Programme

The first three compulsory quarters each offer a research and design project, which is supported by courses on the history and theory of urbanism, urban engineering, research and design methodology.

First semester (MSc1)
The first quarter (Q1) is titled ‘Analysis and Design of Urban Form’ and takes the perspective from urban design and landscape in understanding and designing relations between urban form and carrying spatial structures. 

‘Designing Urban Environments’ is the title of Q2 that takes the outlook from environmental design and technology into the processes of how to make and organise sustainable urban space and communities.

Second semester (MSc2)
In Q3 ‘Spatial Strategies for the Global Metropolis’ space is perceived on the level of spatial planning and strategy and is about the design and evaluation of spatial strategies that address the (re-)organisation of networks, programmes and urban patterns at the regional scale. All explicitly address societal and scientific approaches to issues relating to urbanisation and associated debates. 

In Q4 you join one of the intradisciplinary courses in which you are challenged to work together with students from other tracks within the Master Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences on overarching themes.

Check the Study Guide for a full overview of the intradisciplinary electives available to Urbanism track students.

From September 2025 the fifth quarter (Q5) allows you to choose electives offered by or in collaboration with other TU Delft faculties, or with public or private partners. This new Q5 offers students the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience from collaborating in projects with other disciplines or challenges found outside the walls of our own faculty. More information on the electives offered in Q5 is available as from April 2025.

Graduation
During the final three quarters, you work on an individual graduation project in the graduation laboratory Urbanism on a topic that reflects the research portfolio of the Urbanism department. You start with defining your project, selecting your mentor team and drawing your graduation trajectory.

Detailed information on graduation and graduation studios