Urban Design - MA
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.
This forward thinking, exploratory, design focused MA, is rooted in a deep connection between theory and practice. In completion, you will know how to critique, create and experiment with the design of high quality, trans-disciplinary urban places....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location City Centre
- Award MA
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School Birmingham School of Architecture and Design
- Faculty Faculty of Arts, Design and Media
This course is:
Available with Professional Placement year
Open to International Students
Overview
This forward thinking, exploratory, design focused MA, is rooted in a deep connection between theory and practice. In completion, you will know how to critique, create and experiment with the design of high quality, trans-disciplinary urban places.
As ‘an umbrella’ field of study and profession, Urban Design lies at the critical junction of an ever-increasing urban population that continues to add pressure to global systems, with effects that connect through scale, from political strategies right down to an individual's every-day personal experience. Now is the time we must be innovative and joined-up in our thinking. Whether you have a background in architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning, or other fields; Urban Design is an acknowledgement that we need to work together to face the current global challenges and develop integrated responses that open new opportunities for all of us.
Images left to right - pieces created by Charlie Lovelock Edwards, Shiyun Huang and Ciancimino Giuseppe
What's covered in this course?
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.
See Course Specification for further breakdown of course themes.
Why Choose Us?
- Design-focus, we connect social and political theories best and exploratory practices, responding to contemporary contexts and to inform creative design decisions
- Critique, create and experiment in collaborative creative processes, which situate and embrace the dynamic diversity of human conditions
- Transcend discipline boundaries, blurring the lines between architecture, landscape architecture, planning, social and economic studies
- Thinking globally and acting locally, to innovative towards joined-up, strategic thinking
- Refine the way we think about, and make, the places that represent and support our lives, towards happier and more sustainable places for both short- and long-term gain
OPEN DAY
Join us for a virtual Open Day where you'll be able to find out more about your course. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Event: 7 February 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
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BA Hons / BSc degree in a related design subject such as Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design for Future Living, with minimum Lower Second-Class (2:2). |
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Applications can be considered from students with a BA Hons / BSc degree in Geography, Planning, or equivalent economic or social science, will be considered through interview and portfolio. |
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Applications from students with alternative qualifications and/or substantial work experience will be considered individually on their merits through interview and portfolio. |
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Non-English speakers should have IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands. |
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Applicants will also need to submit a good portfolio. |
International students must meet all the Border Agency entry criteria for the programme.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £8,925 in 2024/25
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement
- £10,685 in 2024/25
- Part Time
- 2 years
- Show fees
- £992 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 80 credits
- Year 2 - 100 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £17,710 in 2024/25
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement
- £19,485 in 2024/25
Portfolio guidance
If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.
Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.
Portfolio guidance
If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.
Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
MA
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 160 credits):
Applied, critical exploration of case study projects/urbanist movements/agendas evaluating urban design via sketchbook studies, using mixed methods of drawn analysis in various contexts. Using Learn by doing, demonstrations and in-situ seminar Exploratory media: hand, models, digital, virtual.
Debates on sustainable development (social, economic, environment), Placemaking theories.
Site visit to the site the coursework will focus on.
Case studies
- Analysis of context and site.
- Spatial planning policies and urban design principles.
- Community engagement approaches and methods.
- Critical Research Questions
- Exploratory, Active Research Methodologies
- Analysis and future questions
- Critique of contemporary theory and urban-isms
- Sustainable Environment, Virtual/Smart City, Art and
- Public, Ethics & Economics, Planning, Density, Zones
Study of Precedent on International Contemporary Interest Context e.g. Asia, Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe
Example debate themes e.g. Migration and ownership, Ubiquity and Monopoly, Displaced Ecology, Power/Control, ownership?
- Green and blue spaces
- Energy policies and transitions
- Water provision, consumption and management
- Waste minimisation and management
- Food security and agriculture
- Research-informed and applied student-led Design Project
- Critical Theoretical Analysis, Reflective Practice / Processes
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
Live project, live client design project with collaborative practice. Sign-up from a range of tutor pitched projects. With reviews by stakeholders e.g. practitioner, public
This integrative module enables you to apply knowledge gained in modules throughout the programme to a “real life” practical scenario based assessment. It will provide an understanding of the factors influencing development decisions and how to evaluate possible development solutions in the context of client requirements.
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Download course specification
Download nowWe use the following learning environments and methods in mixed ways. Often days will include multiple methods which align to each other to support in the construction of design ideas and outputs.
Modes/Methods:
- Design Studio – open, surgery style tutorials, unique to design learning, flexible to time requirements.
- Group Tutorials – allow focused discussions on specific themes or design stages.
- Individual Tutorials – focus on specifics of individual process.
- Formal Presentations: interim, summary and formal review, promotes professionalism.
- Research and Independent Study – required for self-reflection, deep development of individual approaches, supported by other methods.
- Traditional Lectures: informational presentations, typically on design approaches systems or areas of practice debate, or theoretical questions.
- Seminars – discussion groups on themes of contemporary debate.
- Demonstrations/Workshops/CPD – for instruction on specific design software, materials, systems or technologies.
- Study trips/tours – experiential learning, guided discussion in physical context of example, and/or project sites, both local and with international options.
- Collaborative and/or Live Projects – provide focus on specific working conditions, especially working with other disciplines, subject networking, considering practice context and considering inclusivity in design processes.
- ‘Superstudio’ – design studio which runs between courses in the Birmingham School of Architecture and Design, with a variety of contemporary modes from technical to discursive that change on a week-by-week basis.
Interactive learning Platforms
- Moodle Virtual Learning Platform, with illustrated briefs, audio-video links, schedules and core course/module info.
- Microsoft Teams, supporting conversational communication, day to day tutoring and support.
- Miro – interactive space for collaborative discussions.
- Always exploring and eager to discuss emergent ways to work: e.g. currently deeply exploring various ways to work with AR/VR at various stages of the design process.
Employability
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
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the exceptional quality of our campuses. With an investment of £340 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.
You will be based in our multi-million pound Parkside building – a state of the art facility located within our City Centre Campus. Here you will have full access to our recently upgraded, high spec CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) workstations situated within our dedicated computer labs and open access areas. We also provide access to leading edge digital design software, enabling you to explore technical drawing, graphics, 3D modelling, visualization, animation, computation, simulation, and virtual reality.
The Parkside Building is also home to our digital fabrication labs, where you will be able to explore 3D printing, laser cutting, water-jet cutting, CNC machining, ceramics, glass and traditional model-making, guided by our team of expert technicians with access to our on-site material store, and professional printing facilities.
You’ll also benefit from:
- Design studios
- Physical and digital library
- Loanable laptops
- Dedicated social spaces
- Cafés
Take a look around on our virtual walkthroughs
Photo Gallery
From industry-standard software, to our workshops and studio spaces, everything you need will be at your fingertips from day one. Working with our dedicated teaching teams and expert technicians, you'll be supported from concept through to completion.
Our staff
Lucas Hughes
Course Director for MA Urban Design
Lucas Hughes holds qualifications in landscape architecture and urban design. He has a broad range of interest and experience within several professional sectors linking across the built-environment industry. His core focus is to promote high quality, integrated, design-led processes for the creation of characterful and sensitive built environment...
More about LucasDr. Jieling Xiao
Reader in Architecture and Sensory Environments | Research Degree Coordinator
Jieling teaches Environmental Design across different courses at the Birmingham School of Architecture. Trained as an architect and urban designer, Jieling believes that designers need to consider more than just how the hardware of architecture functions for its users. Interested in creative spatial practice related to people’s sensory...
More about JielingDr Silvia Gullino
Associate Professor in City Making
Silvia holds a BA and MA in Architecture and an MSc in Environmental Engineering, both from the Politecnico di Torino. She gained her PhD in Spatial Planning at the Politecnico di Milano in 2005 and conducted postdoctoral research as a Senior Fellow in International Urban Studies at the Institute for Policy Studies at Johns Hopkins...
More about SilviaProfessor Peter Larkham
Professor of Planning
Peter holds BA and PhD degrees in geography from the Universities of Manchester and Birmingham, and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Historical Society. His research focuses on how cities change, in terms of their physical form, design and conservation. His most recent work is on reconstruction...
More about PeterSenem Sadri
Lecturer in Architecture and Design
Dr. Senem Zeybekoglu Sadri studied architecture at Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey. She completed her PhD on “Urban Regeneration and the Right to the City” in 2008. Her post-doctoral research at the City College of New York, USA, focused on urban housing organisations and community-based planning and design.
More about SenemDr Hocine Bougdah
Director of Technical Studies and Sustainability
Dr Hocine Bougdah is a senior lecturer in sustainability and Technical Studies and the Director for Technical Studies in the Birmingham School of Architecture and Design BoAD). Before joining BoAD in June 2022, he was a senior research and teaching fellow in the school of Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster, London. His...
More about Hocine