Urban Design, Postgraduate Taught - MA - 2022/23 entry

Urban design lies at the critical junction of an ever-increasing urban population that continues to add pressure to global systems from political strategies to personal experience. Now is the time we must be innovative and joined-up in our thinking, to work together whatever the background, be it originally in architecture and design, planning, or other fields, which relates to global challenges and opportunities.

This design-focused Masters programme is rooted in a deep connection between the latest theories and practices. We blur and move beyond the traditional discipline boundaries of architecture, landscape architecture and planning, social and economic studies, responding to contemporary contexts and continuously striving to incorporate new ways of thinking.

You will learn how to critique, create and experiment with high quality, trans-disciplinary design of urban places. Through collaborative creative processes you will be encouraged to appreciate urban design as an umbrella profession and embrace the dynamic diversity of human conditions.

You will explore ways to refine the way we think about, and make, the places that represent and support our lives, looking to innovative strategies that facilitate happier and more sustainable places for both the short- and long-term success of humanity and our fellow species. In these ways, you will form a deeper appreciation of how places need to be successfully made and sustained.

Drawing on extensive experience in research and practice, this Master's in Urban Design provides a balance of practical and theoretical learning, within the following themes:

Design Process

• Exploratory, iterative design creativity
• Strategies and framework design processes
• Life and Place: curating sustainability, value, character and function
• Socio-economic and physical analysis across diverse contexts
• Collaborative design strategy and the role(s) of the urban designer

Communication

• Contemporary visualisation for urban design - best practice and innovation
• Mixed-media design communication: explorations in interface and interactivity
• Communicating with structure, character and precision

Practice

• Professional and ethical evaluation
• Transdisciplinary, participatory and inclusive practice
• Sectors, trends and the targeted marketing of design
• Time and process management

Theory and Debates

• Contemporary global questions and debates
• Between practical theories and theoretical practices
• International urban-isms, people and design
• Research practice and process

Bachelor Degree from a recognised university with a minimum grade of 60% / Good / 2.5 / C+

Even though you may have met the stated requirements, if your first language is not English, we may ask you to take an additional English Language Test when you arrive.

Based on the results of the test, you may be required to attend regular English classes to improve your level of competence. English classes are provided free of charge and are available to all non-UK students who wish to attain greater fluency in English.

Enhancing your employability skills

You will learn of range of skills, which will be key to enhancing your future employability.

Specifically you will learn to:

• Reflect and develop your practice in relation to future employment options.
• Identify the relationship of theory to practice to develop your personal marketing strategy for promotion of you as an individual.
• Negotiate, plan and present to a professional standard.
• Work independently and collaboratively.
• Be a self-motivated, organised, effective learner.

You will also learn skills in a range of practices in relation to individual development, including various types of visual communication for different design project stages, audiences and market sectors.

Professional practice guidance will teach you a range of skills such as portfolio design, persuasive presentation and collaborative working; using exploratory platforms for self-promotion, presenting yourself and your work in professional ways.

Graduate jobs

The opportunities on graduation are very broad across the built-environment, and typically, students will be able to work on multiple roles and jobs types within typical daily practice.

Urban design requires confidence, resourcefulness, flexibility and the ability to respond creatively to opportunities that arise.

Specific areas and themes:

• Private practice, as an ‘urban designer’ within multidiscipline practices adding urban design input into diverse scale projects
• Private practice, at a specialist urban design consultancy and/or as an independent (sole-trader): as urban design consultant, collaborating/co-designing on various scale/sector projects
• Working in local government for towns and cities, as officer (planning dept.) and/or designing, providing design guidance
• Collaborative coordinator on various projects

Particular work / sectors

• Civic space and places
• Planning process, approval
• Governmental projects, advisory bodies, independent expert
• Housing sector, residential development
• Community, participation and inclusivity work