The programme provides specialist postgraduate training in urban design for candidates who already hold a first degree in architecture.

The programme aims to expose candidates to a range of cutting-edge approaches, strategies, research and experimentation techniques in architectural and urban design. Design work operates between body, building, city and metropolitan scales.

The programme is structured around a series of architectural and urban design projects, augmented by lecture and seminar-based teaching in research methods, urban design and contemporary architectural theory. All design work is environmentally and socially sensitive.

The programme involves fieldwork in a selected internationally significant city. However, Edinburgh as the home city and Rome as an important European city inform the study of every other city.

Teaching

You are expected to work daily in the design studio. Design and production work often takes place in our range of manual and digital technical workshops. Tuition is delivered in the studio at least one day per week but can also take place in workshops by arrangement with tutors.

Seminar or lecture courses operate once a week followed by tutorials. Design Project Reviews usually take place in the studio and tend to occur once in the middle of each semester and again towards the end of each semester. Design and research-by-design is encouraged to operate between diverse analogue and digital methods. Drawing, making, representation, installation and publication skills are key to developing design projects.

Assessment

Written work in design and theory courses

Written work will be undertaken in various courses and especially the Design Research Project. In-course assessment and feedback procedures vary slightly from course to course. Submission of written work will normally be through Learn (the University's main online learning platform) but will normally also require a studio submission of a designed piece combining text and drawings.

Studio work

Assignments will have clearly stated assessment criteria that will form the basis of the marking. In common with general design education practice, the main assessment of design progress is by means of project-work (some of it conducted in groups), sometimes complemented by a short written-report. Assessment will always consider:

• the extent to which you have contributed original ideas to the projects
• the creative ability displayed
• the depth and breadth of coursework understanding revealed
• the extent to which the thesis (arguments and discourse) of the project has been framed
• skills in visual, written and verbal communication of the project ideas

Criteria for the assessment of group work vary and will sometimes be based on the overall product of a group, sometimes more on individual contribution. Assessment of project work may require you to engage with techniques of self-assessment and peer assessment.

On completion of this programme, you will have added a significant urban design qualification to an existing architectural degree, one that is held in high regard by potential employers.

The skills and learning you gain will help you pursue a career at a higher level, branch out into a particular specialism or prepare for further postgraduate education.

If you'd like to study on a postgraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through EUCLID, our online application system. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to:

• see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
• get information on what to expect after you apply
• find out about study modes, start dates and fees
• find out where to go for further advice and guidance.

Submitting a portfolio is one of the most important parts of the application process for the Architectural & Urban Design - MSc programme. 

Take me to the guidelines on preparing my portfolio