Study urban design

Why study urban design at QUT?

QUT offers the only postgraduate masters in urban design in Queensland.

As a QUT design student, you'll be part of a vibrant, multidisciplinary school with excellent connections to the real world of design professions. Our urban design graduates excel in the real world, and are in high demand within multi-disciplinary firms in the design and construction industries, retail, theatre and exhibition design, interaction design, gaming and virtual environments. If you are committed and passionate about design, you will thrive in our engaging and fulfilling design courses.

Urban design is one of a suite of design disciplines fundamental to the creative industries, and is based on an industry-focused combination of creativity, communication, technology, and business enterprise. As an urban designer you’ll apply your theoretical knowledge of how people interact with environments psychologically and socially and  learn to lead and manage the development and implementation of urban design procedures, policy and practice..

Our urban design courses feature unique real-world project and studio-based learning. Your studies will be supported by new digital technologies, well-equipped workshops and design studios, and our design fabrication labs provide a space for hands-on prototyping of designs. 

The Master of Design (Urban Design) provides professional development in the design of the urban environment. It will enhance skills and understanding of the design disciplines through explorations in social, historic, economic, legal and technological processes and systems that act upon our environments and products. This course advances abilities in visual and design literacy, communication, and design processes, through the integration of aspects of sustainability, project management, leadership and design project applications.

Collaborate with the design community through public lectures, student-run exhibitions and off-campus and international study tours to European design capitals such as Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France.

Career outcomes

Graduates may become specialist urban designers within their chosen professional field, or use the skills and knowledge gained to diversify their capabilities across a broader spectrum of design disciplines. Graduates will be capable of leading and managing the development and implementation of urban design procedures, policy and practice. Graduates typically work in either private practice as urban designers, or in government organisations as urban policy developers and implementers.

Further expertise within the discipline can be achieved through further study in research leading to an academic career.