MSc Urban Design

The MSc Urban Design course is designed for both students and practitioners, treating the city as a complex, dynamic system. The program focuses on the design and management of cities in relation to current and predicted urban challenges.

Why this course?

Recent data and predictions on urbanization make cities the most common living environment now and in the future. The United Nations recognized this through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which included 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Goal 11 is dedicated to urban settlements, with the aim to 'Make Cities Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable'. This means that getting the design of cities right has never been so important.

Course Content

The course is closely linked to the Urban Design Studies Unit (USDU) research agenda. Everything taught in classes and the studio is based on our excellent research record. The course is delivered through studio work, lectures, seminars, and a research project.

• Taught classes take place over Semesters 1 and 2, and include compulsory and optional choices.
• Compulsory classes will teach you the basic principles of designing a resilient and sustainable city.
• Optional classes offer you the chance to specialize in an area of interest.

Studio

The major topic of studio is the design of the resilient city. We will address this at all scales, from the metropolitan to the neighborhood with all its special places. We normally work on an authentic client commission, therefore the work is real; you will work against deadlines and in multidisciplinary teams, employing professional methods.

Taught Classes

Taught classes give you the theoretical grounding for everything you do in studio and inform the next phase of research. They take you through the history and theory of ideas that shaped cities up to the present day.

Research

The Masters thesis is a substantial piece of student-led work on a topic of particular personal interest, or suggested by staff to advance the Urban Design Studies Unit agenda.

Facilities

• Studios: We have two fully-networked design studios; one dedicated to student self-study, the other to interactive design teaching.
• Library: In addition to the main University library, we have our own, on-site, reference library.
• Workshop: A full range of hand and portable power tools are available.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements/experience: Normally a first-class or second-class honors degree (or international equivalent) in a discipline related to the built environment and the city.
• English language requirements: If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application.

Fees & Funding

• Scotland: £11,900
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £11,900
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• International: £26,250
• Additional costs:
  • Books & Printed Materials: £250
  • Study Trips (optional): £250
  • Drawing Materials: £100
  • Model Making: £200
  • Miscellaneous costs: £120

Careers

Graduates leave us with a detailed knowledge and innovative skills in an area now in great demand. Our graduates are now working in:

• Large practices
• Government
• Academia, as teachers and researchers
• Local non-governmental organizations
• Local authorities
• Their own practices

Job Titles Include:

• Senior Street Design Officer
• Lecturer
• Researcher
• Community Engagement Officer

Employers Include:

• Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners
• Llewelyn and Davies
• Architecture and Design Scotland
• Glasgow City Council
• University of Buffalo
• University of Strathclyde
• Anderson Bell and Christie
• Edinburgh Council
• TCV Scotland
• Highland Council
• Transco

Learning & Teaching

Courses are taught through lectures, seminars, and studio work as well as a piece of research (MSc students only). Lectures and seminars are delivered through a variety of modes including short intensive sessions to allow for flexible booking by CPD and part-time students.

Assessment

Assessment criteria are linked to the learning outcomes set for each individual class and these are published in the modules descriptors which are available to students. The criteria is also explained by staff at the start of each class, to make sure that you're comfortable and clear with what is expected of you.

Student Competitions

Students have previously won:

• The Urban Design Group Award
• RTPI Scotland Chapter Award
• Urbanpromo International Jury Design 1st Prize

Start Date & Duration

• Start date: September
• Study mode and duration: MSc: 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time

Scholarship Eligibility

Self-funded, international (non-EU) fee-paying students starting this course full-time in September 2025 are eligible for a £5,000 scholarship, which will be automatically deducted from their tuition fees.

Course content

Taught classes take place over Semesters 1 and 2, and include compulsory and optional choices. Compulsory classes will teach you the basic principles of what makes a sustainable and resilient city. Urban Design History and Urban Theory provide a historic overview of all major changes in the form of cities, with a focus on their social, political and economic contexts. The principles and theories of Sustainability are explored as well as the role of Development Processes and the practice and policy of Urban Design (theory) on the shape and density of cities

Optional classes offer you the chance to specialise in an area of interest. These include Urban Landscape Design, Urban Design Representation and other classes which you might find useful from the wider Faculty of Engineering offering.

The course director helps each student build up their curriculum on the basis of their background and interests.

Compulsory classes

Elective classes

Dissertation

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Studio (10 credits)

We generally use Glasgow as a living laboratory for our studio project. Our City is an example of  a European metropolis experiencing change and globalisation,. You will learn to develop appropriate strategies for resilient sustainable urban development, encompassing social, political, economic, environmental, architectural, aesthetic and psychological aspects. You'll work on the design of a complex urban area, generally on commission of a real client (local authority, housing association, community group or private developer). In addition you'll work at the interconnected levels of the entire city, the neighbourhood and the individual public space defined by urban architecture.

Studio meets once a week in Semesters 1 and 2 with design development work taking place between sessions. You'll work in multidisciplinary teams of architects, planners, geographers and economists, in the same way you'll do in practice. Work is fast-paced but also in-depth. You'll have considerable responsibility (ie presenting to clients and organising public events), but it is also a lot of fun.

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Urban Design History

The class covers how elements such as streets, squares, urban blocks have changed through time and what factors shaped them.

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Development Process

This class looks at the economic, policy and implementation aspects of urban design, studied through theory and practical examples.

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Urban Theory

You'll look at how urban ideas, theories and approaches have responded to contextual conditions in time and how they have shaped human lives and the environment for generations to come. Also explored is the current urban challenges and the fit of current urban design tools and approaches.

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Sustainability (10 credits)

We'll cover the impact of growth on social, economic and environmental sustainability.

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Cultural and Behavioural Factors in Architecture and Urbanism

This class introduces students to the field of environment-behaviour studies looking at cultural, social, and psychological issues in architecture and urban design.

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Urban Landscape Design (10 credits)

You'll look at the impact of the urban landscape on human wellbeing and perception and the role of ecological networks as an integral part of urban form.

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Urban Design Representation

Key tools for the effective representation and visual communication of urban design ideas, strategies, projects.

MSc students only

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Dissertation Project

On completion of Semesters 1 and 2, you will undertake a written thesis over the third semester. In previous years, students have produced exceptional work including the study and comparison of urban form, the role of urban design in disaster scenarios, the design and management of infrastructure, and informal urbanism. The production of the thesis results in innovative outlooks which combine the students’ interests to the Unit’s very special take on urban design. The tutoring team is open and supportive, always ready to nurture new ideas and to share its current work.

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Learning & teaching

Courses are taught through lectures, seminars and studio work as well as a piece of research (MSc students only).

Lectures and seminars are delivered through a variety of modes including short intensive sessions to allow for flexible booking by CPD and part-time students. Ther are also occasional site visits.

The taught element of the course starts from a solid grounding in urban design history and theory. It then concentrates on current urban challenges, from climate change to the pressures for development in both developed and developing countries. It culminates with the research work carried out in the Urban Design Studies Unit and teaches you the unit’s ethos and approach to urbanism.

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Guest lectures

The Urban Design Studies Unit has an extensive international network of collaborators who often visit to give lectures and take part in debates. Our students are always invited to these events  In the past speakers have included included environmental psychologist Professor Robert Gifford, UN Habitat Salvatore Scellato, Urban Designers Robert Adam, George Soeters, DPZ Director Andres Duany, URBED Director Ravid Rudlin, authors and urbanists Andy Cameron (WSP), Chuck Wolfe, Besim Hakim, Kelvin Campbell.

Our students often organise series of events themselves and are able to attract excellent speakers for lectures or debates on the nature and roles of urban design (eg Robert Adam and Malcolm Fraser).

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Assessment

Assessment criteria are linked to the learning outcomes set for each individual class and these are published in the modules descriptors which are available to students. The criteria is also explained by staff at the start of each class, to make sure that you're comfortable and clear with what is expected of you.

The assessment of studio work is developed collaboratively between staff and students. Learning outcomes are linked to criteria and performances. This increases your sense of ownership of the learning process and is integral to the course.

On successful completion of studio and classes, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma. If you complete an additional research element you’ll receive an MSc in Urban Design.

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Student competitions

Students have previously won:

The Urban Design Group Award – students from the course are regular finalists in the Urban Design Group National Student Award and have won it on three occasions in recent years

RTPI Scotland Chapter Award

Urbanpromo International Jury Design 1st Prize

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Careers

Graduates leave us with a detailed knowledge and innovative skills in an area now in great demand. Our graduates are now working in:

large practices (eg Rogers and Associates, Llewelyn & Davies)

government

academia, as teachers and researchers

local non-governmental organisations

local authorities

their own practices

---

Job titles include:

Senior Street Design Officer

Lecturer

Researcher

Community Engagement Officer

---

Employers include:

Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners

Llewelyn and Davies

Architecture and Design Scotland

Glasgow City Council

University of Buffalo

University of Strathclyde

Anderson Bell and Christie

Edinburgh Council

TCV Scotland

Highland Council

Transco

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Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation