The Master of Urban Design develops professionals who can understand the city as possessing both spatial and temporal elements that interplay in a complex system, and who can design for contemporary challenges such as mass urbanisation and changing climate demands.

Differing from architecture, which focuses on individual buildings and structures, urban design looks at groups of buildings, streetscapes, landscapes and the provision of municipal services, and aims to create harmonious, cohesive spaces.

By working in interdisciplinary teams that encourage interaction, collaboration and collegiate working environments, our students are employment-ready for a challenging and rewarding career in Urban Design.

If you’re looking for networks to help with internships and job opportunities, or the funds to help you get to Melbourne, we have scholarships and bursaries to get you connected overseas and get you to Melbourne when you can. Find out what you may be eligible for.

Course specialities

The Master of Urban Design puts theory into practice via our suite of studios. Studios emphasise the importance of place and fieldwork in design and studio projects are approached as speculative design-research explorations, where innovation and discovery are combined with advanced geospatial analytics, multidimensional and procedural modelling, and virtual reality technology.

Professional and community involvement play an integral role in our studio experiences.

You will undertake a range of history and theory subjects along with three design studios where you develop your practical, creative skills to apply on real-life urban design problems.

The program covers:

• Urban history, theory and communications;
• Urban design practice;
• Urban planning issues;
• Urban design research.

Students must complete:

• 125 points of core subjects
• 50 points of electives
• Students also complete 25 points from ABPL90376 Urban Design Thesis, which comprise the degree's capstone experience and provide students with the necessary research preparation for doctoral study.

Accreditation

The Master of Urban Design is recognised by:

• Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)

Career Outcomes

Upon graduation your skills can be applied in a range of urban design and associated planning and design roles. Urban design skills are in great demand throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific region and your expertise in the design of urban public spaces and strategic planning will provide the opportunity to work locally and globally.

Some of the firms our graduates work for are:

• AECOM
• City of Melbourne
• City of Greater Geelong
• Darebin City Council
• David Lock Associates
• FJMT Architects
• GHD Woodhead
• Hansen Partnership
• Moreland City Council
• Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning and Design Institute
• Toronto City Planning
• Tract Consultants
• UN-Habitat
• Victorian Planning Authority

Our graduates work as:

• Urban Designer
• Urban Analytics & Visualisation Manager
• Strategic Planner
• Urban and Interior Designer
• Transport Analyst
• Senior Design Advisor
• Planning Designer
• Design Manager

Supporting your next step in your career:

If you’ve completed your undergraduate studies at an Australian university, you’ll be automatically considered for a Melbourne Graduate Scholarship to support you starting the next chapter in your career.  There’s no need to apply, because we’ll assess your application and you could be eligible for A$5,000.

If you’re an international student, whether you're a new or current student, you could be eligible for a merit-based scholarships of A$10,000 or more, wherever you are in the world. Learn more about undergraduate study options or graduate study options.

Graduate pathways

Once you've completed your undergraduate degree, you can go on to gain employment or begin a graduate degree and work towards a professional qualification such as law, engineering or medicine. Or you could join our graduate research community and contribute to our world-changing research.

Your graduate degree will be internationally recognised, and set you apart from those who study a traditional Australian single or double degree.

Explore the graduate pathways available once you complete your undergraduate degree here.

In order to be considered for entry applicants must meet the following criteria: An undergraduate degree in urban design, landscape architecture, or architecture with a weighted average mark

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.