URBD7016
30 credits
This module brings together theory and practice to support analytical development for use in problem-based learning design studios. The theoretical approaches...
Accredited by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
Urban Design
MA, PGDip, PGCert
Deepen your understanding of urban design and how thoughtful planning and design can shape places and communities.
Key facts
- Duration
- Full time: MA: 12 months, PGDip: 8 months, PGCert: 4 months. The full-time route is delivered 2 days per week.
- Part time: MA: 24 months, PGDip: 20 months, PGCert: 8 month. The part-time route is delivered 1 day per week.
- Starts
- September 2027
- Level
- Master's and postgraduate
- UCAS code
- P008085
- Location
- Headington
- School
- School of the Built Environment
About this course
Many global challenges can be tackled through better city design. Urban designers play a vital role in shaping sustainable communities, from protecting green spaces to reducing travel times. At Oxford Brookes, you’ll study design from building scale to city-wide masterplans, exploring environments from villages to megacities.
You'll begin with UK housing, then expand your focus globally—engaging with experts in places like Dubai, or analysing population data from cities such as Hong Kong. You’ll explore how climate, density, and culture impact urban development.
Through a wide range of topics and a challenging international project—possibly in Manhattan or Mumbai—you’ll develop the creative and analytical skills needed to address urban design issues worldwide. We can’t promise you’ll solve every problem, but you’ll gain the insight and tools to make a real difference.
Accreditations
- Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
- Accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Diverse community
On global challenges like these, international perspectives are vital. Meet staff and other students from a wide range of countries.
International projects
Each year, we select 6 cities around the world for our projects. You’ll learn their unique challenges and work out how to solve them.
The full spectrum of cities
Understand how increasing populations affect small towns as well as global megacities.
Work around your schedule
Classes are held on the same days each week (2 days a week full-time, 1 day a week part-time), so you can study alongside other commitments.
Research expertise
Our teaching staff provide support for student research. They are actively involved in the following areas of research:
- Urban morphology for critical analysis and design
- Digital media and the teaching and learning of urban design
- Place-identity
- Urban Disaster Resilience
- Town Centre Management and Regeneration
- Urban intensification in the developing world
- Urban visions and policy mobility in Africa
- Live projects, urban labs and the enhancement of student learning experiences for UD and planning
- Plot-based urbanism and regeneration
- Landscape urbanism, biodiversity and the extinction of experience.
For more information visit Land Design and Development (LDD)
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| IELTS | IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in all skills. For more information, please see our English language requirements. |
The course is open to applicants who hold a 2.2 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related design & planning discipline.
We will actively consider applications from candidates with lower degrees or an alternative subject, who can provide a suitable portfolio and/or evidence relevant work experience.
Mid-career professional candidates with practice experience are also encouraged to apply.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Fees and funding
Fees
Note for part time students: The per module fee relates to a twenty credit module. The programme consists of four thirty credit modules so the charge per module will be higher.
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home full-time | £11,250, £10,250 (PGDip), £5,625 (PGCert) | £12,100, £11,100 (PGDip), £6,050 (PGCert) |
| Home part-time | £5,625 | £6,050 |
| International full-time | £18,500 | £19,300 |
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page.
Questions about fees?
Learning and assessment
The combination of theory and practice on this course will be valuable in a wide range of careers. It is suitable for spatial planners, architecture students, working professionals, even scientists looking at solving environmental issues.
We’ll begin with the theory to give you a solid grounding in the principles of urban design. Topics will include everything from affordable housing to biodiversity.
Later in the course, we’ll begin to look at urban design in challenging contexts. For this, you’ll take part in one of 6 projects around the world. Exploring the unique challenges the city is facing, whether that’s transport infrastructure, flooding, or homelessness, and consulting with local experts while gaining new perspectives from your international peers.
While each project and location is different, there’s one common question you’ll ask: if we increase the population, how do we maintain the quality of living?
We use a range of activities to deliver theoretical and practice-based content:
- peer-learning through group work and critical assessment of individual projects
- studio set-up and design based learning to mirror real environments in practice
- merged theory and practice modules which are applied in Design studio projects
- problem based learning to gain in depth understanding of urban issues and proposed solutions
- international projects to expose you to different cultures and urban phenomena
- independent research to develop critical thinking and creative approaches to problem solving; you will focus on a specific area of research interest
- use of multi-media for developing skills for communicating
- field trips and site visits to gain a live-in experience and sense of scale for spatial forms.
For full time students, all teaching takes place on two days. This allows the rest of the week for independent studio project development.
Part time attendance is one day per week.
Assessment
Assessment combines group work and individual projects and can include:
- reports
- design posters
- videos
- oral and visual presentations.
You will engage with studio tutors and professional practitioners when delivering your assessed work. This process allows for professional quality output.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
URBD7017
30 credits
This design studio offers a live design site where the application of theory and practice can be tested. Skills, tools and critical analysis for designing...
URBD7018
30 credits
This module equips participants with a broad understanding of the theory and practice needed for the design and planning of cities within a globalising world...
URBD7019
30 credits
This module provides a vehicle for students to engage in future-proofing their urban design and planning practice. The aim of this module is to develop...
URBD7009
10 credits
This module advances students' knowledge and understanding of research methods available to urban designers, planners and architects. It engages with a variety...
URBD7020
50 credits
In the dissertation module students develop the ability to conduct either an independent research project/thesis, or a critical evaluation of a proposed scheme...
Field trips
UK field studios
London provides a rich field resource for understanding the sense of scale, new interventions and the live-in quality of the public realm. Field studios become teaching references for the design process as well as a means for testing urban theories.
International field trip
This is organised yearly to expose you to specific urban qualities such as:
- housing and social equity
- regeneration
- creative cities and economic rise
- participation
- planning.
Cities visited have included Amsterdam, Lisbon, Rotterdam.
Careers
Many of our graduates find jobs before the course is over. That’s because they have extremely valuable skills in a growing area and are able to apply their knowledge to projects anywhere in the world.
Past students are working at organisations like:
- Arup
- WSP
- DLA
- EdgeUD
- Allies and Morrisson
- many UK city councils.
Some students decide to start their own companies, such as EcoResponsive Environments, founded by Oxford Brookes graduates. Others decide to apply their new skills in their current industry or continue their research at PhD level.
How to apply
We advise applying in advance to secure places, and allow sufficient time for applications to be reviewed.
There is no formal application deadline (recruitment closes when teaching capacity is reached).
Applicants should also factor any time needed to meet offer conditions, arrange accommodation, and obtain a UK Student visa (if applicable).
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)