PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Interdisciplinary Urban Design
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MRes
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Intake cohort(s) to which this
programme specification is applicable:
2013/14 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
The Bartlett
Parent Department:
Bartlett School of Planning (for administrative purposes only, this is a
cross-faculty degree)
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Web page address:
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Length of the programme:
12 months
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
8
n/a
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme / its assessment:
(see guidance notes)
The MRes Interdisciplinary urban design has three modules in two
streams. First a 150 credit interdisciplinary urban design research
stream constituting two 75 credit components:
Module 1. Interdisciplinary urban design – a module drawing from a
range of named feeder modules from across the Bartlett and UCL,
each of which explores the broad territory of urban design from a
different perspective. This ‘black box’ of elements is given shape by
students who select components according to i) their own academic
backgrounds and professional experiences in order to further develop
their knowledge, skills and aptitudes – in-depth, ii) in order to
understand the academic / disciplinary lens through which the
material of the module is taught as a means to develop a crossdisciplinary perspective on the study of urban design – the 75 credits
must be constituted from modules from at least three different parts
of the Bartlett / UCL, and iii) as a means to gain in-depth
understanding of methods and approaches to the study of urban
design that will be relevant / appropriate to their own individual
research projects. Assessment is through two means. The
assessments for each feeder module, weighted by credit allowance,
together constitute 100% of the final mark.
Module 2: Urban investigations – provides students on the MRes a
weekly opportunity to get together, and through exposure to the
series of structured urban design / urban scaled research projects
being conducted at UCL (and elsewhere) (i) discuss and experiment
with the latest urban research methodologies whilst also addressing
topical and cutting-edge debates and (ii) picking up the full range of
transferable research skills appropriate to research at the urban
scale. The module offers a showcase of UCL’s engagement with the
subject, and an opportunity for the full range of UCL’s urban design
active / interested staff to meet and engage with all students of the
programme. The module will be open to students from outside of the
programme as part of UCL’s transferable research skills series.
Examination will be through completion of one 4,000 word research
proposal, drawing from the interdisciplinary studies, which constitutes
50% of the final mark, and a series of quick-fire methodological
exercises (equivalents to a second 4,000 word essay).
The second stream of the programme runs through terms one and
two, and into term three, constituting one 30 credit module:
Module 3. Urban design research project – a second module feeds
from the first, providing students the opportunity to conduct a major
individual research project of at least 15,000 words or 10,000 words
and major research-based design proposal. The research itself
should normally develop out of the research proposal prepared at the
conclusion of module one. The urban design research project (and
the earlier research proposal) will be closely supervised by allocated
primary and secondary supervisors. This module will commence with
a weekend retreat away from UCL, providing participants with an
opportunity to present, discuss and refine their research proposals. It
will culminate in a viva oral examination attended by both supervisors
and forming part of the formal examination process.
Board of Examiners:
i) Name of Board of Examiners:
Bartlett MRes Board of Examiners
ii) Name of External Examiner with overview of entire
programme:
Professor Tim Heath
Associate Dean of External Relations & Internationalisation
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Architecture & Built Environment
Faculty of Engineering
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
0115 951 4887
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The new programme would have four overarching aims:
1. To provide an interdisciplinary space in which students could examine the challenges of urban design from
comparative disciplinary perspectives
2. To expose students to the latest cutting edge urban design research and teaching
3. To offer the opportunity for students to conduct a substantial piece of individual urban design research that draws
on diverse interdisciplinary methodologies
4. To train students in methodologies appropriate to the conduct of urban design and urban scaled research
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Urban design theory
Urban design players and processes
Knowledge generation in urban design
Interdisiplinarity
Development contexts
Research process
Teaching methods will be as broad as the existing urban
design-related teaching at UCL, from individual and
group project work, to personal scholarship/research.
The over-riding emphasis, however, will be on one to
one tuition through the individual research project as the
crucible through which all other learning is channelled
Assessment:
A combination of project work, essays, structured
exercises and the thesis and its viva.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Enabling participants to identify the
complex urban challenges of the future
Allowing participants to problem solve,
both methodologically, and in the
substantive areas of knowledge in which
they will be engaged
Understanding the power of design as a
research tool alongside social science
methodologies
Teaching methods will be as broad as the existing urban
design-related teaching at UCL, from individual and
group project work, to personal scholarship/research.
The over-riding emphasis, however, will be on one to
one tuition through the individual research project as the
crucible through which all other learning is channelled
Assessment:
A combination of project work, essays, structured
exercises and the thesis and its viva.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Conduct complex multi-dimensional
research, including appropriate analytical
skills
Offer leadership and management in both
professional and academic spheres
Work as part of a team to address
common defined problems
Teaching methods will be as broad as the existing urban
design-related teaching at UCL, from individual and
group project work, to personal scholarship/research.
The over-riding emphasis, however, will be on one to
one tuition through the individual research project as the
crucible through which all other learning is channelled
Assessment:
combination of project work, essays, structured
exercises and the thesis and its viva.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Tackle complex urban scale research
problems
Understand inter-disciplinary research
challenges
Define, develop and conduct cutting-edge
urban design research
Make the case for an evidence-based
view of the urban realm
Teaching methods will be as broad as the existing urban
design-related teaching at UCL, from individual and
group project work, to personal scholarship/research.
The over-riding emphasis, however, will be on one to
one tuition through the individual research project as the
crucible through which all other learning is channelled
Assessment:
combination of project work, essays, structured
exercises and the thesis and its viva.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed by UCL
and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Programme Organiser(s)
Prof Matthew Carmona
Name(s):
Date of production/revision:
09.05.12 (reviewed October 2015)
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
November 2015
November 2015