Undergraduate Guide 2021–22

2
Introduction

8
Life at The Bartlett School of Architecture

14
Architecture BSc (ARB/RIBA Part 1)

18
Architecture MSci

22
Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies BSc

26
Engineering & Architectural Design MEng

30
The Bartlett Summer School

36
How to Apply

40
Your Portfolio

42
Visiting Us
Introduction
Undergraduate Guide 2021–22
We’re a world-renowned
architecture school
with a long tradition of
innovation and creativity.

Our name stands for

provocative ideas,
boundary-pushing research
and leading graduates.
The Bartlett is part of UCL,
a top-ranking university for
both teaching and research,
where architecture has been
taught since 1841.

2
Undergraduate Guide 2021–22
The Bartlett has been voted
the best place to study and
research architecture in
the UK by the QS World
Rankings 2020.

The school has also been

voted the best school of
architecture in the UK for
fifteen consecutive years by
the Architects’ Journal AJ100
and boasts more RIBA medal
winners amongst its graduates
than any other institution.

4
Undergraduate Guide 2021–22
We teach over 400
undergraduate students
across two state-of-the-art
spaces – 22 Gordon Street in
Bloomsbury, central London
and UCL at Here East in
London’s Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park.

Our undergraduate degrees

attract students from all
over the world, who have
the creativity, skills and
drive to design, shape
and engineer the built
environment of the future.
6
Undergraduate Guide 2021–22
Life at The Bartlett

World-class facilities
With two London sites – 22 Gordon Street in
Bloomsbury and Here East at Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park – we work with students in environments
that encourage and facilitate innovation. B-made, The
Bartlett Manufacturing and Design Exchange, offers
students a combination of workshop facilities and
expertise unrivalled in London, whilst at Here East
there’s the space, technology and expertise to test
ideas and learn in an interdisciplinary environment.

Boundary-pushing lectures
A roster of international industry leaders lecture at
The Bartlett throughout the autumn and spring as
part of our International Lecture Series. The school
also hosts an interdisciplinary event series,
Constructing Realities, an Architectural History
series, Situating Architecture and a number of
one-off lectures, seminars and open crit sessions
throughout the year.

8
Renowned exhibitions
Our annual exhibitions of student work are famous
around the world. Our yearly Summer Show, in which
all four undergraduate programmes exhibit, is the
biggest of its kind in the UK, attracting thousands
of visitors each year. We also host medium and
micro exhibitions of student and professional work
throughout the year.

In London
The school is part of The Bartlett Faculty of the
Built Environment at UCL, a world-leading university

Undergraduate Guide 2021–22

based in the heart of London. Our students enjoy
The Bartlett’s specialist environment alongside
libraries, sports facilities, bars and cafés befitting
a university of UCL’s size and prestige.

Across all four degrees, we encourage our students to

engage with London as an environment and a cultural
melting pot. The school is within walking distance
of some of the UK’s flagship cultural institutions,
including the British Museum and the British Library.

9
 Design
Create
Engineer
Build
Challenge
Invent
Undergraduate Guide 2021–22
  
“The Bartlett is more than an
architecture school. It’s a place of
abundant creativity, constant change
and thought-provoking critique. Our
work is part of a global network,
engaging with architectural discourse
and disciplines on many levels.”
Professor Bob Sheil, Director of The Bartlett School of Architecture
 Architecture BSc
(ARB/RIBA Part 1)
Take a unique approach to the built
environment and design with Architecture BSc
at The Bartlett – a degree world-renowed
for both creativity and rigour
Programme Directors
Luke Pearson and Ana Monrabal-Cook
Duration
Taught over three years, full time.
Entry requirements
AAB with no specific subjects.
Comprehensive portfolio of creative
work required at interview stage.
Highlights
→ Learn the skills to practise architecture,
exchanging ideas with world-leading
practitioners and academics
→ Work in state-of-the-art bespoke
facilities – our studios and workshops
are designed for creative flexibility and
idea generation
→ Take part in the UK’s biggest student
architecture exhibition, The Bartlett
Summer Show.
Professionally
15
Accredited
About the programme
This programme teaches students the
skills to practise architecture and an
understanding of how to use those skills
imaginatively in different contexts.
As an architecture student at The Bartlett
School of Architecture, your time will be
spent in both the studio and the workshop,
with approximately 70% of the programme
taught and assessed through your design
portfolio.
Design teaching is delivered by leading
practitioners, specialists and academics
in small groups or on a one-to-one tutorial
basis with weekly review sessions.
Architecture at The Bartlett introduces
you to the wider societal forces that affect
architectural production, stressing the
indivisibility of the architectural, cultural,
professional and technological realms.
Alongside design teaching, our students
take core modules in technology, history
and theory, and professional studies.
 Architecture BSc (ARB/RIBA Part 1)

Accreditation Many of our graduates continue with their

This programme is accredited by the
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
and the Architects Registration Board
(ARB). Students who successfully complete
the programme are exempt from Part 1 of
the ARB/RIBA examinations.
Careers
Our graduates benefit from excellent
employment opportunities. Destinations
vary from internationally renowned offices
to small-scale specialist practices.
training to become registered architects
by taking a year out in an architect’s office
in the UK or overseas, before applying for
their Architecture MArch (ARB/RIBA Part 2).
Some architecture graduates also use their
highly transferable skills in other design-
related fields, such as film-making, web
design, game development, illustration
and visualisation.
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions: Chris Cutbush
bartlett.faculty@ucl.ac.uk
Admissions Tutor: Manolis Stavrakakis
e.stavrakakis@ucl.ac.uk

 
“Studying at The Bartlett is rigorous
and rewarding for students with
confidence, grit and curiosity.”
Annabelle Tan Kai Lin, 2019 Architecture Graduate

Previous: ‘Wetland Frontier’ by

Annabelle Tan Kai Lin. Top right:
‘Beehive Housing’ by Carlota

16
Nunez-Barranco Vallejo. Botttom
right: ‘South Korean Women’s War
Museum’ by Wei (Eugene) Tan.
 Architecture MSci

Develop real-world knowledge and practice

alongside sophisticated design research and
skills with our new five-year integrated degree

Programme Director About the programme

Sara Shafiei
Duration
Taught over five years full time,
with a final year on placement.
Entry requirements
AAB with no specific subjects.
Comprehensive portfolio of creative
work required at interview stage.
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
guides students to become architects who
are expert researchers and are both the
initiators of building designs and effective
members of the building team.

Highlights This design-based degree combines

→ Work closely with world-class academic
tutors and practitioners to explore and
research design and construction issues
that shape today’s built environment
→ Integrate the development of
architectural design skills with an
understanding of social and technical
environments
→ Learn about architectural practice first-
hand during an architectural placement.
undergraduate and postgraduate
architecture and is structured around
four years of consecutive study and a
final year on placement. In the first four
years, students explore the most pressing
design and construction challenges facing
the built environment, learning how to
incorporate specialist disciplinary
information with creative sophisticated
designs, in response to an annual theme.

Seeking

19
Professional
Accreditation
 Architecture MSci

The final year of the programme is spent on Careers

placement or, if unavailable, students have
the option to join the final year of the
school’s Architecture MArch programme.
Accreditation
The school is seeking accreditation from
the Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) and prescription from the Architects
Registration Board (ARB) so that the
programme will be validated as meeting
the requirements for both RIBA/ARB Part 1
and RIBA/ARB Part 2.
The structure of Architecture MSci
encourages close ties with practice
from day one, whilst the final-year
placement gives students the opportunity
to develop real-world experience, build
their professional network and knowledge
of the industry, and potentially accelerate
their earning power.
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions: Chris Cutbush
bartlett.faculty@ucl.ac.uk
Programme Director: Sara Shafiei
s.shafiei@ucl.ac.uk

 “We’re proud to be taking a fresh,

innovative and groundbreaking approach
to training tomorrow’s architects and
responding to the need for alternative
routes to registration.”
 Sara Shafiei, Programme Director

Previous: ‘Manufacturing Living’

by Amy Kempa. Top right: ‘BURD’s

20
Onsen’ by Oscar Leung. Bottom
right: Students explore the Summer
Show 2019.
 Architectural &
 Interdisciplinary
Studies BSc
Combine the study of architecture with
complementary modules from across
UCL to create a bespoke degree

Programme Director About the programme

Elizabeth Dow
Duration
Taught over three years, full time,
with a four-year option offering a
study abroad year.
Entry requirements
AAB with no specific subjects.
Comprehensive portfolio of creative
work required at interview stage.
Highlights
→ Learn key architectural ideas and
spatial strategies at a world-leading
architecture school, working in  students who are interested in architecture,
state-of-the-art, bespoke facilities
→ Tailor your degree to your own fields
of interest and take modules from
across UCL, nurturing an individually
focused skillset
→ Take part in the UK’s biggest student
architecture exhibition, The Bartlett
Summer Show.
This programme is unique in the UK,
allowing you to tailor your own degree
by taking modules at The Bartlett School
of Architecture alongside modules from
across UCL, including Anthropology,
Art History, Archaeology, Economics,
Geography, Languages, Psychology,
Philosophy, and Mathematics,
to name just a few recent choices.
The greatest strength of the programme
is its interdisciplinary nature. As such,
Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies
is ideal for highly motivated, independent
design, and urban studies, but who also
wish to take advantage of electives on offer
elsewhere in UCL.
Our students enjoy being part of
a select and close-knit community,
led by dedicated staff, many of whom
are working practitioners in their fields.

23
 Architectural &  Interdisciplinary Studies BSc

Careers
Graduates enjoy excellent employment
opportunities and pursue careers in the
fields of art, journalism, set and theatre
design, film, media, and curatorship,
as well as related fields such as
environmental and urban planning
or project management.
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions: Chris Cutbush
bartlett.faculty@ucl.ac.uk
Programme Director: Elizabeth Dow
e.dow@ucl.ac.uk

Please note, this programme is not

professionally accredited nor seeking
professional accreditation.

“ This programme gives students

unique freedom. I really enjoyed
how intellectually demanding
The Bartlett was from day one.”
Alexia Koch, Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies student, 2020

Previous and bottom right:

‘My Paradise: The Exploration
into the Modern Sacred’ by

24
Katarina Krajciova. Top right:
‘Sugar Sculptures: A sweet
inquiry’ by Roxanne Gonzales.
 Engineering &
Architectural Design
MEng
Fuse architectural knowledge and
vision with a robust understanding of
engineering for the built environment
Programme Director
Luke Olsen
Duration
Taught over four years, full time
Entry requirements
AAB with no specific subjects.
Comprehensive portfolio of creative
work required at interview stage.
Highlights
→ Develop the skills to discover and
grow your unique architectural and
engineering vision
→ Imagine, evolve, simulate and test
your designs, both in the design studio
and the lab
→ Learn how to apply advanced virtual
tools and physical 3D printing to
produce and test prototype designs
that transform your ideas into reality
→ Master leading software tools used
across the global engineering and
architectural industry.
Seeking
27
Professional
Accreditation
About the programme
Designed in close collaboration with
industry leaders, this programme
combines the major disciplines of
the built environment, architecture
and engineering, to prepare future
industry leaders.
Placing creativity and design at the
centre of engineering education, this
multidisciplinary programme gives
you the chance to understand and
develop advanced architectural design
methodologies whilst becoming an
expert in how they are augmented
and resolved through engineering. 
As a student on this programme,
you’ll enjoy unrivalled spaces to
work in, including new facilities at
Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park, as well as centrally located
departments in Bloomsbury.
 Engineering & Architectural Design MEng

Accreditation
This programme is designed to meet
Engineering Council MEng and Architecture
degree-level requirements. We are also
seeking accreditation from the Joint
Board of Moderators (JBM, which includes
IStructE and ICE), the Chartered Institute
of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and
Architects Registration Board (RIBA/ARB)
Part 1 exemption.
Careers
The programme equips graduates with
the creative engineering and architectural
design skills and critical faculties that are
key to solving the complex challenges of
the built environment.
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions: Chris Cutbush
bartlett.faculty@ucl.ac.uk
Programme Director: Luke Olsen
l.olsen@ucl.ac.uk

 The
“  programme reaches into subjects
far beyond my first impressions of
architecture. There is a space for
everyone’s interests to be nurtured
- you just need to find your own
balance within it.”
Kaia Wells, Engineering & Architectural Design MEng student, 2020

Previous: First-year pavilion

responding to theme of Living

28
Light, 2018. Top and bottom right:
First-year pavilions responding to
the theme of Tribal Gathering, 2019.
 The Bartlett
Summer School

Explore imaginative thinking, drawing and

construction in outstanding workshops and
studios with our introductory-level short course

Programme Director About the programme

Sabine Storp
Duration
Taught over five days, two or three
weeks each summer.
Entry requirements
Open to applicants aged 16–18.
Highlights
→ Experience life at a world-leading
architecture school from the inside
→ Work with expert tutors and students
from around the world to develop your
architectural and design skills
→ Explore and experiment in world-class
studios and workshops.
The Bartlett Summer School is ideal for
students looking to bridge the gap between
school and university and boost their
understanding of architecture school.
Each summer we welcome students from
around the world to work with our esteemed
tutors and experience The Bartlett’s studios,
workshops and our unique approach to
design from the inside.
The summer school is taught through
a series of small group and individual
tutorials, finishing with a one-day
exhibition of work. All students will
have the opportunity to develop
their imaginative thinking and their
understanding of speculative design
and construction. Students on the
three-week programme will also
have the opportunity to put their new
skills into use in and around London,
developing their own style and approach.

31
 The Bartlett Summer School

How to apply The Bartlett Summer Studio

Applications for our summer school are
made directly by completing an online
form. Each year, we begin to accept
applications from mid-November for
the following summer. Sign up to our
mailing list to be the first to know when
applications open.
For students over 18 who are already
studying architecture or a related
discipline, we also offer The Bartlett
Summer Studio, which offers the chance
to refine skills and build a substantial
portfolio. Search Bartlett Summer Studio
for more information.

Contact
Email bartlett.shortcourses@ucl.ac.uk

 “ The Summer School was packed with

exciting trips, hours of drawing, and
preparing for presentations with people
from all over the world.”
Hannah Slater, Summer School student

Previous: Group working during

the Summer School 2018. Top and

32
bottom right: Preparing for a Crit
and developing drawing skills
during the Summer School 2019.
How to Apply
How to Apply

1 Decide which programme you would like to study

This booklet is just the start. Visit our website, join us
for an open day or take a look at our schedule of public
events online.

2 Make sure you understand the entry requirements and are

likely to meet them
You’ll find the typical entry requirements detailed in this
booklet, but you can find more details online.

3 Complete your UCAS application before the deadline

Places on our programmes are in high demand, so make
sure you get your UCAS application in on time.

→ The deadline for 2021 entry is 15 January 2021

4 Get ready to share your work with us

If you meet the UCAS deadline and are judged to meet the
entry requirements, our admissions team will invite you to
share your work with us in one of the following two ways:

→ For Architecture BSc and MSci

You’ll be invited to submit an assessment task,
responding to a brief. The brief for this task changes
every year, and we’re looking for a quick, creative and
spontaneous response.

36
 → For Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies BSc and
Engineering & Architectural Design MEng
You’ll be invited to upload a small portfolio of up to
ten images of your creative work to the UCL Applicant
Portal page.

Your submission will be assessed and if you’re successful

you’ll be invited for an interview.

5 Your interview
Interviews at The Bartlett are our opportunity to get to
know you, your work and why you want to study with us,
but also your chance to get to know the school. You’ll have
a chance to tour our studios, meet current students and
discuss the programme with tutors.

If you’re invited for interview, you’ll be asked to provide a

short personal statement, which summarises why you’d
like to study architecture with us. You will also be asked
to prepare your portfolio of creative and original work.

6 Await a decision
Decisions will be made as soon as possible after your
interview, however at certain points in the year the
decision may take longer due to the high volume of
applications we receive.

37
Your Portfolio
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a collection of work that showcases your skills,
personality and creative potential. It should illustrate your
passions and obsessions, as well as your ability to research and
develop ideas using different materials, themes and techniques.

What makes a good portfolio?

Whether you are preparing ten items to upload or a physical
portfolio to present to us, we are interested in seeing your ability
to think creatively, intellectually and three-dimensionally, and to
draw and utilise a range of different media. Your work should allow
us to see how you start with an idea and develop it.  

What should I include?

You might want to include sketchbooks, drawings, collages,
photography, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, models, films,
soundscapes, graphic design, product design, fashion design or
even creative writing. We particularly like to see work completed
outside of A-level, IB or GCSE coursework, which might include
work from summer schools, internships or your hobbies.

40
If you’re attending an interview in person, try to bring original work.
For digital portfolios it’s important to scan or photograph your work
at a high resolution, so the qualities of the pieces are not lost.
 
How many pieces should my portfolio include?
Unlike other schools, we don’t prescribe how many items to include
in your portfolio, nor the medium of the work. Instead we ask you to
present a selection of no more than 20 pieces of original work that
show the very best of your creative ability, at least some of which
demonstrate your ability to draw and make.

Can I present process work?

We don’t want to only see finished pieces. Show us how you work
through ideas and include the process, from your initial inspiration
and sketches, failed attempts and where your ideas have most
recently progressed to.

Please do not send or upload a portfolio to the school when

you first apply. Our admissions team will contact you with an
invitation to share your work, if you meet our entry requirements.

41
Visiting Us
We run a dynamic programme of events, lectures and exhibitions
throughout the year, many of which are open to the public and of
interest to prospective students.

Open Days
This year, the school will be running virtual open days for prospective
students in the summer and autumn terms as part of UCL-wide Open
Days. We also present our programmes and meet students at the
UCAS Create Your Future exhibition in London.

Lectures
Throughout the autumn and spring terms we run two public
lecture series – our International Lecture Series in Bloomsbury
and Constructing Realities at UCL at Here East. Check our website
to find out more about invited speakers and the themes they’ll be
discussing. Lectures are usually free to attend and don’t require
booking – places are allocated on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Exhibitions
Each summer, autumn and winter we host a major exhibition of
architectural student work. Visit our website to find out when we
are next open to visitors and to explore videos and projects from
previous exhibitions.

42
The Bartlett
School of
Architecture
Cultivating
radical and
innovative
ideas in
architecture
since 1841
Photography by Graham Whitby Boot,
Kirsten Holst and Richard Stonehouse.
© The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
Design by weareunlimited.co.uk
Disclaimer
The information in this booklet is intended as
a general guide to the programmes offered at
The Bartlett School of Architecture. Although
the information provided is believed to be
correct at the time of publication, the school
reserves the right to make changes to the
content or delivery of programmes or the
facilities and resources which support them.
For the most up-to-date information, please
visit UCL’s online undergraduate prospectus –
www.ucl.ac.uk/undergraduate
ucl.ac.uk/
architecture