Course Overview
Course summary
In an increasingly urbanised world, there is growing international demand for urban design graduates. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to participate in this rapidly expanding profession. Urban design involves shaping the physical setting for life in cities. The pace of urban change, and the challenge of making cities efficient, sustainable and meaningful, demands creative solutions to design and management. The urban design courses at Westminster provide a coherent approach to issues that face our cities, combining structured academic study with live design projects, allowing you to develop practical skills, a theoretical understanding and an informed approach to sustainable urban development.
Our urban design course is one of the longest established in the UK. It enjoys an excellent reputation and our graduates are highly respected in the profession. Our students are from a variety of professions and backgrounds, including architecture, landscape architecture and planning, from the UK, Europe, and across the globe. They range from recent graduates seeking to expand their skill base before commencing their career or those considering a shift from an allied profession, to established professionals seeking to specialise or develop a more informed critical approach. Our central London location allows you to interact with a huge variety of practitioners and organisations, as well as drawing on the city’s huge range of resources; you'll be at the heart of the debate over the future of cities.
The course places a strong emphasis on design, practical outputs and a multidisciplinary approach. While focusing on UK examples, the lessons are applicable to a wide range of international and economic contexts. This flexible and student-centred approach is highly valued by former graduates and their employers. The course is delivered by staff with many years' experience in practice, education, training, research, and consultancy in the UK and overseas. Outputs from the course combine into a portfolio demonstrating your ability to deal with the complexities of urban design in a practical and informed manner.
Top reasons to study with us
- Excellent course reputation – Our urban design course is one of the longest established in the UK and has an excellent reputation in the industry
- Learn from experts – You’ll be taught by staff with many years' experience in practice, education, training, research, and consultancy in the UK and overseas
- Central London location – Our central London location allows you to interact with a huge variety of practitioners and organisations, as well as drawing on the city's huge range of resources; you’ll be at the heart of the debate over the future of cities
- Live-design projects – The course theory and design modules utilise London and the south east of England as an urban laboratory where projects are based on active development sites or set within current areas of change, typically experiencing development pressures or other development challenges, similar to work taking place in practice
Climate course action statement
In helping to address the climate crisis, the urban design course will focus on cities as centres of climate challenges and hubs for innovative solutions. The course will highlight the potential of urban design to shape sustainable development and resilient cities and communities through thoughtful approaches to urban form, public space, urban landscapes and urban ecologies.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of what you study on this course. Students taking the Postgraduate Diploma take a total of 120 credits.
Core modules
Based on practical design project enables students to gain an insight into the relationship between urban design theory, practice and local context. Students investigate the city as networks and adjacencies; the intricate dynamics of movement, activity, information, ecology and social interactions that frame the context of urban design interventions.
20 credits
This module It concerns the physical and spatial form of cities at the urban design scale, realised in various geographical or historic contexts, exploring the basic fabric of urban form: buildings, streets and spaces together with the with forces that shape them, how they differ globally, the regulatory contexts, how they provide physical environment to enable activities and livelihoods and how this can influence urban design and planning. Students learn key theoretical approaches to urban morphology, tissue studies, typo-morphological investigations, spatial development patterns, historic development, graphic methods, spatial analysis and various forms and manifestations of the physical built environment of cities.
20 credits
This module allows students to undertake structured research in support of the urban design project module with particular reference to development context, governance and the planning regime, and the development industry. Students undertake a range of investigations, a simplified financial feasibility study, and develop knowledge of a range of building and other urban typologies to be used as design criteria as part of the 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 previously developed in other modules into detailed design positions. The module is an individual site-based design project, allowing students to explore issues in a specific context and to generate original approaches, deploying urban space and built elements to meet stated aims in a comprehensive manner.
20 credits
This is a project-based module that examines the form, use and experience of public space and the notions of perception, identity, diversity, place, place making and place shaping. Projects are used to critically assess the character of urban spaces and propose responsive design interventions. The understanding of the use and experience of these spaces is supported by lectures and selected readings of key thinkers in the field.
20 credits
A residential field trip normally undertaken in a European city over 5 or 6 days. Normally the trip is to a single city with a range of urban forms from a variety of periods and which is undergoing growth. The trip provides an opportunity to analyse urban form, its evolution, the qualities of public spaces, how they are used and what makes them successful or otherwise. These observations are recorded in a notebook. The field trip is an important component of the course as a whole and it will contribute to the quality of assessments on other modules.
(no credits)
An introduction to the concepts and ideas of sustainability in urban development. Key debates on planning sustainable cities and neighbourhoods. Contemporary issues surrounding the theory and practice of sustainable development. Interdisciplinary and disciplinary discussions on the practice and implementation of sustainable development in planning and design. Development of key study and professional skills (e.g. critical thinking and analysis, site analysis, sustainability appraisal, teamwork, as well as written and visual presentation skills).
20 credits
Option modules
You'll choose one option module to take.
This is a project-based module where students investigate industry-standard software and datasets easily available for analysis and representation of spatial phenomena. Supported by a series of lectures the module has a focus on student led projects developing a critical understanding of how software can enhance practice rather than developing advanced software skills.
20 credits
This is a theory and case study-based module that critically examines the role of and definition of nature in urban environments. It looks at the role of nature, ecology and landscape as powerful paradigms in cities in the late 20th / early 21st century. Socioenvironmental sustainability, urban ecology, adaptive reuse and the re-emergence of natural landscape features as part of a city’s active green infrastructure are addressed and discussed through relevant literature. International case studies are explored in the context of a growing awareness of the importance of city ecologies for health and wellbeing, sustainability and the future design of cities.
20 credits
This module provides background on environmental policy and climate change. It sets out the theoretical framework to start with, and then the international context for sustainable development, energy efficiency and climate change. It explores implications for the built environment in a range of development contexts, includes analysis of key policy concerns and planning and design responses comparatively across different institutional and cultural contexts. It also reviews techniques for assessing the impacts of development and examines the role that effective environmental strategies and policies in planning and related fields can pursue to reach sustainable development.
20 credits
An introduction to the historic urban landscapes that form an important part of most towns and cities throughout the world. Theory and conservation practice evaluated in a legislative and case law context. Students will learn the techniques of character appraisal and how they can form a platform for further creative intervention and develop an understanding of the specific legislative constraints relating to heritage assets.
20 credits
Following the growing awareness and recognisance of people's voices in shaping their places, the module addresses key issues around public engagement and themes of sustainability applied to the local scale, by looking at challenges addressed by communities and grassroots, from an interdisciplinary perspective. The participants will gain practical skills through the observation and participation to real-life projects, by being taught and working within an interdisciplinary team, composed of various speakers from different fields and professional horizons, the local authorities and the community groups. They will develop a reflective approach on ways to serve the community and enhance social capital and will additionally benefit from an international exposure through an exchange workshop with a European university. Students will gain theoretical knowledge on key ideas related to sustainability, community, participation, social capital and governance, inequalities issues and cultural diversity attached to place-making processes; and develop analytical skills on key historical and contemporary debates about community engagement, community diversity through London's key challenges for sustainability and by learning on international cases.
20 credits
Housing and economic development; debates about housing supply; the role of public policy including planning in promoting housing development; the development of affordable housing; concentrations of social deprivation and negative neighbourhood effects; strategies for neighbourhood regeneration; governance and capacity building; tackling worklessness; policy evaluation.
20 credits
Spatial planning for risk management, including reducing vulnerability and building urban resilience as it relates to the built environment, urban governance and long-term climate change and development needs. Integrates sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation concerns with disaster planning and urban risk management.
20 credits
Participatory planning, housing and land management for urban regeneration and community development in the developed and developing world contexts (using UK and European case studies as a point of reference where appropriate); policies and methods for sustainable neighbourhood planning including informal, low-income housing and settlements in developing world cities.
20 credits
International perspective on spatial planning principles and methods, comparing different paradigms in spatial planning and sustainable urban form for new and existing towns and cities and their regions. Role of spatial planning and land development at the strategic level in mediating between market forces and social need and in the spatial co-ordination of sectoral policies and programmes.
20 credits
This module focuses on traffic and streets, where traffic refers to a range of urban transport modes. It covers movement and place functions in urban contexts, including tensions within and between each. Students analyse approaches to evaluating urban street environments, particularly focused on walking and cycling. This incorporates comparisons of methodological approaches used within different streetscape contexts and within different countries.
20 credits
The module explores changes in land use in relation to changes in city form and function. It focuses on how the changing planning system (including specific funding systems and processes, and the broader planning framework) shapes transport systems and their sustainability. Different views on transport and land use planning are considered, including local authority and developer perspectives. The module incorporates discussion of transport modelling and forecasting, and an introduction to relevant software as it is used within planning and policy-making. The module considers social and environmental trends and constraints as they affect planning for future transport systems.
20 credits
This module focuses on destinations and will evaluate and debate destination development strategies. It will consider alternative destination management structures and assess the role of destination planning in limiting the negative impacts of tourism and ensuring competitiveness. The module will follow a case study approach with students assessing destination responses to different scenarios and challenges. Both UK and overseas destinations will be studied, ranging across resort, urban and rural settings.
20 credits
For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).
To request an accessible version please email [email protected]
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Careers
Graduates of this course 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.
This course has a strong vocational focus with a good reputation within the industry. 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.
While it is more common for graduates in urban design to pursue careers in design practice, some do move on to higher study, and this course provides a good grounding for those students who have taken up research degrees.
Industry knowledge
You’ll be taught by staff with many years' experience in practice, education, training, research, and consultancy in the UK and overseas.
Stand out from the crowd
With a growing international demand for urban design graduates, this course will equip you 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 our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry links
This course benefits from links with a number of organisations including:
- Design Council (formerly CABE)
- New London Architecture (NLA)
- The Design Review Panel
- The Royal Town Planning Institute
- The Urban Design Group
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Urban designer
- Master planner
- Strategic planner
- Urban design officer
- Conservation officer
- Urban architect
- Urbanist
- Environmental planner
- Public realm designer
Graduate employers
Graduates from our urban design courses have found employment at organisations including:
- 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
Westminster Employability Award
Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.
The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, allowing you to choose from a set of extracurricular activities.
Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.
Read more about our Westminster Employability Award.
Course Leader
David Mathewson
Senior Lecturer
I am an 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. I studied urban design at the Architectural Association in London, as well as the International Planning + Sustainable Development course here at Westminster. I studied undergraduate architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington in the USA and worked for many years at large urban consultancies in London such as Skidmore Owings & Merrill, AECOM and PLP Architecture, as well as smaller firms in New York City focusing on bespoke residential projects.
As a Londoner for the past 15 years I feel right at home in this amazing world city, with all its fascinating history, urban form and architecture, and understand myself how it is to be a newcomer here.
Urban design sits at the intersection of architecture, planning and landscape. It is practiced at the scale of the region, city and neighbourhood. It utilises the open spaces, movement networks and built form of the city, for the benefit of its inhabitants.
Why study this course?
Central London location
Our central London location allows you to interact with a huge variety of practitioners and organisations, as well as drawing on the city's huge range of resources.
Outstanding facilities
We have vibrant design studios and a cutting-edge Fabrication Laboratory.
Excellent course reputation
Our urban design course is one of the longest established in the UK and has an excellent reputation in the industry.
Entry Requirements
A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in architecture, landscape architecture, town planning or another related discipline, together with practical or professional experience in their own field or in urban design. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio.
If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and no element below 6.0.
Applicants are required to submit one academic reference.
Recognition of prior learning and experience
If you have previously studied at university level, or have equivalent work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your course at Westminster. For more information, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page.
Application process
Visit our How to apply page for more information on:
- the application process
- what you need to apply
- deadlines for applications
A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in architecture, landscape architecture, town planning or another related discipline, together with practical or professional experience in their own field or in urban design. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio.
If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and no element below 6.0.
Applicants are required to submit one academic reference.
Recognition of prior learning and experience
If you have previously studied at university level, or have equivalent work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your course at Westminster. For more information, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page.
Application process
Visit our How to apply page for more information on:
- the application process
- what you need to apply
- deadlines for applications
More information
Learn new skills
Volunteer and gain new skills
We offer a number of different volunteering opportunities for you to learn new skills, create connections, and make a difference in the community.
Develop your entrepreneurial skills
Our award-winning Westminster Enterprise Network offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your start-up projects.
Get extra qualifications
We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
Fees and Funding
UK tuition fee: £6,750 (Price per academic 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.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
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. 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.
Find out more about paying your fees.
Funding
There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
Find out more about postgraduate student funding options.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
The field trip fee is not included in your tuition fee. The fee is reviewed annually so actual charges may vary. You'll be advised of any changes ahead of the trip.
See more information on what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £10,750 (Price per academic 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.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
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. 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.
Find out more about paying your fees.
Funding
There are a number of funding schemes available to help you fund your studies with us.
Find out more about funding for international students.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
Facilities
Find out more about facilities at the School of Architecture and Cities.
Find out more about facilities at the School of Architecture and Cities.
Architecture studios
Our architecture studios provide unrivalled facilities for study and collaborative learning.
Architecture studios
Our architecture studios provide unrivalled facilities for study and collaborative learning.
Architecture studios
Our architecture studios provide unrivalled facilities for study and collaborative learning.
Fabrication Laboratory
The Fabrication Laboratory allows students to explore the exciting field of digital fabrication.
Fabrication Laboratory
Equipment includes ABS and plaster 3D printing, CNC knife cutting, large-scale CNC routing, CNC metal milling and robot fabrication.
Fabrication Laboratory
Work created in the Fabrication Laboratory.
Marylebone Library
Marylebone Library has a range of books and other resources on Architecture and Interiors.
Teaching and Assessment
Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.
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. Learning typically falls into two broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, dissertation/final project research, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you’ll be assessed
Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, podcasts, blogs
- Coursework: examples include essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Data from the academic year 2023/24
Research groups
Our research achieves real-world impact and we are proud to claim a rich and diverse profile of high-quality research and knowledge exchange in a wide range of disciplines.
Find out more about our research groups related to this course:
Supporting you
Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
- Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
- Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more
Course location
In the heart of London, our Marylebone Campus is home to the Westminster Business School and our Architecture, Planning and Tourism courses. Specialist workshops, dedicated digital and architecture studios, and our extensive Marylebone Library offer students everything they need for academic success.
Marylebone Campus is opposite Baker Street tube station and within easy walking distance of Regent's Park and Marylebone High Street.
For more details, visit our Marylebone Campus page.
Contact us
Call our dedicated team on:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
More information
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