Urban Design

The Master of Urban Design (MUD) degree programme at the University of the Witwatersrand trains the next generation of qualified urban design professionals and academics on the African continent. Urban Design is a globally emerging profession and intellectual field aimed at creating better cities that can adapt effectively to societal changes, respond to rapid urbanisation, improve the quality of life of diverse urban populations, and reduce the dependence on unsustainable energy sources.

The strength of the MUD at Wits is rooted in the diverse backgrounds of our national and international student body, joining our degree programme from the fields of architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, and town and regional planning. Our regional metropolitan condition of Johannesburg and Tshwane metropolitan areas provide a rich and challenging context for investigating local/global urban questions. The programme is involved in producing urban research and imaginations that are not only relevant to South Africa, but address issues and possibilities for continental Africa and the global world.

The programme emphasises the role of urban design as a process and urban designers as agents in the urban environment, interacting with the city through various spatial, socio-economic, and cultural strategies. Our view is that an urban designer is a generalist, rather than a specialist, who can imagine radical, innovative, sensitive, and/or responsive visions for the future of cities. The urban designer is also a coordinator, always working alongside an interdisciplinary team of skilled specialists and stakeholders (transportation planners, urban planners, engineers, architects and landscape architects, developers, councils and communities), working towards realising a unified future for regions, cities, towns or neighbourhoods.

Aim

The MUD degree programme creates a critically engaged and interdisciplinary forum for interrogating questions of our rapidly changing urban condition. Our aim is to cultivate the next generation of urban professionals who can envisage, promote, and coordinate change towards sustainable urban futures.

Our focus on 'design' in urban design does not presuppose a singular methodology of intervention. For instance, we do not promote aesthetics or beautification (or 'design' defined uncritically) as a single or preferred approach to improving urban environments. We embrace the dynamic, complex, and interactive nature of the African city and its role players. Strategies for realising urban projects include any of the following and more: design improvements, planning and policy frameworks, participation and community engagements, state incentive or market forces, consensus building, evolution over time, and evidence-based research. Therefore, the programme is structured to foster design competency dealing with multiple strategies, scales, systems, and agents while engaging with relevant debates around urbanisation and development. 

Background

Reinstated in 2009, the Wits MUD degree programme is one of the leading urban design programmes, not only in South Africa, but in the developing South. We have prominent South African urban design professionals teaching our courses in addition to our distinguished full-time lecturers and professors in urban design who are also involved in teaching urban planning and architecture courses.

Students are equipped with a wide range of urban design theories, strategies, methods, and applications, focusing on the African urban landscape in particular. Debates revolve around pertinent issues such as the formal-informal, local-global, and public-private forces that shape our complex African cities.

The coursework component is divided between theoretical courses and applied design studios, followed by an independent Research Report. The courses and studio offerings are announced in the beginning of each calendar year by the programme coordinator. After completing this foundational coursework, students then work on an independent supervised research report or thesis. Students are required to complete three core units and three elective studios and a research report.

Stage 1: Core Courses

The coursework covers urban design theories and history, representation and urban conceptualisation, urban design professional practice, cities of the South, and research methods. These courses are offered consecutively within six-week teaching blocks. Completion of the core courses (except Research Methods) is a prerequisite to continuing with the elective studios. Depending on the course credits, core courses require students to be in class between 1/2 to one full day per week (excluding preparation, readings, and assignments)

Stage 2: Elective Studios

The elective studios cover the themes of Global City Studio, Accessible City Studio, Sustainable City Studio, and Transforming City Studio. The studios are offered in 6 week teaching blocks, and students must be in studio for a minimum of one full day (8 hours) per week (excluding preparation, readings, and assignments). MUD students complete 3 of the 4 studios.

Stage 3: Research Report

The Research Report (ARPL7062) is an independent thesis project consisting of a 50% research and 50% design components, under the guidance of an assigned supervisor. Progress on the research report is discussed during meetings between the candidate and the designated supervisor. Weekly or bimonthly group seminars, presentations, and workshops run by Prof Diaan van der Westhuizen provide the opportunity to share ideas, present progress, and receive feedback from peers, supervisors, and external critics. The research report can usually be completed within 6 months to 1 year.   

The curriculum includes:

Applicants holding any of the following, or comparable, degrees are eligible to apply:

• BArch
• BAS (Hons)
• MArch (Prof)
• BSc (TRP) or BSc (Hons) (URP); or
• MSc (Landscape)

Applicants are required to have a minimum of 65% average in their honours or equivalent year. Prior learning may also make a candidate eligible for admission as a candidate for the degree, as determined individually by the Senate.

• Original copies of all your academic transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae
• Certified copies of your degrees/diploma certificates
• Copy of ID document or passport
• Certified copy of SAQA certificate (international applicants)
• Proof of English proficiency (international applicants who have not previously studied at an English medium institution)

To be submitted to the School of Architecture and Planning after applying at the Student Enrolment Centre:

A portfolio in both hard copy and digital copy (also see "Requirements for the portfolio") which includes the following:

Table of contents

• At least two independent references (academic and professional)
• Motivation letter (approximately 1000 words) (see description of “Motivation letter” below)
• Creative work: A maximum of 15 two-sided (30 pages total) folios of creative/academic/professional work. This section should include design projects, professional work, academic writing, or other creative outputs from previous courses, presented in chronological order by date. Please note, the Master of Urban Design degree has a significant design focus and the portfolio should attest to these abilities.

Requirements for the portfolio

The portfolio should be in a bound format, printed double-sided. A digital copy of the entire portfolio should also be submitted on a cd/dvd along with the hard copy. 

Motivation letter

We require all applicants to prepare a motivation letter of approximately 1000 words. If you use books or articles, please reference these fully. Please see this as a useful opportunity to reflect on your interests in urban design, as well as your aims and objectives. It is important preparation for in-person interview.

Submit the portfolio to the School of Architecture and Planning Postgraduate administrator Marisa Sauls

Portfolio interview

All eligible applicants will be required to attend an interview with a selection panel from the School of Architecture & Planning.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course