MA Urban Design

Course Details

Urban design recognises architecture and the city as a collective form of knowledge. It brings together professionals from a range of backgrounds who share a passion for improving the design of our urban environments. Whether you have studied urban design, architecture, interdisciplinary design or planning, this course will enable you to network with practitioners, planners, architects and landscape architects to explore the role of urban design in the city.

This course will employ a research-by-design approach to understanding national and international cities. You will study governance as a spatial design concern and will gain a deep understanding of the formation of the city within diverse political, economic, social and cultural contexts. By developing your ability to apply theory to practice, you will appreciate the complexity of creating spaces across different structural layers.

You will study the latest methods and design theories relating to urban environments, exploring the development and resolution of projects and focusing on achieving environmental sustainability. Working with landscape architecture and town planning students, you will also address briefs provided by external clients, developing your ability to work as part of a team and making a significant contribution to innovative designs.

Course Benefits

This is a flexible studio-based course which will give you the opportunity to work and learn with students from a range of backgrounds, sharing experiences and building professional networks. There will be opportunities to attend activities such as the Architecture Open Lecture Series, symposia, workshops and interdisciplinary related events alongside fellow architecture and landscape students.

We have links across the industry, from local authority planning departments to urban design and landscape architecture practices. The course is also accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and will prepare you for professional membership. The course will be taught by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals with extensive practice-based experience. Visiting professionals will also share their experience and expertise by leading sessions