Course overview
- Description
This course is offered by the School of Design and delivered by the Australian Urban Design Research Centre. Students develop in-depth understanding of urban design theories and issues; techniques of urban analysis; and skills for the design and development of cities and urban places. Through their research by dissertation and/or design they design and implement a process to resolve a complex urban problem.
- Course title
- Master of Urban Design (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MUrbDes
- Course code
- 25530
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2023
- Administered by
- UWA Design School
- CRICOS code
- 074757J
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 2 years
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Jill Penter
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
Specialisations
FA-ENVPL Environmental Planning
FA-LDARC Landscape Design
FA-URPLN Urban and Regional Planning
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2023 – may be available in 2024 or 2025
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students in Course by Coursework only must select a Focus Area and 12 points of Option units.
Students in Course by Coursework and Dissertation are not required to take any Option units.
Take all units (48 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2 | ARLA4506 | Research Strategies in Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Architecture |
| 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial |
S2 | URBD5802 | Urban Design Studio 2 (12 points) | None | 6 hours studio per week |
S1 | URBD5803 | Sustainability and Cities | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week |
S1 | URBD5804 | Urban Design Studio 1 (12 points) | None | 6 hours studio per week |
S2 | URBD5805 | Contemporary Urbanism | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week |
S1 | URBD5807 | The Forces that Shape Cities |
| 3 hours seminar per week |
Students completing this degree by coursework only, select units from this group to the value of 12 points.
Coursework Option Units
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1 | ARCT5521 | Empowering Communities Through Design | None | 3 hours per week |
S1 | ARCT5576 | Introduction to Architectural Conservation |
| Lectures: 24 hours; tutorials/site visits: 11 hours |
S2 | ARCT5577 | Conservation in Cultural Landscapes, Historic Towns and Urban Precincts |
| Introductory lecture: 1 x 2 hours; lectures/field work exercises/seminars: 3 hours per week |
S2 | ARCT5885 | Bio-Based Materials in Global Settings | None | lectures: 1 hour; workshop/practical classes; 2 hours for up to 12 weeks |
S1, S2 | ENVT4411 | Geographic Information Systems Applications |
| The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. This includes podcasts for viewing and reading to be undertaken prior to attending one compulsory 3-hour workshop per week where students will be contributing to interactive discussions together with practical lab work using GIS software. Completion of the practical workshop labs is necessary to enable skills for completing written unit assessment. Independent learning is required throughout the unit. |
S2 | ENVT5518 | The Sustainable Development Goals |
| Lectures: 2 hours per week for nine weeks; workshop/practical classes: 2 hours a week for nine weeks |
S1 | ENVT5561 | GIS and Spatial Analysis: Multifunctional Landscapes |
| 150 |
S2 | GEOG4001 | Migration and Development | None | workshops: 5 hours per week for 8 weeks (block taught with a 2-hour teaching block, followed by a break of at least 1 hour, then a 3-hour teaching block—all on the same day) |
S1 | GEOG4003 | Fundamentals of Planning | None | Video presentations - up to 20 x 20 minutes Virtual fieldwork - 3 days |
N/A | GEOG5002 | Development Practice | None | lectures/in-class workshops: 5 hours per week (for 9 weeks); reading/ researching/writing: 13 hours per week (for 8 weeks) |
S2 | GEOG5006 | Protected Area Management and Conservation | None | 4 hours per week |
S2 | LACH4421 | Australian Landscapes | None | seminars: 3–4 hours per week |
S1 | LACH4423 | Landscape and Urban Ecology | None | seminar (lectures: 1 hour per week and seminars: 3 hours per week) |
S1 | LACH4505 | Critical Theory: 'isms and 'ologies in Landscape Architecture | None | seminars: 3–4 hours per week |
S1 | PLNG5405 | Principles of Urban and Regional Economics | None | 20 hours over 10 weeks split between lectures and seminars |
S2 | PLNG5411 | Urban and Regional Analysis |
| 40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours) |
N/A | PLNG5511 | Climate Change Policy and Planning | None | One day a week over six weeks. |
NS, S1, S2 | WILG5001 | Professional Development Practicum A |
| 150 hours for pre-placement, placement and post-placement activities |
NS, S1, S2 | WILG5002 | Professional Development Practicum B |
| 150 hours for pre-placement, placement and post-placement activities |
For students completing the course by coursework and dissertation, take all units from this group (48 points).
Dissertation
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | URBD5821 | Urban Design Dissertation (full-time) (24 points) |
| up to 3 hours per week consultation |
S1, S2 | URBD5822 | Urban Design Dissertation (part-time) (48 points) |
| up to 3 hours per week consultation |
Environmental Planning (focus area)
Take all units (30 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | ENVT4411 | Geographic Information Systems Applications |
| The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. This includes podcasts for viewing and reading to be undertaken prior to attending one compulsory 3-hour workshop per week where students will be contributing to interactive discussions together with practical lab work using GIS software. Completion of the practical workshop labs is necessary to enable skills for completing written unit assessment. Independent learning is required throughout the unit. |
S1 | GEOG4003 | Fundamentals of Planning | None | Video presentations - up to 20 x 20 minutes Virtual fieldwork - 3 days |
S2 | PLNG5411 | Urban and Regional Analysis |
| 40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours) |
S1, S2 | URBD5806 | Urban Design Capstone Studio (12 points) | 6 hours studio per week |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | ENVT4421 | Fundamentals of Environmental Management | ||
S2 | ENVT5518 | The Sustainable Development Goals |
| Lectures: 2 hours per week for nine weeks; workshop/practical classes: 2 hours a week for nine weeks |
S1 | LACH4423 | Landscape and Urban Ecology | None | seminar (lectures: 1 hour per week and seminars: 3 hours per week) |
Landscape Design (focus area)
Take all units (36 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2 | LACH4421 | Australian Landscapes | None | seminars: 3–4 hours per week |
S1 | LACH4423 | Landscape and Urban Ecology | None | seminar (lectures: 1 hour per week and seminars: 3 hours per week) |
S1 | LACH5424 | Design Studio—Complexity (12 points) |
| studio: up to 9 hours per week |
S1, S2 | URBD5806 | Urban Design Capstone Studio (12 points) | 6 hours studio per week |
Urban and Regional Planning (focus area)
Take all units (36 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1 | GEOG4003 | Fundamentals of Planning | None | Video presentations - up to 20 x 20 minutes Virtual fieldwork - 3 days |
S2 | GEOG5006 | Protected Area Management and Conservation | None | 4 hours per week |
NS, S1, S2 | PLNG5410 | Geography, Planning, Environment and Development Practicum |
| practicum: 100 hours; workshops/journal and presentation preparation: 50 hours. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours |
S2 | PLNG5411 | Urban and Regional Analysis |
| 40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours) |
S1, S2 | URBD5806 | Urban Design Capstone Studio (12 points) | 6 hours studio per week |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.
(3) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have
(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
and
(c) successfully completed prior study in a field relevant to Urban Design; or
(2) completed a Graduate Certificate in Urban Design or Graduate Diploma in Urban Design at UWA.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:
- 25210 Graduate Certificate in Urban Design (24 points)
- 25310 Graduate Diploma in Urban Design (48 points)
- 25530 Master of Urban Design (96 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Urban Design course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points which must include course core units and focus area units. The course comprises the following focus areas:
- FA-ENVPL Environmental Planning
- FA-LDARC Landscape Design
- FA-URPLN Urban and Regional Planning
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Restriction on enrolment
14. A student must not enrol in URBD5804 Urban Design Studio 1 and URBD5802 Urban Design Studio 2 in the same semester.