Jointly delivered by Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA) and the Research Centre for Urban Studies at Heriot-Watt University, this programme builds on a trajectory of research and knowledge development in urban studies in both institutions.
You will study the wide and diverse range of social, cultural, economic and political processes that influence the development of the contemporary urban environment. The programme also enables you to acquire the tools and skills to propose and develop urban projects of diverse scales and specificities, considering policy frameworks, design interventions and the role of people in shaping cities.
The programme seeks to address the gap between architecturally driven and planning driven urban design perspectives. It brings together a range of approaches relevant to urban design that are currently being developed within and across multiple professional and disciplinary practices.
Students on the programme come from a wide range of multidisciplinary backgrounds ranging from the Social Sciences, Humanities and Art to the Environmental Sciences and Engineering. They work collaboratively to understand how urban strategies and urban design approaches respond to contemporary urban transformations around economies, political approaches, physical constraints and social networks.
You will benefit from an academic environment, expertise and knowledge brought by researchers with international experience in a range of urban-related themes and geographical areas, showcasing a diversity of future challenges.
The city of Edinburgh offers a unique laboratory for the exploration of current urban design issues. Its renaissance to ‘Geddesian’ planning history and contemporary international planning pedagogy links to local urban institutions and bodies and provides a good platform from which to support student-led, context-based projects and dissertations.
Global Urban Research Collaborative
Coming from an architecture and design background, I wanted an academic space that successfully bridged theoretical urbanism, planning policy, and critical design. The MSc Urban Strategies and Design programme stood out as a uniquely holistic course that offered the intellectual flexibility I needed. It allowed me to explore the synthesis of people, policy, and spatial urbanism, ultimately giving me a versatile toolkit to shape my own career path.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as architecture, urban design and planning.
We also welcome applicants who do not meet academic entry requirements but demonstrate relevant professional experience.
To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.