University College London (UCL)
Situated Practice MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
16 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Blended
The Situated Practice MA is designed to help students explore and develop their own creative practices through a mix of theory and hands-on work. The program encourages students to critically engage with different methods and approaches, allowing them to craft unique projects rooted in real-world contexts. Throughout the course, you'll work on understanding the social, cultural, and political factors that influence practice, helping you develop a deeper awareness of your own artistic or professional identity.
Students will have opportunities to collaborate and connect with other practitioners, giving them a chance to learn from diverse perspectives. The program emphasizes reflective learning, guiding students to critically evaluate their work and growth over time. By combining practical projects with critical theory, the program aims to support emerging practices that are socially engaged and meaningful. It's a good choice for those looking to push boundaries and develop a distinct voice in their field, all while gaining the skills needed for careers that value innovation and critical thinking.
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
Modules use advanced-level teaching approaches to encourage innovative student-led work. Tutorials and seminars are the leading teaching methods, together with lectures, group-working, writing workshops, research seminars, film screenings, and reviews of student work by Bartlett School of Architecture staff and visiting researchers. There are building and gallery visits in London and further afield, and an annual field trip (optional).
As a project-orientated programme, all research work and design exploration culminate in an original piece of situated practice in the form of a live intervention designed for a specific site. Assessment is through documentation in a design portfolio: an artist’s book and a situated video work.
In terms 1 and 2 full-time students can typically expect around 15 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 final projects.
Modules
Full-time
The programme consists of four compulsory modules (90 credits) and a 'Major Project' exhibition module (90 credits).
The programme consists of five modules, two of which are taught in Term 1 and two in Term 2. For one of the modules in Term 2, you have the option to undertake a self-defined project to address specific research questions or to take another relevant module from the Bartlett School of Architecture, Faculty or UCL.
In Terms 3 and 4, you complete the last module, a project portfolio with a written element of critical self-reflection. This is called the Major Project.
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 major 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 all taught modules first and take the major research project module in their last year of study.
Compulsory modules
- Critical Spatial Practice: Site-Writing
- Mediated Environments
- Situated Practice: Research Methods
- The Open Work
- Strong understanding of research methods: Students develop a strong understanding of appropriate research methodologies in art and design practice-led research, specifically relating to approaches towards criticality, performativity and textuality.
- Varied and immersive projects: Students make situated practice projects that are site-related from physical installations and events to digital interventions and site-writings.
- Exciting and innovative studies: 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. 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.
- Showcase your work: You will have the opportunity to display your work at an incredible annual showcase of student projects.
- Top Ranked: For the second year in a row, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment was ranked #1 in the world for ‘Architecture and Built Environment’ (QS World University Subject Rankings 2024). It was also ranked #1 in the UK for Architecture, in The Guardian Good University Guide 2025.
- Career Support: Studying at UCL provides students with access to a range of career services including networking events, career workshops, and internship opportunities.
- Here East: Situated Practice MA is taught in the school's impressive Here East campus, based in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Students not only enjoy the facilities' unique studio spaces and culture, but also state-of-the-art workshop and fabrication facilities.
- ‘World leading’ research: The Bartlett School of Architecture is part of UCL’s Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, where 91% of research has been deemed ‘World Leading’ or ‘Internationally Excellent’ in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). The Bartlett is also ranked #1 for Research Power in the built environment.
The foundation of your career
Graduates of this programme are critical, innovative and transdisciplinary practitioners who undertake projects addressing the specific concerns of sites and developing appropriate transformations for them.
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
The Bartlett School of Architecture is one of the world's top-ranked architecture schools and our graduates enjoy excellent employment opportunities and the practice-led research skills to carry out future doctoral research in the field.
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.
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.