University College London (UCL)
Design for Manufacture MArch
London, United Kingdom
Master degree
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The Master of Architecture (MArch) in Design for Manufacture is a program that focuses on giving students a deep understanding of how to design and produce innovative and sustainable manufacturing solutions. It combines principles of design, engineering, and manufacturing to prepare students for careers where they can develop new products or improve existing ones. The course covers a mix of theoretical concepts, practical skills, and industry-standard technologies, helping students build expertise in areas like digital design, materials, and production processes.
The program is tailored for those interested in working at the intersection of design and manufacturing. Students will engage with real-world challenges, working on projects that encourage creative problem-solving and technical proficiency. The curriculum is designed to be flexible and responsive to industry trends, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to contribute to evolving manufacturing sectors. Overall, this course aims to support students in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to lead innovative projects and make an impact in manufacturing industries.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through design and fabrication tutorials, skills workshops, seminars, lectures, site visits, group working and an (optional) field trip.
Assessment is via design and skills portfolios, written coursework submissions and verbal presentations.
In terms 1 and 2 full-time students can typically expect around 16 contact hours per teaching week through lectures, workshops and tutorials. In terms 3 and 4 (Summer term included), students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.
Outside of lectures full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed work and completing their thesis and portfolios.
Modules
Full-time
The programme consists of theory and preparatory modules (30 credits), a skills module (30 credits), and two design thesis projects and a design thesis dissertation (120 credits).
In Term 1, groups will develop initial projects that provide the basis of learning and assessment in skills as well as preliminary contextual theory. In Term 2, individual and group research questions are agreed with each student for development in terms 2, 3 & 4, culminating in an exhibition. In Terms 3 and 4 you will work on your design thesis report and work in groups with your specialist design tutor to prepare a final design portfolio.
Part-time
Part-time students must complete 180 credits over two years. Students should select half taught modules in year one and half in year two plus the final project module.
Flexible
Modular/flexible students can choose any modules per year as long as they complete 180 credits within 5 years. Students will select the introductory taught modules first before taking the design thesis or final design project modules.
Compulsory modules
- Design for Manufacture: Introductory Design Workshops
- Design for Manufacture: Design Portfolio, Initial Project
- Design for Manufacture: Design Portfolio, Final Project
- Design for Manufacture: Contextual Theory
- Design for Manufacture: Design Thesis Report
- Design for Manufacture: Skills Portfolio
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.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MArch in Design for Manufacture.
Fieldwork
The programme includes an optional field trip.
What this course will give you
This programme is taught by The Bartlett School of Architecture, a world-renowned architecture school for innovation and creativity, at UCL at Here East in state-of-the-art fabrication facilities.
Students have access to large-volume space for 1:1 prototyping at Here East in close proximity to complimentary disciplines and expertise in civil engineering, computer science, architectural computation, environmental design and performance design.
Students have the opportunity to develop, learn and innovate with advanced manufacturing processes guided by expert tutors, including robotics for fabrication and assembly, 3D printing, CNC milling, water jet, 3D scanning and laser cutting.
Collaborative research, learning and working is central to the programme. Within this context, students work in design clusters of 15 to 20, led by two tutors who will define a distinct but constantly evolving territory of research.
The Bartlett School of Architecture helps students to prepare for successful careers in a range of fields. We aim to be an exciting and innovative place to study architecture, located in the heart of London with global perspectives. Our students have the opportunity to develop their creativity, curiosity and dynamism, and learn the skills they need to build a better future for people and the planet. Our school is consistently ranked highly in UK and global league tables, and our staff are at the forefront of international research and teaching with award-winning buildings all over the globe.
The Bartlett is one of the UK's largest multidisciplinary faculties of the Built Environment. Our work is all about human spaces. That means physical structures like homes, buildings and cities, but also the invisible structures that govern these things: political and legal systems; financial frameworks and social norms; even our understanding of the past, present and future. Combining design, history, theory, digital representations and models across all of these areas, we understand the structures shaping society today – and we work to make them fairer and more prosperous.
The Bartlett is ranked #1 in the world for Architecture and the Built Environment for the second year in a row in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2024, and #1 in the UK for Architecture in The Guardian University Guide 2025. In addition to this, 91% of its research has been deemed ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’ in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
The foundation of your career
The combination of networks, knowledge and technical expertise makes graduates of The Bartlett some of the most sought-after in the world. Graduates of this programme will leave with the skills and expertise relevant to a rapidly expanding and evolving sector in industry.
93.3% of Bartlett School of Architecture graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2017-21).
Top industry sectors for Bartlett School of Architecture graduates in work are construction, built environment and property (68% of graduates); performance and creative arts (7%); academic research and higher education (6%) and technology (6%).
Bartlett School of Architecture graduates are working in 52 countries around the world.
Employability
Graduates are likely to progress to further study and teaching, or roles in design and the built environment with some of the world's leading architecture, engineering and construction companies.
Networking
The Bartlett School of Architecture hosts numerous events throughout the year that feature industry guests and networking opportunities. These include lecture series, seminars, conferences, symposiums, book launches, and show launch events. The school also hosts a Future Practice event each year that links students with employers.
Additionally, there are a broad range of university-wide career events to help current students and recent graduates develop their employability skills, explore different sectors, increase commercial awareness, build professional networks and more.