Bio-Integrated Design

A minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants will also be asked to submit two short pieces of writing. Details on this will be provided once the completed application has been received by the department.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Our habitat today is being fundamentally shaped by revolutions in biotechnology, computation and climate change. Bio-Integrated Design takes these life-changing phenomena as the foundation to explore radical, sophisticated, yet also critical, design solutions that will shape our future society.

Bio-integrated Design MSc is a science-orientated programme, in which students undertake cutting-edge research, analysis and experimentation with new modes of architectural simulation and production. This programme is hosted by The Bartlett School of Architecture and co-directed by the Department of Biochemical Engineering, providing you with access to unique facilities for both design and scientific research.

The interdisciplinary nature of the degree merges a wide range of expertise, employing laboratory testing in biotechnology and synthetic biology; novel design as a research tool to encompass high-end computation and fabrication; multifunctional and bio-receptive materials; ecology and space.

In REF 2014 46% of The Bartlett’s research was rated 4* i.e. “world-leading”, with a further 35% recognised as 3* i.e. “internationally excellent”.* The Bartlett submitted the largest quantity of 4* world-leading research outputs (156 items) of any university submitting to the Architecture, Built Environment and Planning sub-panel. On “Research Environment”, which grades the “vitality” and “sustainability” of the research environment, the Bartlett received the highest score for submission to the Architecture, Built Environment and Planning sub-panel.

This programme is part of B-Pro or Bartlett Prospective, which groups together five of the architecture school's graduate programmes with a unique philosophy and shared approach to the future of design, architecture and the urban environment. Students studying Bio-integrated Design will participate in The Bartlett's annual B-Pro Show, an exhibition of student work in Bloomsbury attended by the industry and public alike each autumn.

This programme is taught through workshops, seminars and crits. The programme promotes learning via research and enquiry, in particular through iterative design, material studies and laboratory work.

Assessment will be mainly via coursework, but also through on-going evaluation of transferable skills including presentations, criticism, work ethics in the lab and general teamwork. Your key assessed elements include design portfolios, physical prototyping, illustrated essays and reports, and final oral presentation.