Master of Urban Design

To visit the website of the program, please click here.

Overview

The Master of Urban Design provides advanced education for designers and planners who aim to shape the physical form and public life of cities through research-informed, context-sensitive, and implementable design. The program focuses on the spatial quality of urban environments—streets, squares, neighborhoods, waterfronts, and metropolitan landscapes—linking design decisions to social equity, environmental performance, cultural heritage, and governance and implementation tools.

The curriculum typically combines design studios with supporting theoretical and methodological coursework. Studios serve as the core learning environment, where students develop urban design proposals at multiple scales using site analysis, morphological reading, public-space design principles, and scenario-based approaches. Complementary courses deepen students' competencies in urban design theory, urban form and morphology, place-making and inclusive public space, climate-responsive and nature-based design, mobility and public realm integration, and advanced visualization and representation techniques. Following the first two semesters in which the design studio and supplementary courses are offered, the students are expected to work on their master's thesis under the supervision of research advisor.

Curriculum

Course Descriptions

UD501 Urban Design Studio I (4-4)6 

The studio course focuses on the intrinsic complexity of urban conditions through various themes based on a careful understanding of sociology, morphology, ecology and economics of the city from a multi-scalar perspective. In this context, the students from different disciplinary backgrounds are provided with fundamental skills and knowledge to integrate social, cultural and political aspects with morphology by design while making use of legal and administrative tools in real world situations. While the creative drive of imagination is encouraged to envision the new possibilities of future life patterns in cities, strategic perspective to design is aimed to develop in urban context.

UD502 Urban Design Studio II (4-4)6 

This course provides an intensive, practice-oriented environment for critically exploring and shaping contemporary urban spaces. Grounded in interdisciplinary thinking, it engages students in the design of complex urban settings through site-based inquiry, contextual analysis, and strategic design interventions. The course focuses on a specific urban site and challenges students to develop innovative, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive design proposals that respond to real-world social, spatial, social, environmental and economic dynamics. Through iterative phases—including site visits, mapping, precedent analysis, stakeholder engagement, and scenario development—students will be encouraged to explore new urban imaginaries and communicate their ideas through digital, visual, spatial, and narrative formats. The studio encourages collaborative learning and stakeholders’ involvement, while also supporting individual design development.