Building and Urban Design in Development MSc

UCL (University College London)

UCL’s Building and Urban Design in Development MSc immerses you in the theory and practice of imagining and building just cities and communities. Our course is designed to centre the political and social processes of urban design with a political economy view on space and power, and a focus on cities located in the Global South. Cities are increasingly being shaped by neoliberal, market-led policies that deepen inequalities and increase the vulnerabilities of already marginalised communities. These challenges are intensified by the overlapping effects of climate change, displacement, disaster, and colonial legacies. In response, the Building and Urban Design in Development MSc equips you to rethink how cities are designed and to develop more inclusive, just and sustainable approaches to urban transformation around the world. We take a political economy view of space and power, focusing on cities in the Global South to explore how spatial injustices manifest in different contexts. This course prepares you for your future career as an urban designer by giving you experience working with case studies and identifying shared challenges and opportunities for knowledge exchange between cities. Throughout this course, you learn methodologies and frameworks for a critical, participatory and community-based approach to urban design and apply them as practical tools for change. You undertake studio work that builds your design skills and participate in development workshops that simulate the complex processes of negotiating development strategies. Through fieldwork conducted in collaboration with UK and international partners, you test ideas, refine your design approach and reflect on your methods and impact. Together, you create outputs that support community goals and build your skills for a future career in urban design. You shape your learning by choosing from a wide range of optional modules that deepen your understanding of spatial justice, housing, disaster recovery, environmental change, mobility and governance. These modules allow you to explore how urban design can respond to complex challenges in diverse contexts, and support your development as a reflective, community-focused practitioner. The Building and Urban Design in Development MSc attracts a diverse international cohort of urban designers, architects, planners, geographers, social scientists and artists committed to promoting spatial justice in the face of inequality and environmental degradation. This diversity creates a collaborative learning environment, where you negotiate ideas and approaches with peers from a range of professional and academic backgrounds. We welcome applications from both experienced professionals looking to expand their skills and those new to the field with a strong interest in urban design, spatial justice and the political economy of cities in the Global South. This programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with a duration of 5 calendar years.