StudyQA — Master: Sustainable Building: Performance and Design

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Description Contents Requirements

The Master of Research in Urban Design is primarily a research training course and is recognised for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 funded studentships. It is designed primarily, although not exclusively, to enable students to link a programme of substantive research training to the subsequent pursuit of a doctorate.

The course is modular in structure and includes training in urban design and in research methods and methodology. You will also undertake the dissertation of 15,000 words and have the opportunity to become involved in research projects of the Joint Centre for Urban Design.

Why Brookes?
* Oxford Brookes is a leading provider of urban design education in the UK. Our reputation is built on our student centredness, our teaching and research excellence, innovation and service to the community and professional organisations, and our educational philosophy seeks to embrace urban design education in its widest sense.
* Visiting speakers from business and industry, local government, and consultancies and research bodies, provide input.
* Brookes is renowned internationally for its research in the fields of Architecture and the Built Environment and Town and Country Planning. The department, which includes the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) as its primary research vehicle, is ranked fifth in the country in the RAE research power tables (RAE 2008).
* In addition to being one of the most world's most famous centres for learning, Oxford is a city with a great urban heritage and is within easy reach of London and other urban centres.

Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching methods reflect the wide variety of topics and techniques associated with urban design and research, and include lectures, studio sessions, seminars, workshops, practical project work, field trips and research project shadowing.

The course includes site visits that provide students with direct experience of some of the most important issues in urban design.

The majority of assessment is based on coursework, such as essays, seminars, project work, presentations and the dissertation.

The MRes in Urban Design consists of compulsory modules, an additional module from an array of options, and the dissertation, representing 190 master's-level credits.

As courses are reviewed regularly, the modules you choose from may vary from those shown here.

The indicative core research methods modules include:

* The Philosophy of Research This unit aims to introduce you to the key debates and issues in research. It builds skills in critically understanding a range of approaches to research and begins to build up your critical awareness of your own role as a researcher. A key focus is to consider how to evaluate research and the factors that contribute to 'good' research. Finally the module equips you with the essential skills to begin research such as: literature and library searches; reviewing books and articles and undertaking a literature review.

* Qualitative Methods and Inquiry by Design aims to build skills in critically understanding and applying a range of methods for the generation and analysis of qualitative and design-based data. It further develops your skills in research design as well as introducing them to the practical application of research methods. The unit covers particular methods such as inquiry by design, in-depth interviewing and documentary analysis as well as discussing key issues and debates in qualitative and design research. Drawing on work carried out in the department, students are given the opportunity to critically appraise examples of the application of these methods.
* Statistical Analysis Using SPSS aims to advance your knowledge of techniques of collecting primary and secondary data and carrying out a statistical analysis using SPSS. The module will develop further skills in social surveys and will appraise the different kinds of published data that are available. Data analysis will cover descriptive statistics together with methods of significance testing and multivariate analysis. The intention is to supply you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to critically conduct and appraise statistical methods and to communicate findings in a written report.
* Urban Design Studio is a studio project-based module in which students apply the theoretical and operational concepts of urban design to a 'live' study site.You work in groups to produce design policy, site analysis, site proposals at appropriate scales and design rationales for the site in question.Ideas are tested through a public exhibition of work in the locality under study and through feedback from local experts. You are supported in this work by a series of tutorials with academic staff and professionals in practice.
* Urban Design Practice is a studio workshop-based module that introduces students to the essential skills required by urban design professionals in order to deliver urban design solutions. The studio workshop content includes site analysis, techniques for place making, space syntax as a design tools, economic feasibility, and sensory experience of places.
* Urban Design Theory I is a lecture- and seminar-based module in which you are introduced to the theoretical concepts underpinning current urban design practice approaches. The module includes the history and theory of urban design, the introduction of design approaches, and urban morphology. You are made aware of how urban form is produced and consumed and of the political and economic context of development. Subsequent lectures and seminars also cover urban movement frameworks looking at competition between different users of public space, and building typologies, density and character.
* Urban Design Theory II is structured around a core compulsory lecture series and a set of optional seminars from which you choose to attend two. Following the module Urban Design Theory I, this lecture and seminar-based module presents more detailed urban design theory and method. The module covers design for the sensory experience of space, problematic building types and mixed use, density issues, regeneration, guiding, and theory and practice. You are presented with a generic and contemporary issue. Working in a group, you then refine the issue and define terms of reference and methods of working. The specific topic varies from year to year reflecting current concerns, but could include cover coding and briefing for local identity, community design involvement, designing for distinctiveness or applying good urban design in relation to modern economic practice.

You are also expected to attend urban design development seminars selected from a range of topics. The dissertation comprises the Research Design and Strategies module, and the dissertation itself.

The MRes in Urban Design attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. Applicants are welcome from any academic discipline, and from among those in work and seeking continuing professional development. Admission is normally open to those with an honours degree (or equivalent), a postgraduate diploma or an equivalent professional qualification.English language requirementsApplicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate that their level of English is appropriate to study at postgraduate level. The course requires IELTS level 6 (preferably 6.5) in the academic test, with a minimum score of 6 in reading and writing. For TOEFL the required score is 79 or above (internet-based), with a score of 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE). English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL iBT® test: 79 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.