Program Overview

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Urban Design Postgraduate Diploma

Overview

The Urban Design Postgraduate Diploma is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in the rapidly expanding profession of urban design. The course has a strong vocational focus and an excellent reputation within the industry.

Course Structure

The course consists of 120 credits, with students taking a total of six modules. The modules are:

• The Dynamic City: Urban Design and Planning in Context (20 credits)
• Urban Form and Growth (20 credits)
• Urban Design and Development Process (20 credits)
• Urban Design Project (20 credits)
• Place and Experience in Design of Urban Spaces (20 credits)
• Sustainable Cities and Neighbourhoods (20 credits)

Students also choose one option module from a range of topics, including:

• Information Management Applications for Urban Planning
• Emerging Landscapes and Urban Ecologies
• Environmental Policy, Assessment and Climate Change
• Conservation and Heritage
• Communities Towards Sustainability: Public Engagement
• Housing and Urban Regeneration
• Planning for Urban Risk and Resilience
• Sustainable Neighbourhood Development and Management
• International Spatial Planning Practice
• Streets, Places and Active Transport
• Land Use Planning and Transport
• Destination Development: Case Study Perspective

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a lower second-class honours degree (2:2) in architecture, landscape architecture, town planning, or another related discipline
• Practical or professional experience in their own field or in urban design
• A portfolio of work
• IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and no element below 6.0 (for international students)

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £7,265 (price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £12,000 (price per academic year)
• Funding available through Student Finance England (SFE) and other sources
• Scholarships available for eligible postgraduate students

Facilities

• Architecture studios
• Fabrication Laboratory
• Marylebone Library

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and problem-based learning
• Assessment methods include practical work, coursework, and presentations
• Scheduled hours: 18%
• Independent study: 82%
• Practical assessment: 13%
• Coursework assessment: 87%

Research Groups

• Max Lock Centre

Supporting You

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

Course Location

• Marylebone Campus
• Opposite Baker Street tube station
• Within easy walking distance of Regent's Park and Marylebone High Street

Related Courses

• Urban Design MA
• Architecture MA

Westminster Employability Award

• An award that recognizes students' personal and professional development
• Can be completed in students' own time
• Includes a range of extracurricular activities
• Enhances employability and career prospects

Careers

• Graduates typically find employment as urban designers in private consultancy or local authorities
• Many find the course useful when developing careers in architecture, planning, or landscape architecture
• Employment prospects are excellent for full-time students graduating from this course
• Part-time students are usually already employed and promotion and career enhancement usually follow soon after completion

Industry Knowledge

• Taught by staff with many years' experience in practice, education, training, research, and consultancy in the UK and overseas
• Strong vocational focus
• Excellent reputation within the industry

Stand Out from the Crowd

• Growing international demand for urban design graduates
• Course equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in this rapidly expanding profession

Employers Around the World

• The University's Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world
• Helping all students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers

Industry Links

• Design Council (formerly CABE)
• New London Architecture (NLA)
• The Design Review Panel
• The Royal Town Planning Institute
• The Urban Design Group

Job Roles

• Urban designer
• Master planner
• Strategic planner
• Urban design officer
• Conservation officer
• Urban architect
• Urbanist
• Environmental planner
• Public realm designer

Graduate Employers

• AECOM
• Barton Willmore
• Broadway Malyan
• Broxbourne Council
• DAR Group
• Design Council
• Gensler
• Greater London Authority
• Grimshaw
• Hawkins Brown Architects
• IBI Group
• Levitt Bernstein
• London borough councils (a number of)
• Proctor & Matthews Architects
• PRP Architects
• Public Practice
• Tibbalds
• Urban Initiatives Studio
• WSP