Urban Design Postgraduate Certificate

Overview

The Urban Design Postgraduate Certificate is a part-time day release program that runs for one year. It is designed for professionals who want to gain a deeper understanding of urban design without committing to a full MA course.

Attendance and Fees

• Part-time day release - September 2025
• Part-time day release - September 2026
• UK Fees: £3,375
• International Fees: £5,355
• Alumni Discount: See details

Duration and Campus

• Duration: 1 year
• Campus: Marylebone, Central London

Course Structure

The program consists of core and option modules.

Core Modules

• Urban Design and Development Process (20 credits)
  • This module allows students to undertake structured research in support of the urban design project module.
• Urban Design Project (20 credits)
  • This is a design-based module enabling students to combine the learning undertaken in other modules and to evolve strategic concepts into detailed design positions.

Option Modules

• Information Management Applications for Urban Planning (20 credits)
  • This is a project-based module where students investigate industry-standard software and datasets.
• Emerging Landscapes and Urban Ecologies (20 credits)
  • This is a theory and case study-based module that critically examines the role of nature in urban environments.
• Environmental Policy, Assessment and Climate Change (20 credits)
  • This module provides background on environmental policy and climate change.
• Conservation and Heritage (20 credits)
  • An introduction to the historic urban landscapes that form an important part of most towns and cities.
• Communities Towards Sustainability: Public Engagement (20 credits)
  • This module addresses key issues around public engagement and themes of sustainability.
• Housing and Urban Regeneration (20 credits)
  • This module explores housing and economic development.
• Planning for Urban Risk and Resilience (20 credits)
  • Spatial planning for risk management, including reducing vulnerability and building urban resilience.
• Sustainable Neighbourhood Development and Management (20 credits)
  • Participatory planning, housing and land management for urban regeneration and community development.
• International Spatial Planning Practice (20 credits)
  • International perspective on spatial planning principles and methods.
• Place, Space and Active Transport (20 credits)
  • This module focuses on traffic and streets.
• Land Use Planning and Transport (20 credits)
  • The module explores changes in land use in relation to changes in city form and function.
• Destination Development: Case Study Perspective (20 credits)
  • This module focuses on destinations and evaluates destination development strategies.

Programme Specification

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment, download the programme specification (PDF).

Course Leader

• David Mathewson
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Urban designer and international planner with more than 20 years of practice in urban design, architecture and planning experience in the UK, USA and internationally.

Careers

Graduates of this course are usually built environment professionals who work with or oversee urban designers, for example in management positions.

Employers

Graduates from our urban design courses have found employment at organisations including AECOM, Barton Willmore, Borough councils in London, Broadway Malyan, Broxbourne Council, DAR Group, Design Council, Gensler, Greater London Authority, Grimshaw, Hawkins Brown Architects, IBI Group, Levitt Bernstein, Proctor & Matthews Architects, PRP Architects, Public Practice, Tibbalds, Urban Initiatives Studio, and WSP.

Westminster Employability Award

Our award-winning Westminster Enterprise Network offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your start-up projects.

Fees and Funding

UK

• UK tuition fee: £3,375 (Price per academic year)
• Paying your fees: If you don't wish to pay the whole amount of your fees at once, you may be able to pay by instalments.
• Funding: There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
• Scholarships: The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

International

International tuition fee: £5,355 (Price per academic year)

• Paying your fees: If you don't wish to pay the whole amount of your fees at once, you may be able to pay by instalments.
• Funding: There are a number of funding schemes available to help you fund your studies with us.
• Scholarships: The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

Facilities

• Architecture studios
• Fabrication Laboratory
• Marylebone Library

Teaching and Assessment

• How you’ll be taught: Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• How you’ll be assessed: Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories: Practical and Coursework.

Research Groups

• Max Lock Centre

Supporting You

• Study support
• Personal tutors
• Student advice team
• Extra-curricular activities

Course Location

• Marylebone Campus

Related Courses

• Urban Design MA
• Architecture MA

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Degree Overview:

The Urban Design Postgraduate Certificate is a one-year part-time program designed for professionals seeking a practical introduction to urban design. It offers a postgraduate-level study opportunity without the commitment of a full MA course. The program aims to equip professionals in the urban environment with the necessary skills to contribute to the government's vision of an "urban renaissance." It caters to busy professionals like planners, landscape architects, architects, engineers, and surveyors who may not have the time for a full Master's program. The program's curriculum is tailored to meet the demands of active professionals while maintaining its educational objectives. Many students choose to transfer their credits and join the MA/Diploma course after completing the certificate.

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Outline:

The program consists of 60 credits completed over one year. It includes core modules and optional modules.

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Core Modules:

• Urban Design and Development Process (20 credits): This module focuses on structured research supporting the urban design project module.
Students investigate development context, governance, planning regimes, the development industry, and various building and urban typologies. They also conduct a simplified financial feasibility study.
• Urban Design Project (20 credits): This design-based module integrates learning from other modules and develops strategic concepts into detailed design positions.
Students undertake an individual site-based design project, exploring issues in a specific context and generating original approaches to urban space and built elements.

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Optional Modules:

Students choose one option module from the following: Students develop critical understanding of how software enhances practice.

• Emerging Landscapes and Urban Ecologies (20 credits): This theory and case study-based module examines the role of nature in urban environments.
It explores concepts like socioenvironmental sustainability, urban ecology, adaptive reuse, and green infrastructure.
• Environmental Policy, Assessment and Climate Change (20 credits): This module provides background on environmental policy and climate change, exploring implications for the built environment and examining planning and design responses to sustainable development.
• Conservation and Heritage (20 credits): This module introduces historic urban landscapes and their conservation practices.
Students learn character appraisal techniques and understand legislative constraints related to heritage assets.
• Communities Towards Sustainability: Public Engagement (20 credits): This module addresses public engagement and sustainability themes at the local scale.
Students gain practical skills through real-life projects and develop a reflective approach to community service and social capital enhancement.
• Housing and Urban Regeneration (20 credits): This module explores housing supply, public policy, affordable housing, neighborhood regeneration, and strategies for tackling worklessness.
• Planning for Urban Risk and Resilience (20 credits): This module focuses on spatial planning for risk management, integrating sustainable development and climate change concerns with disaster planning and urban risk management.
• Sustainable Neighbourhood Development and Management (20 credits): This module examines participatory planning, housing, and land management for urban regeneration and community development in developed and developing world contexts.
• Land Use Planning and Transport (20 credits): This module explores changes in land use in relation to city form and function, focusing on how the planning system shapes transport systems and their sustainability.
• Destination Development: Case Study Perspective (20 credits): This module evaluates and debates destination development strategies, considering alternative management structures and assessing the role of destination planning in mitigating negative impacts of tourism.

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Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Practical: Presentations, podcasts, blogs
• Coursework: Essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

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Teaching:

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Problem-based learning
• Blended learning
• Practical application
The program is taught by staff with extensive experience in practice, education, training, research, and consultancy in the UK and overseas.

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Careers:

Graduates of this program are typically built environment professionals who work with or oversee urban designers in management positions. While they may not directly undertake urban design, they work with urban design teams.

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Other:

The program benefits from links with organizations like:

• Design Council (formerly CABE)
• New London Architecture (NLA)
• The Design Review Panel
• The Royal Town Planning Institute
• The Urban Design Group
The program emphasizes the importance of urban design in addressing climate challenges and shaping sustainable development and resilient cities and communities. It highlights the potential of urban design to influence urban form, public space, urban landscapes, and urban ecologies.

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When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year. When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year. This opportunity is available if you have a personal tuition fee liability of £2,000 or more and if you are self-funded or funded by the Student Loans Company.

University of Westminster

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Overview:

University of Westminster is a public university located in London, England. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. The university is known for its focus on practical learning and its strong connections to the industry.

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Services Offered:

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university has four campuses across London, providing students with a vibrant and diverse campus experience. Students have access to various facilities, including a cinema, gallery spaces, and sports facilities. The university also offers a range of student support services, including career guidance, academic support, and mental health services.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Location:

The university's location in London provides students with access to a wealth of cultural and professional opportunities.

Practical Learning:

The university emphasizes practical learning, with many programs incorporating work placements and industry projects.

Industry Connections:

The university has strong connections to industry, providing students with opportunities for networking and career development.

Diverse Student Body:

The university has a diverse student body, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.

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Academic Programs:

The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate courses:

A broad range of undergraduate courses in various disciplines, including business, design, creative industries, and liberal arts.

Postgraduate courses:

A variety of postgraduate study options, including master's degrees, research degrees, and short courses.

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Other:

The university has a strong commitment to research and innovation, with a focus on areas such as sustainability, social justice, and digital technologies. It also has a dedicated alumni network, providing support and opportunities for graduates.