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Sustainable Urban Design - Master's Programme

Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits

A group of students discussing a design assignment

Description

Do you want be part of making the world’s growing cities healthy, attractive and sustainable? Lund University, located in the dynamic Copenhagen–Malmö region, is a global leader in balancing urban economic growth and environmental development, and offers superb resources for studying the diverse aspects of sustainability and design.

The Master’s Programme in Sustainable Urban Design at the School of Architecture has a globally well-established reputation for developing humanistic urban design that promotes liveability, community building and social sustainability. Drawing on best practices and advanced research, the Master’s programme produces highly skilled professionals capable of meeting the challenges of sustainable urban design. This as productive, successful individuals who are creative, insightful and intellectually skilled in their approach to the profession and their practice.

The objectives of the Master’s programme are:

  • to offer a broad education, covering the most important aspects of sustainability related to urban design
  • to provide students with the skills to manifest specific social, economic, and environmental intentions in physical form through urban design

Programme structure

Theoretical learning is supported by hands-on projects aiming to find solutions to real-world issues. The programme features international collaboration workshops, where professionals and students from architecture, landscape architecture and urban design from around the world gather to discuss and design proposals for a given sustainable urban design challenge. The final degree project can be academic in nature, or developed within industry, and can be carried out either in Lund or abroad. 
Study trips, inventories, surveying, environmental studies etc. are integrated into the programme. Study trips are optional, and all students participate at their own expense. Students who cannot participate will be given alternative assignments in Lund. The study trip destinations may vary from year to year. Previous destinations include Norway, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and China. Study trips may be subject to cancellation/alteration due to unforeseeable circumstances, such as natural disasters or visa denial.

Programme modules/courses

Semester 1: Sustainable Urban Recycling studio course (15 credits), Urban Recycling - Theory and Methods (7.5), Urban Quality and Urban Form (7.5)

Semester 2: Sustainable Urban Landscape studio course (15), Sustainable Urban Landscape - Theory and Method (7.5), One elective-mandatory course; Architecture as Temporal Landscapes, Climate Smart Architecture and Urban Design or Landscape Architecture and Gardens (each 7.5)

Semester 3: Track 1 - Sustainable Urban Dynamics studio course (15) and Urban Dynamics - Theories and Tendencies (7.5) or Track 2 - Urban Shelter studio course (15) and Urban Shelter Theory (7.5). Students study track 1 or 2 together with one elective mandatory course; Urban Process or Human Environmental Frames - Building scale/Urban scale (each 7.5)

Semester 4: Degree Project in Sustainable Urban Design (30)

More information on each course at the Faculty of Engineering website

Career prospects

After graduating from the programme, you will have the required skills to practice as an urban designer with particular expertise in sustainable urban design. Our graduates are highly sought after on the global job market, and most find positions either in architect offices (for instance Wingårdhs, Fojab, Gehl, Henning Larsen), government organisations (such as United Nations) or in further studies at PhD level. The programme’s close ties to professionals active in the field of urban development as a whole, mean that our students are given the opportunity to build a strong initial network that can help to kick-start and develop their careers.

Closed for applications

Application opportunities

Contact

Programme Director

Ida Sandström

Email: msc [dot] sudes [at] lth [dot] lu [dot] se

International Coordinator

Lykke Jacobson

Email: msc [dot] sudes [at] lth [dot] lu [dot] se

Requirements and selection

Entry requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, physical planning or urban design. A digital portfolio of the applicant’s own work in the field that clearly proves that the applicant has good potential to benefit from the programme. English 6.

Selection criteria

The selection is based on the submitted portfolio and on a statement of purpose. Portfolio instructions.

English language requirements

Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.

How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements

Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:

Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se

Apply

Start Autumn Semester 2024

Day-time Lund, full time 100%

In English

Study period

2 September 2024 - 7 June 2026

Application

Closed for applications

How to apply

Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.

When to apply for studies

Step 1: Apply online

  • Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
  • Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
    Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website
  • Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.

Step 2: Submit documents

  • Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
    Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
    Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
     
  • Get all your documents ready:
    - official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
    - official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
    - passport/ID (all applicants) and
    - proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
     
  • Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
  • Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
  • Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.

* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below. 

Svensk student? 
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit a portfolio file including a statement of purpose and a CV when you apply for this programme. Letters of recommendation are not requested for this programme and will not be considered.

Detailed instructions on the portfolio and submission

Please note that the portfolio-file must be submitted directly to Lund University (do not upload the file to University Admissions in Sweden).

Watch on YouTube: How to apply for a Master's programme

Tuition fees

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 490 000

First payment: SEK 122 500

Convert currency – xe.com

Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Application fee

If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.


*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.

Scholarships & funding

Lund University Global Scholarship programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarships

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.

External scholarships

Information about scholarships from external organisations

Testimonials about this Master's