MA in Urban Design
Studying Urban Design at Birmingham's School of Architecture and Landscape
This is an exciting inter-disciplinary course intended to enhance the creative and practical skills required to deal with the increasing complexity and heterogeneity of our cities and their public spaces. The course draws upon its unrivalled setting in Birmingham and the West Midlands region - a place of dynamic urban changes, cultural diversity, award-winning regeneration schemes, and innovative approaches to the problems and opportunities produced by such transformations.
The course has adopted an education philosophy based on knowing-in-action, integrating theory, practice and live case studies in a workshop-based format. It develops the creative and practical urban design skills that are in great demand in both the public and private sectors. Design studio acts as the very hub of the course and provides a test bed for fresh approaches, ideas, theories and design interventions that deal with contemporary issues and the diverse activities of urban design in both type and scale, from concerns with the urban quality of specific public places to the design of city-wide systems, and from work on infill sites in older towns to the preparation of plans and guidelines to manage new development. It also addresses the contemporary issues of sustainable development, heritage management, multicultural urbanism and urban regeneration.
A large part of the programme takes place in the field, supported by key contributions from visiting lecturers, practitioners and professionals. An integral feature of the course is the one-week design study-visit in a European institution.
Offered in a wide range of attendance modes, from one year full-time to 2-year part-time, as well as the ability to attend individual modules as a form of Continuing Professional Development, the course's flexible structure suits varying professional entry levels and training aspirations. Students from the EU member states and international students are encouraged to share their experiences and understandings of urban design in various cultural contexts and incorporate these within the programme.
The aims of the programme are:
To provide a flexible course structure. The modules have been designed as discrete urban design 'packages' comprising of three components; a knowledge-base, skills and competences, and a design-led project.
To promote reflective learning. The education philosophy of the course is based on the ideas of knowing-in-action and reflection-in-action. Therefore, the modules are project-led, promoting intervention at a number of spatial scales and contexts allowing for a continuous self-reflective process of learning.
To encourage critical thinking. The reflective learning philosophy encourages a critical approach to dealing with many of the contemporary urban issues which are shaping and conditioning the city of the 21st century.
To develop key skills and competences. The Course recognises the essential skills required by those involved in urban design, whether it is as urban design practitioners or contributors to the process of urban design.
To foster cross-cultural awareness. The Course aims to enhance awareness of the specificity of cultures and communities within European societies as major determinants of spatial transformation.
To develop an understanding of research. The course develops an awareness of the value of carrying out a sustained and intensive investigation in urban design and to present findings in a formal manner.
The Course Structure and Content
The course is structured on a ‘module-credit’ basis to enable you to benefit from a flexible study programme. Each module may be studied independently.
The course programme of lectures, seminars, desk critiques, group tutorials and studio work promote reflection and the sharing gof ideas, in the development of individual coursework. All modules involve field-based visits and discussions to local, national and international places. The course culminates in a major design project or dissertation.
Modules can be taken in any order to build up credits within an approved Credit Accumulation and Transfer scheme. However, the Integrative and Urban Design Foundation modules are prerequisites before further options can be taken.
Each module carries 15 credits. Accumulation of modules credits leads to the following awards:
Postgraduate Certificate: successful completion of 4 modules (60 credits)
Postgraduate Diploma: successful completion of 8 modules (120 credits)
Master’s: successful completion of entire programme (180 credits)
Modules offered are:
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Integrative Module
Discusses urban design principles and methods, and some methods of project working supported by a graphics workshop.
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Urban Design Foundation
Examines some of the influential ideas in 20th century urban design studied at first-hand through study visits to built examples.
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Critical Urban Theory and Practice
Provides the basis for research, critical thinking and some of the most influential and inter-disciplinary post-modern urban theories.
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European Urban Design
Explores contemporary developments in UK and European urban design and regeneration in both cultural and historical contexts by identifying threads of continuity between past and present.
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Innovation and Development
Focuses on the dynamics of the processes of development and the implications for the quality of the built and living environment.
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Design for Change
Is an opportunity to understand and critically appraise the nature and purpose of a range of methods of controlling or guiding design and apply these approaches within the fabric of an established or historic urban context.
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Sustainable Places
Identifies some of the conceptual frameworks for sustainability from theory and practice, and examines the range of criteria that must be considered in moving towards holistic approaches in sustainable action.
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Dissertation/Major Design Project
The culminating major piece of individual research work.
Optional modules:
For further information visit the Faculty website or the School’s website.
Assessment
Most modules are assessed by coursework, which requires students to take part in workshops, seminars, and studio presentations. The dissertation or main project provides one third of the final marks.
The course is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute postgraduate specialist course. Applications are also being made to the Landscape Institute.
Study Visits
Site and field study visits form an important part of the course. In addition to module-related local and national visits, at least one significant residential visit to a European destination is offered.
Placements
The course team can help arrange for full-time students to undertake an optional period of work-based learning in the private or public sector to complement the learning experience on the course.
Entry Requirements
Normally applicants will need a good UK honours degree in a relevant subject, an equivalent overseas qualification, or an equivalent professional qualification with 2 years appropriate experience in the field.
Mature students from other disciplines with an interest in studying urban design will be considered on their merit.
Prospective candidates with 'certified' or 'uncertified prior learning can apply to be assessed for either 'exemption' or 'specific credit' for certain stages or identified modules of the course. International students will need to demonstrate their written and spoken capabilities at Masters level by passing a recognised English Language Test. Portfolio of work to be shown at interview as an opportunity to meet the course team and learn more about the course and the University.
Applications & Visits
You are welcome to visit the school and discuss the relevance of the course to your own situation with the Course Director. Please contact Keiron Nash on 0121 331 7755 for course leaflets or application forms, or the school office on 0121 331 5110, email Joe Holyoak, to get more details on particular aspects of the course. You can also fax on 0121 331 5114.
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