Study urban design

Study urban design

Work at the nexus of architecture and urban and regional planning

Develop expertise in different types of urban projects, and inform your professional practice with a thorough understanding of the policy environment that drives design and development.

Over the last century, urban design gradually emerged as a distinct field in response to the need for architects and urban and regional planners to communicate efficiently. There was also a need for better design skills at urban scales: streets, street blocks, town centres, city districts, new suburbs, cross-city infrastructure etc. Since introduction, urban design has expanded enormously in response to the growing complexity of public life between buildings and within the urban domain.

Today, urban design provides a way of thinking, a framework, in response to wicked contemporary urban problems. It links design skills and innovation, with integrated socio-spatial, environmental, and political analysis of urban structure and context to achieve better outcomes for all.

Find an urban design course

Explore your study options

Undergraduate courses

Bachelor of Architecture and Environments

The Bachelor of Architecture and Environments offers you a career pathway into the future of architecture, design, construction and urban planning. This multidisciplinary degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in today’s complex global construction industries.

Urban Studies Major

The Urban Studies Major will equip you with the skills and knowledge to understand the complexity of cities and to deal with urban problems that will be the centre of a vast array of professions. It will challenge you to think about the dynamic relationship between understanding cities and city-making by exposing you to a range of critical approaches and professional practices vital to urban life.

Postgraduate courses

Master of Urban Design

The Master of Urban Design will help you to develop expertise in different types of urban projects, and inform your professional practice with a thorough understanding of the policy environment that drives design and development.

At the master’s level, our Urban Design degree will take 1.5 years full time to complete (72 credit points). 

 

Related courses

Master of Urbanism

The Master of Urbanism is a two‑year, 96-credit-point version of the specialist 18-month master’s program.

This extended timeframe enables you to experience a cross‑disciplinary approach and develop a broad knowledge of urbanism, alongside a deep specialisation in urban design.