The Master of Urban Development and Design Extension Program (96 UoC) is an intensive coursework program involving four semesters full-time study in a 18 months (including a compulsory summer term) or 8 semesters over three years in part-time study mode. The program is Design Studio based, multi-disciplinary and includes a compulsory fieldtrip and workshop in a major international city. The program offers advanced study in the growth and change of urban form. The program connects with fellow universities, city agencies and professionals to integrate latest urban development practice with creative design responses to the challenge of making the 21st century city. An intense combination of coursework and design research is explored in studios, theory seminars, case studies and field projects.
The MUDD Extension Program provides a deeper critical understanding and design techniques for bourgeoning cities and older urban regions facing structural change considered in relation to Sydney as a Global City, which we investigate as a continuing case study in urban design.
The additional research/design semester component at the end of the three semesters is an advanced disciplinary seemester critically engaged with current and higher order research in urban development and design as preparation for new practice frontiers and/or a higher degree. Responding to the complex challenges generated by the pace and scale of urbanisation in our time, the MUDD Extension Program seeks the creative synthesis of three fields of urban research:
1. Spatial political economy – the manifestation in urban form of global patterns of capital formation, investment and disinvestment
2. Urban design principles and paradigms – normative models of ‘good city form’ grounded in aesthetic, social and environmental concerns
3. Urban design as public policy – the intersection of public policy, design principles, governance and defense of the public realm with stakeholders and the development sector.

The Urban Development and Design (Extension) is available to applicants who who have a recognised four year Bachelor degree or equivalent in an appropriate cognate discipline or have completed the 7131 Graduate Certificate program. Admission is also open to graduates of a recognised three year undergraduate degree in Architecture studies.

All applicants must have achieved a minimum of a credit average ((equivalent to a Weighted Average Mark of 65 or above).

Cognate disciplines typically include design and non-design based disciplines in the built environment, design and engineering: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, Design, Planning, Property Development, Construction, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Transport Engineering.

Graduates will have acquired advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills in Urban Design, and an ability to apply these in a range of contexts related to the Built Environment.

The objectives of the MUDD extension program are to:

The content of the program is progressive, stressing theoretical knowledge of economic, social, environmental and physical design determinants at the beginning, and moving into more applied skills and applications toward the end of the program. The nature of contribution to studio-based design projects will be determined according to academic and professional background.

To qualify for the Master of Urban Development degree, students are required to complete ten core courses and two elective course to accumulate a total of 96UOC.

The compulsory core includes five lecture/seminar based courses, a research project, three project based studio courses, and a communications course. The typical pattern for core and elective courses is a two hour lecture/seminar format over 14 weeks. Studio courses typically involve two three hour studio sessions per week over 14 weeks – with the exception of the compulsory International Field Project which requires full time attendance for two weeks in a studio location overseas.

Elective opportunities are limited to Semester 4 for full time students. Students are encouraged to select electives from those listed below which have been specifically selected for the program. However students may be permitted, with the approval of the Program Director, to select electives from other programs offered within the faculty or other faculties of the University.

The Summer Term includes case studies of major urban projects UDES0006 , the International Field Project studio UDES0003, and a communications course UDES0010 involving the preparation of an annual exhibition and publication.

*subject to Discipline Director approval

Advanced Standing:
Some advanced standing may be granted for completed or partially completed postgraduate awards from UNSW or from another institution. When considering the granting of advanced standing on the basis of previous postgraduate study at another institution, the program authority will take into account the quality of the institution and the quality, level and content of postgraduate courses previously undertaken. Any credit granted will be in accordance with UNSW RPL policy and procedures.

Upgrading and Articulation:
Students who satisfactorily complete the 7131 Graduate Certificate of the Built Environment with a credit average (65 WAM), will satisfy admission requirements for 8141. However as 7131 is a preparatory program for 8141 Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension) no credit is transferable if students proceed on to this program.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.