world for built environment studies (QS World University Rankings 2024). You will be taught by our faculty of environmental design and engineering, energy, and sustainable resources academic experts. Through cutting-edge research and collaborations with industry and policymakers they are driving sustainable transitions worldwide.

Gain valuable experience for your sustainability career

Working on sustainable building and cities challenges will give you hand-on experience building solutions for sustainability problems, ready for your future career. We work closely with an industry advisory board to ensure the skills and knowledge you will gain will equip you to join a new generation of professionals in the fast-growing sustainability field. Our school has a track record of producing exceptional graduates, now sustainability leaders worldwide.

Study in London, the best city in the world for students

Our campus is in the heart of London, meaning you will have endless opportunities to explore diverse cultures, arts, and entertainment. London in the world’s best city for students (QS Best Cities 2025). The city is also a global hub for leading organisations and policymakers driving sustainability agendas. As a student, you will benefit from our long-standing connections with these influential groups with opportunities to engage with them through guest lectures and networking events. 

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources.

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.

The core course is made up of 15 modules shared by both BSc (Hons) students and MEng students in years one and two. In year three of the BSc route, students will choose two optional modules and complete a dissertation. This varies slightly from the MEng route, where in Year 3 and Year 4, students will take four extra core modules, two optional modules and complete a dissertation.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Compulsory modules








Compulsory modules








Compulsory modules






Optional modules





Your learning

You will have lectures, seminars, tutorials, individual learning, group collaborative projects, virtual and physical site visits, workshops, laboratory experiments, e-learning and formative assessments. You will regularly engage with professionals in workshops, seminars and e-sessions an understanding sustainability in their field. Most of the teaching is on our Bloomsbury campus, with experiments being carried out at our environmental design and engineering laboratories in UCL Here East in Stratford, East London.

Throughout your studies you will attend site visits. We also host a field trip in your first year within the UK. In the past this has been to the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales where students engaged with technical seminars and explored centre, learning about renewable energy technologies (solar, hydropower, wind power), sustainable architecture, organic farming, and sustainable living. Students have also visited The Sustainability Centre in the South Downs, bringing sustainability to life through team-building activities and dynamic outdoor learning sessions.

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

Assessment

Assessments on the course will employ a blended diet of methods and will reflect the multidisciplinary nature of individual modules. Assessments are likely to include exams, assessed and non-assessed individual and group coursework assignments, and dissertations. You may choose to take part in additional site visits, fieldwork, and work placements, which will not be assessed.

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.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources information video

Watch this video to find out more about Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Construction Project Management information video

Watch this video to find out more about Construction Project Management at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

The Bartlett Promise Undergraduate Scholarship information video

Watch this video to find out more about The Bartlett Promise Undergraduate Scholarship at UCL. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

The foundation of your career

There is an increasing number of companies adopting sustainability practices. Sustainability is a rapidly growing industry. We expect graduates of this course to be in high demand as a result.

The skills you gain will be attractive to potential employers in fields such as:

  • Energy industry and start-ups
  • Governments and local authorities  
  • Consultancies
  • Sustainable finance  
  • Charities, non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations.
  • Building design and construction industry

Possible job titles for those who have completed the degree include Sustainability Analyst, Sustainability Manager, Policy Assistant or Advisor, Building Consultant, Energy Modelling Consultant, Sustainable Finance Analyst. These are just a few examples as there are a wide range of new career paths emerging in this space.

Employability

This degree boosts your employability by enhancing your skills in creating sustainability strategies, decision making, using programming languages for data analytics, and advancing your digital skills for creating sustainable built environments. 

You learn to use programming languages like Python for data analytics, attractive across different industries. You learn to use software for creating sustainable built environments including ENVI-met microclimate simulation software, Geographic Information System (GIS) for analysing geographic information, and EnergyPlus for building energy simulation. You will develop transferrable skills that will support your career, team leadership, communicating complex ideas and using advanced decision-making processes. 

Industry views on employability

Members of our industry advisory board have shared their views on graduate employability.

“The climate crisis demands that we organise our industry a new way for a sustainable future. Building and city performance must address broader sustainability and encompass social, economic and ecological aspects. Graduates of this course are the future of our industry.” Dr Craig Robertson, Head of Sustainability, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) 

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 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 majority of teaching will be held at the Bloomsbury campus however some teaching may take place at UCL East and Here East in Stratford, East London. This includes laboratory experiments at our Here East facility. Travel costs for site visits or fieldwork within the London area (zones 1-6) accessible by public transport are covered by students. For up-to-date costs visit the TfL website. Travel, activities and meals during field trips outside of London are included in student fees.

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 £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. 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

In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue undergraduate studies. Please see the Bartlett Promise Undergraduate Scholarship page for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs. 

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 highly motivated students with a strong passion for advancing the world through innovative engineering, environmental solutions, economics, and data science.

We are also looking for students who are genuinely concerned about sustainability and eager to make a difference in sustainable built environments. Students should demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for your chosen degree and show intellectual curiosity in topics such as sustainable built environments, energy, resource management, and environmental economics.

You should be scientifically ambitious, confident in using digital skills, enjoy problem-solving and tackling complex real-world challenges and have strong communication skills and teamwork capabilities.

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.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

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

bseer-studentqueries@ucl.ac.uk

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