Urban Design

Collaborate with local and global communities to rethink the way that cities and neighbourhoods are designed in this studio-based course.

Course description

Urban design professionals are in high demand. We'll help you to develop design skills that relate to a broader social, environmental and economic context to enable you to link individual architectural projects with overall planning strategies.

Central to the course is the design studio project where you'll work with local communities and study core modules on urban design theory and practice. You'll be able to explore a range of themes through optional modules and you'll take part in study trips and thematic workshops.

You’ll be encouraged to critically examine the key urban development challenges that cities are facing today. You can explore local urban areas in Sheffield and compare these with other UK and international contexts in Europe as well as in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. You'll also investigate the role of designers and citizens in the processes of city making.

By joining one of the UK's top schools of architecture you'll also be part of a vibrant and creative community that positively influences architectural policies which address public and professional needs. As a Sheffield student you'll engage with real issues affecting the built environment. You'll be encouraged to provide social and environmental solutions to the challenges of our time.

You can complete the programme as a full-time course over one year or you may also study it as a part-time course over two years, with timetabled learning on a single week day. The part-time course is especially suitable for built environment and design professionals who wish to continue working throughout their studies.

Teaching

Your learning and teaching will involve neighbourhood walks, symposiums, lectures, student-led seminars and reflection sessions supported by tutorials, seminars and workshops. The course ends with an individual thesis that brings together all the modules.