Master of Urban Design

Contribute to the construction of healthy cities with a Master of Urban Design.

As cities around the world struggle to accommodate rapid population growth you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to help them respond to the challenges of climate change, housing affordability, urban mobility and public health.

You’ll develop a deep understanding of contemporary design thinking, become skilled in analysing urban spaces, and in using cutting-edge design technologies.

Upon graduation, you’ll have the opportunity to forge a career in urban design and planning practices, architecture firms, or in local government planning authorities and local councils.

To qualify for the award of Master of Urban Design, students must complete 200 credit points:

• 9 core units (162.5 credit points)
• 3 elective units (37.5 credit points)

Units of study

Students must complete the following nine units of study:

ARC70001 Design Research Studio A ARC80001 Dynamic Modelling of Cities ARC70004 Theories of Buildings and Cities ARC70003 Design Research Studio B ARC70005 Urban Informatics and Modelling ARC80002 Design Research Studio C ARC80006 Urban Economics and Governance ARC80003 Design Research Studio D ARC80007 Planning Law, Strategic & Statutory Planning

Students must complete three electives (37.5 credit points) from the following list or any general postgraduate electives from elsewhere in the university:

DDD40001 Studio 1: Methods for Design Research DDD60003 Digital Sketching and Ideation DDD60005 Animation and Motion Graphics DDD60008 Visualisation and Presentation Techniques DDD70016 Creative Entrepreneurship DDD70018 Design Leadership DDD70002 Cross- Cultural Social Design Strategy DDD80012 DFM Toolbox: Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration 1 CVE80003 Transport Planning, Modelling and Economics

Admission to the Master of Urban Design will require one of the following:

• successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture) or
• successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a major in Architecture or
• successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) with an advanced minor in Architecture or
• successful completion of another three year undergraduate architectural course*.

*In the case of completing another three year undergraduate architectural course, a review of prior learning in relation to the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture) will be necessary. Supplemental transitionary classes may be required.

Selection will be made using a Range of Criteria which can include (but not be limited to):

• a pre-selection kit requiring submission of an online portfolio (between 10 and 20 pages) **
• a personal motivation statement
• university transcripts.

**Pre-selection kit: Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of between 10 and 20 pages, which must address architecture- and/or urban design-related questions and include visual examples; and provide a 200-400 word written statement, the prompts for which can be found on the application portal.

• conceptual thinking and level of ambition in your projects;
• spatial thinking, planning and a sense of scale;
• digital and analogue communication skills, including the use of architectural drawing conventions; and
• construction and environmental technology.

Think carefully about how you present your portfolio as we will also consider how you structure your content into a clear, compelling story about yourself and your passion for, and commitment to, architecture and urban design.

• critically reflect on and apply knowledge of contemporary urban design theory and practice demonstrating comprehension of international and local planning theory and history, planning law and statutory planning, urban economics, sustainability, land use and urban design, and strategic planning
• apply analytical design research methods with an understanding of sourcing credible, relevant data to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and apply these to the broader social, economic and environmental urban processes
• apply creative spatial thinking and innovation approaches in a range of settings and scales while critically presenting design ideas and research results to explain, interpret and evaluate the impact of a specific complex Urban Design solution
• communicate clearly and concisely using a range of media to present, explain, and interpret design propositions, methodologies, conclusions, professional decisions and urban analysis to diverse audiences
• apply technical design modelling and planning skills to research, analyse, design, and evaluate plans, policies, strategies and guidelines, land uses allocations, resources and manage implementation processes
• apply a high standard of professional ethics in a variety of environments, meeting conduct and ethical behaviour standards relevant to a variety of circumstances
• undertake independent scholarship demonstrating the capacity to plan and execute a research-based urban design project and properly use a vocabulary of urban design paradigms and case studies to contextualise their proposition.

• capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas;
• entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community;
• effective and ethical in work and community situations;
• adaptable and able to manage change; and
• aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing

In addition to these attributes, the Master of Urban Design aims to develop its graduates to be:

• creative future design thinkers able to use unconventional and experimental design methods to explore speculative future scenarios
• strategic thinkers – able to apply strategic concepts, skills and knowledge in a range of spatial settings;
• multi-dimensional thinkers – able to conceptualise, analyse and represent spatio-temporal aspects of urban environments (including 3D space, time, temperature, humidity, shade, air quality, safety)
• engage with people, technology and data to inform design
• able to perform critical analysis and synthesis using data and advanced digital tools
• capable of recognising the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognising the first peoples of Australia’s relationship to Land and Country; planning practice in historical and contemporary terms; and understand accepted international standards of best practice working with Indigenous communities
• effective and ethical working team members, with commitment to shared goals, team processes and appropriate interpersonal skills, including respect, reliability, mutual supportiveness and time management
• clear communicators – able to write and present with clarity, logic, structure, relevance, accuracy and precision of expression in a range of contexts
• aware of challenges and opportunities posed by operating in diverse and globally oriented settings
• work in diverse employment situations requiring the application of the theory, knowledge and practice of urban design and planning.
• work in a variety of professional environments, meeting high standards of conduct and ethical behaviour relevant to a variety of circumstances.
• produce various types of plans, policies, strategies and guidelines.
• work effectively within legal frameworks in the development, implementation and administration of statutory plans, policies and regulations.
• to act competently and responsibly in complex situations and in a professional and ethical manner, while understanding, promoting and actively working in the public interest.