MEng vs Msci Architecture UCL

Hey!

I’ve applied to study at UCL for two different courses
-MEng Engineering and Architectural design
-MSci Architecture
So far i’ve gotten accepted into the MEng (Yay!) but i’m still waiting for a response on the MSci.

Anyways, i wanted to know how the science/design ratio was for each of the courses. i attended the bartlett architecture summer school and i thought the pure architecture might be a bit too artsy for me, since as a spanish student in spain architecture is very stem based, but i decided to apply anyways. A girl from my school is currently studying the MEng so i talked to her and i decided to apply since the course seemed much better suited to me, since i do really enjoy physics and maths. It was my first option, however ever since i’ve gotten accepted i can’t help but think of the course might be too STEM heavy for me. Don’t get me wrong, i’d love to do all the sciency parts of engineering and architecture, (obviously since it’s an engineering degree) but i don’t want to miss out on any of the fun architecture stuff, like the designing and model parts.

Could anyone studying at UCL one of these courses give a perspective for both of these? especially if you’re in the MEng. i’d love to hear your opinions.

Thanks! also ik the text is long sorry

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

UCL architecture is definitely known to be one of the most conceptual/"art-y" courses in the UK. I can't imagine there's much maths or physics excpet what you actively bring (or force!) into your design process. In general though in the UK architecture is pretty firmly a design subject/field, rather than a STEM field. There are a couple of more technically oriented architecture departments/courses across the UK (Bath and Strathclyde come to mind) but I think maybe part of the issue is just the nature of architecture and its teaching in the UK just doesn't really align with what it may be like in Spain?

That said formally speaking the MEng course appears to be fully accredited for meeting the initial stages of architectural training in the UK should you wish to become an architect in the UK. I believe the MEng is taught largely at the UCL East campus rather than at the Bartlett though, after first year. Since you're going to be physically in a different location with different lecturing/studio faculty, I imagine that may significantly change the overall experience of the architectural design side of things as well too?