Learn how to shape the lived experience of Australians with a Master of Urban Design. The masters course is available 100% online and is ideal for working professionals.
An urban design masters gives you the training and qualifications to compete for top jobs in the field. You receive the kind of instruction and development opportunities that are only available in a postgraduate program.
A Masters of Urban Design course can build your hands-on skills in areas such as drawing, analysis and design. You also have the opportunity to become knowledgeable in urban planning, a quality that employers value.
UTS Master of Urban Design (Online)
The UTS Online Master of Urban Design is designed for professionals with a background in areas such as architecture, strategic planning or environmental science, who want to develop their practical design capabilities to shape the sustainable design of urban living. Through industry-informed course content and studio-based projects, you will learn to design resilient and creative solutions that enhance the lived experience at any urban scale. This course is delivered 100% online, enabling you to continue working full-time while gaining practical design skills to advance your career.
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
Masters of Urban Design aim to be comprehensive programs. You will study: what the discipline entails at a high level, principles of good design, analytics, sustainability, planning, and communication.
Design studio courses give you the opportunity to develop drawing, analytical and design skills. Themes may include urban typologies and morphologies, place-making, mobility, and the planning environment.
The UTS Master of Urban Design is a 15-subject online program that takes 2.5 years of part-time study to complete. Here are the required subjects.
- Local Strategic Planning
- Structure Planning
- Urban Analytics
- Urban Design Fundamentals
- Urban Redevelopment
- Urban Design Studio 1
- Urban Design Studio 2
- Urban Design Studio 3
- Urban Design Studio 4
- Urban Design Studio 5
- Development Negotiation, Community Engagement
- Planning & Design Theory and Decision Making
- Planning and Environmental Law in Australia
- Property Development and Planning Process
- Sustainable Urban Development
Entry Requirements
The basic entry requirement for a Master of Urban Design is a university degree achieved with solid grades. For those lacking this, you can gain entry based on professional experience and non-degree postgraduate qualifications.
A Graduate Certificate course embedded in a master's program may provide an alternative pathway for those who don't automatically qualify for entry.
Pathway 1: A bachelor's degree or master's degree (or a UTS Graduate Certificate in Property Development or Graduate Diploma in Property Development) with a Credit average or above.
Pathway 2: No degree but a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma with at least a Credit average in one of the following disciplines: architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and regional planning, environmental design, community development, property economics, property development, planning, geography, geographic information science (GIS), environmental science, law, economics. The applicant must also have 3+ years of experience in one of the above fields.
Pathway 3: Work experience in a profession closely related to urban planning or urban design amounting to at least 5 years for mid-career positions and 3 years for senior positions.
More informationPathway 1: A bachelor's degree or master's degree (or a UTS Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Planning, Property Development or Urban Planning and Design) with a Credit average or above.
Pathway 2: No degree but a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma with at least a Credit average in one of the following disciplines: architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and regional planning, environmental design, community development, property economics, property development, planning, geography, geographic information science (GIS), environmental science, law, economics. The applicant must also have 3+ years of experience in one of the above fields.
More informationWhat is Urban Design?
Urban design is the strategic planning of cities and towns to meet aesthetic and functional objectives.
- Urban design differs from architecture, which focuses on individual buildings.
- Urban designers work on a large scale that takes in groups of buildings, streets and public spaces, and neighbourhoods and districts.
An urban design team may consist of built environment professionals with many different specialisations, including in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and civil and municipal engineering.
Developers and builders also play important roles in the execution of urban plans. They help ensure new buildings fit within the broader design.
Urban environments that are compact and walkable provide the most sustainable form of modern living. Spaces need to be built on the scale of humans rather than machines. They should provide a good mixture of uses and services, allowing you to do most things within walking or, at least, cycling distance of home.
A high-functioning urban space provides a range of housing options, giving different types of household units the opportunity to live there. Ideally, they are connected to extensive train systems. They make it easy to include walking and/or cycling in daily life. To be sustainable, an urban space may contain green buildings and draw on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
Smart urban design brings together ideas and plans for energy-efficient living. At the same time, good design creates enjoyable places to live, work and recreate.
In an era of rising energy costs, the payoff from a low-energy lifestyle is only growing.
For example, designing urban areas to lessen our dependence on cars supports sustainability. Fewer cars reduces energy use and lowers carbon emissions. As added bonuses, reducing dependence on cars eases road congestion and puts more things close to home. All these things serve to boost our quality of life.
Urban Design Careers – Job Ad Snippets
Snippets from jobs ads. Random sample.
Urban Designer – City of Perth
We are seeking an Urban Designer to lead the concept design development of public realm projects and to provide specialist advice relating to urban design and landscape projects. Reporting to the Lead City Designer, you will provide direction and specialist technical advice related to urban design in a city environment.
Urban Planner (Design) – Moruya NSW
The opportunity exists for an urban planner with a passion for urban design to help lead cultural change in developing precinct master plans, design of urban release areas, town centre activation plans and Development Control Plans. Exciting current projects requiring urban design input include Batemans Bay urban design, master planning urban release areas and Moruya Town Centre Bypass Project.
Strategic Planner Urban Design – City of Melbourne
You will provide planning and design expertise to the teams working across the City of Melbourne, particularly in areas of growth and renewal including Fishermans Bend, Arden and Macaulay. You will bring relevant tertiary qualifications in urban planning / urban design or a related field and experience in the planning, design and coordination of place-based projects.
Urban Designer – Architectus
We're an architecture and design studio specialising in public, commercial, education, interiors, residential, transport, urban design, and planning. We’re seeking a talented individual for our Melbourne team. You have qualifications in urban design, and/or background in architecture or landscape architecture.
Urban Designer – Sydney NSW
We’re seeking a skilled urban designer to join the Strategic Planning and Urban Design Unit. You'll provide urban design advice on projects including land use planning, transport and public domain project. You have tertiary qualifications in Urban Design, Architecture or a related discipline.
Urban Design Draftsperson – Taylors Development Strategists
Our Urban Development Design team seeks a dynamic Design Draftsperson. Some key tasks: Produce plans including, Concept Plans, Development Plans, Masterplans, Subdivision Plans, Site Analysis and Design response; and Prepare AutoCAD drawings from hand-drawn concepts.
Urban Design Leader – International Architecture Practice
With support from urban design specialists, you'll take projects from initial bid phase through to handover, building your team as you go. Skills and experience include: Tertiary degree in Architecture or Urban Design from Australia or NZ (or equivalent qualification).
Urban Designer – City of Melbourne
Reporting to Team Leader Urban Design, you will provide expertise on planning applications and the preparing design projects, advice, frameworks, strategies and guidelines. You bring a relevant tertiary qualification(s) in Urban Design or related professional discipline - landscape architecture and/or architecture.
