Urban Design MA, PGDip
Our Urban Design master's, PGDip is aimed at built environment professionals who want to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in the field of urban design.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
This Urban Design master's prepares you to contribute towards an improvement in the quality of the built environment.
We've structured the course around three main urban projects. Each explores key contemporary issues in urban design:
- urban regeneration
- housing
- public space and engagement
Theoretical and practical lectures, seminars and workshops underpin these projects. The course is primarily studio based. There is an emphasis on independent learning. You're encouraged to cultivate a studio atmosphere within your year group. You'll learn from each other's diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
The Urban Design master's builds on the strengths of the multidisciplinarity of its cohort. It complements existing skills and experience in built environment-related disciplines. You'll develop new skills in understanding and designing in physical, social and economic contexts.
Students from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds could take this course; including:
- architecture
- planning
- landscape architecture
- property development
- art
- community engagement
Our Urban Design master's, PGDip has strong links with the Urban Design Group (UDG). One of our graduates won the student prize at the National Urban Design Awards 2014. Sarah Cawrse talks about her winning submission ‘Designing Incentives for Healthy Lifestyles: Promoting food access, physical activity and social interaction through design’. Sarah based this project on Elswick in Newcastle.
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Important information
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Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
An MA is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of social sciences, art and humanities, and business, consulting and management. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words
You'll usually study an MA full-time over 12 months.
A Master of Arts is awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60 credit dissertation or research project.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
A PGDip is awarded if you successfully complete all of the taught modules (120 credits).
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
What you'll learn
The programme is structured around three main design projects that each explore key contemporary issues in urban design, currently:
- urban regeneration
- housing
- public space/engagement
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Urban design and the use of design codes | 20 |
| Housing Alternatives | 40 |
| Design studio | 40 |
| Design thesis | 60 |
| Urban Design Seminars | 10 |
| Principles and Practice of Urban Design (MAUD) | 10 |
Specialist RTPI acccreditation is available to Newcastle University graduates following completion of the BA Urban Planning course, or through the BA Architecture and Urban Planning + Certificate in Planning Practice + MA Urban Design pathway, who successfully complete a planning-related placement year and the Certificate in Planning Practice prior to starting MA Urban Design and the Reflexive Practitioner module.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Urban design and the use of design codes | 20 |
| Housing Alternatives | 40 |
| Design studio | 40 |
| Urban Design Seminars | 10 |
| Principles and Practice of Urban Design (MAUD) | 10 |
How you'll learn
Theoretical and practical lectures, seminars and workshops underpin the projects.
The programme is heavily studio based and there is an emphasis on independent learning.
Year groups are encouraged to cultivate a studio atmosphere where students benefit from each other's diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Computer assessment
- Design or creative project
- Professional skills assessments
- Reflective log
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your future
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape has excellent studio teaching facilities and our research suite provides designated space and equipment for each postgraduate researcher. Our facilities include:
- studios
- exhibition spaces
- print room
- seminar rooms
- IT suites
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course
Our Architecture and Landscape Architecture Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.
How to apply
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Vicky Young
Learning and Teaching Assistant
School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 20 86004
Email: vicky.young1@newcastle.ac.uk
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