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The Building and Urban Design in Development MSc immerses students in the theory and practice of imagining and building just cities and communities.
About Building and Urban Design in Development MSc
This degree immerses you in the intersection of critical urban theory, critical design studies and southern urban practice. It is designed to recalibrate mainstream practices towards a new mode of inquiry and action, one that centres on the political relevance and social processes of design towards a transformative, just and sustainable urbanism. It equips you with the practical and analytical skills needed to design holistic, place-based interventions that tackle conflicting agendas at different urban scales. You will engage with the field of spatial thinking through critical theory and philosophical reflections. We debate and analyse the political economy and power dynamics at play in the production of space through multiple lenses. In so doing, the degree allows you to a gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which such systemic processes reinforce or change engrained spatial issues. You will explore and identify actors’ agency, entry points and positive forms of power that can leverage and realise desired urban outcomes.
Join The Bartlett Development Planning Unit community
The Bartlett Development Planning Unit conducts world leading research and postgraduate teaching that helps to build the capacity of national governments, local authorities, NGOs, aid agencies and businesses working towards socially just and sustainable development in the Global South. We have over 70 years of experience in academic teaching, research, policy advice and capacity building in the field of international development. Studying with us means becoming part of our dynamic community of students, academics and alumni making tangible change worldwide. We're part of The Bartlett, UCL's faculty of the built environment and #1 in the world for built environment studies (QS World University rankings by subject 2024).
Explore the degree
Learn more about the degree, the modules and make your application on the UCL Graduate Prospectus.
Explore our alumni’s career trajectories after graduation.
Each year, our students engage in fieldwork as part of an overseas practice engagement.
We have published dissertations, blogs and videos from our students.
Stay in touch
Register your interest to receive updates from our faculty along with invitations to open
days, taster sessions and more.
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Contact us
Do you have questions about studying with us? Email our team at dpu@ucl.ac.uk.