Urban Design and Planning

Course description

Study a course fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) designed to prepare you for a dynamic and rewarding career in urban design and planning in either the public or private sector.

Our MA explores the critical role of urban design and planning in solving global challenges and includes opportunities to engage in design and development issues faced across the Global South and Global North.

The course will equip you with specialist knowledge, awareness and understanding of the relationship between design and planning in contemporary cities. You'll learn from and engage with academic staff across the department who are at the forefront of their fields internationally, alongside leading practitioners.

Learning in our dedicated design studio and immersive design studio, you'll develop practical skills and knowledge of applied urban design through exposure to state-of-the-art technologies including virtual reality and augmented reality and training in professional design software e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud and CAD.

Through design studio learning and teaching, the MA will equip you with applied and technical urban design skills and methods that enable you to produce and deliver critical urban analysis, creative design development and comprehensive design proposals for real sites at multiple scales – from site level to masterplans.

On completion you will be able to produce professional graphics and visualisations of your design ideas and solutions.

Supported by drawing and 3D model-making facilities, specialist design software and new and emerging technologies we offer an integrated approach to urban design and planning required by leading consultants and city authorities around the world

The course includes opportunities to explore development viability and the financial appraisal of design projects. Through optional modules, you will be able to tailor the MA to suit your professional interests.

This course does not require you to have a previous background in design. Our MA cohorts feature students from planning, geography and architecture, as well as engineers, economists and graphic designers. We take students with a broad range of skills and experience. Our course is international, and we welcome students from around the world.

Accreditation

This MA is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). By completing an accredited programme you will benefit from full eligibility to become a chartered planning professional – opening up a wide range of future career opportunities. The accreditation enables graduates to apply to become a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), which will give you the professional title of Chartered Town Planner.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

Your career

The MA will equip you for professional practice in urban design and planning in the UK and internationally. Past graduates have been well placed for jobs globally, particularly in East Asia and India as well as more locally across the UK. Further study for a PhD in our leading centre for doctoral training and research is another common route for our graduates.

MA Urban Design and Planning graduates are popular with employers in both the private and public sectors, particularly in consultancy as well as in government departments and agencies, and third sector organisations.

Our graduates have developed successful careers across the built environment sector including, in urban design, planning, real estate development, urban policy, central and local government, international development, non-governmental organisation, and research. 

Our graduates are employed by a range of organisations including Lichfields, Savills, ARUP, Arcadis, Transport for London, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Crowley Associates, DLP Planning, and local government and city councils.

All students will develop an urban design portfolio to enhance their employment prospects demonstrating their competencies in urban analysis, design codes and policy, technical skills in software and drawing, and applied design on real world sites. We offer dedicated portfolio sessions delivered by professional practitioners to support this. 

The course will teach you a wide range of transferable skills which are attractive to a broad spectrum of employers beyond the built environment sector including analytical skills, problem-solving, strategic thinking, teamwork, creativity, design competencies and communication.. 

The employability of our graduates is of paramount importance to us. The development of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that enhance your career underpins our course design. We'll prepare you for employment after graduation and have a dedicated Employability Manager to support you.

How we'll help you prepare for your future career