URBAN DESIGN MASTER OF ARTS IN URBAN DESIGN
AY 2020/21
FULFILLING
A NATURE-CE SYMBIOTIC EN FOR DE-STRES
WATERF
AY 2021/22
INTERGENERATIONAL STITCHING
CIRCULAR ECONOMY | SHARING CITY | INTERGENERATION
AY 2019
THE LI
G SINGAPORE 2100
ENTRIC AND NVIRONMENT SSING LIFESTYLE
AY 2020/21
FRONT URBAN TYPOLOGYDESIGN
9/20
IVING MACHINE
AY 2020/21
BIOPHILIC AND PASSIVE DESIGN
CO-CREATION
A INTEGRA
AY 2019/20
A BREATHING COSMOPOLIS, THE HYBRID METROPOLIS
AY 2020/21
F.O.D CITY & IDEA PORT AY 2018/19
RESURGENT CITY
GROWING CITIES, SHRINKING WATERS
AY 2021/22
N NEIGHBORHOOD
A NEIGHBORHOOD TO ATE GREEN INDUSTRY INTO PEOPLE'S LIFE
AY 2016/17
DUAL CITY
TANJONG PAGAR URBAN DESIGN
NUS MASTER OF ARTS IN URBAN DESIGN (MAUD) THIS PROGRAMME IS
ASIA’S LEADING
URBAN DESIGN EDUCATION THAT
DRAWS ON THE CONTEMPORARY SUCCESSFUL URBAN EXPERIENCE OF SINGAPORE, AND NURTURES FUTURE URBAN DESIGN LEADERS FOR ASIA AND BEYOND. IT ENABLE STUDENTS TO: √ ACQUIRE A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON ASIAN URBAN CHALLENGES √ STUDY IN AND ON SINGAPORE AS A LIVE LABORATORY FOR HIGH-DENSITY URBANISM √ GAIN BROAD EXPOSURE THROUGH VARSITY-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS √ OBTAIN CRITICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Over the past two decades, the MAUD programme has cultivated numerous leading urban designers with strategic visions and creative thinking skills for Asia and beyond. Today, in response to the fast-changing and increasingly complex urban realities, this programme provides students with an
INTRODUCTION Asia is now the epicentre of the world’s rapid urbanisation. With the majority of global urban population growth projected to take place in this region, cities in Asia are confronted with unprecedented challenges ranging from environmental threats to resource inefficiency and from social inequality to public health declining. At the same time, they are also standing at the frontline of developing new economic models, morphological structures, technological interventions, and governmental institutions to build resilient, equitable and liveable urban environment. Both challenges and opportunities require the urban design profession to constantly reinvent itself, producing new knowledge and methodologies to shape the future cities. NUS has been leading the urban design education in Asia since 1997, when the Master of Arts in Urban Design (MAUD) was established as the first-of-its-kind programme in Asia.
unparalleled learning opportunity, tapping into the experience of Singapore and cities in Asia as laboratories for design innovation and excellence. It aims to equip graduates with cutting-edge knowledge, social responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit, and all necessary skills to push forward the urban design profession in the rapidly urbanising world. The learning of MAUD programme is organised around several key areas: 1) high-density urban environment and its physical structures and social conditions; 2) technological advancement and data-augmented design; 3) social engagement and community development; and 4) systems thinking and collaboration in design.
THE PROGRAMME The MAUD programme is a one-year full-time programme (two-year part-time). Its interdisciplinary curriculum is anchored by two urban design studios and a set of theory, methodology and technology courses. Students are able to participate in overseas field trips, internship attachments, and research activities to broaden their exposure and enrich their learning. This programme is uniquely positioned to leverage on Singapore’s experiences and its role as the central hub of the region and the world. It brings to students: (1) A global perspective on Asian urban challenges The teaching team of the MAUD programme is drawn from an international cast of experts from both academia and practice to provide students with global perspectives and help them become future-ready urban designers to deal with challenges in and beyond Asia. Besides, Singapore as the regional hub for many multinational design and planning firms attracts numerous urban professionals around the world, who are also engaged in various ways to enhance the teaching and learning of this programme. (2) Singapore as a laboratory for high-density urbanism Singapore is well-known for its outstanding achievements in high-density urbanism. It is the birthplace of many innovative urban design ideas that lead to the production of high-quality urban spaces across many cities.
To study in and on Singapore is to live the city-state’s experience, witnessing how it creates new spatial configurations, incorporates natural resources, promotes public engagement, and harnesses smart technologies to achieve successful placemaking. (3) Broad exposure through varsity-industry-government partnerships Understanding relations and creating synergies between different stakeholders can result in more constructive outcomes of urban design. The programme continuously engages practitioners and government officers in the teaching of different modules to deepen students’ learning through various lenses, and also to ground their studies on real-world challenges. (4) Collaborative learning to nurture leadership for greater cities A defining character of urban design practice is collaboration across different knowledge boundaries and professional disciplines. Besides vocational knowledge, this programme places social and intellectual interdependence at the core of the education. It nurtures leadership skills in future urban designers for them to helm multi-professional, multi-disciplinary collaboration with strong commitment to creating greater cities.
COURSE STRUCTURE Pedagogy: The MAUD curriculum aims to create an encompassing platform to consolidate students’ knowledge foundation and, more importantly, promote interdisciplinary collaborative learning. The courses are therefore designed to strike a balance between design studio and different aspects of urban design in terms of content, and between project-based
Fieldtrips: The MAUD programme aims to enhance students’ learning by broadening their exposure to different urban environments and professional practices. The field trip, which is usually associated with the Urban Design Studios, takes students to cities within or beyond the region for 7 to 10 days, learning about urban design practice in the local
and discussion-based learning in terms of pedagogy. Many courses are shared with other programmes to provide students with an
contexts. Students will be able to interact with scholars, practitioners, and government officers to gain insights on the practice, and to explore
opportunity to work across disciplinary boundaries, socially negotiating knowledge
the cities to observe and experience the urban spaces.
with different peers. A diversity of practitioners and government officers are also engaged to provide students with wider exposures through seminar conversation and dissertation research.
CURRICULUM SEMESTER 1 (FOUNDATIONAL STAGE) UD5601 URBAN DESIGN STUDIO
SPECIAL TERM
SEMESTER 2 (DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE) UD5602 URBAN DESIGN STUDIO
1
2
8 UNITS
UD5221 URBAN DESIGN THEORY AND DISCOURSE
8 UNITS
UD5628 CRITIQUES OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN DESIGN 4 UNITS
UD5626 URBAN ECONOMICS
4 UNITS
TWO ELECTIVES
4 UNITS
AR5301 INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)
OR
UD5641 URBAN DESIGN DISSERTATION 4 UNITS
URBAN DESIGN STUDIO (16 UNITS) URBAN DESIGN THEORY (8 UNITS) METHODS FOR URBAN DESIGN (4 UNITS) URBAN ECONOMICS (4 UNITS) DISSERTATION OR ELECTIVES (8 UNITS) TOTAL UNITS: 40 GRADUATION REQUIREMENT: GRADE POINT AVERAGE ≥ 3.00 (OUT OF 5.00), AND MINIMUM GRADE B- FOR BOTH UD5601 AND UD5602
8 UNITS 8 UNITS
CORE FACULTY Ms. Asma Annie KHAWATMI Associate Professor Programme Directore - MAUD Studio and Module coordinator Architect DPLG; Dilplôme TPFE (ENSAPB)
Mr. François DECOSTER Visiting Professor Architect DPLG, Urbanist IEP Paris; Founding Partner - l’AUC
Ms. Sheau-Fong WONG Adjunct Associate Professor
Ms. Karen THAM Adjunct Associate Professor
Mr. Yann FOLLAIN Founding Partner WY-TO
Mr. Jason Kwang Lin ANG Adjunct Associate Professor; ASIP, Managing Director (UVest Pte Ltd)
Dr. Yuming FU Associate Professor (Real Estate); PhD (UBC)
Ms. Casey Nai-Huei WANG Visiting Senior Fellow
Dr. Jinda QI Assistant Professor
Dr. Justin STERN Assistant Professor; PhD (Harvard)
Many MAUD alumni work as professionals in different fields, from design firms to planning institutes, from real estate developers to government authorities, and from urban
CAREER PERSPECTIVES The MAUD experiences provide its students with visionary insights, critical skills and needed knowledge to excel in various sectors of urban development in the region and beyond. In particular, it gives them newfound capacities and broadened perspectives to address emerging challenges to high-density cities in Asia. With a degree from one of the world’s premier universities, NUS graduates’ standing and marketability are greatly enhanced.
consultancies to creative industries. Some graduates become entrepreneurs, others may segue to research and continue to pursue PhDs. The MAUD programme has established close collaborations with Singapore’s government agencies, such as Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing and Development Board, and various local practices like DP Architects, providing students with internships opportunities to experience professional life and complement with their classroom learning.
SCHOLARSHIPS
ADMISSION
NUS offers a range of scholarships for Singapore citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students. Awards, medals & prizes available for MAUD programme include:Cheong Koon Hean Scholarship: The Cheong Koon Hean Scholarship is established by Dr Cheong Koon Hean who is the CEO of Housing Development Board (HDB) since 2010. Up to three scholarships, each valued at S$9400 will be given out to deserving MAUD and MUP Singaporean students. The scholarship will be effective for one academic year for MAUD students.
Admission to the MAUD programme requires:
The inaugural DoA Graduate Futures Fellowship was launched on 1 October 2024 to support outstanding students from ASEAN member states who wish to pursue a professional graduate degree at the Department of Architecture, NUS. Eligibility All citizens of ASEAN member states* (excluding Singapore) who apply to the Master of Arts in Urban Design programme are automatically considered for the DoA Graduate Futures Fellowship. All applications should be submitted to the Graduate Admission System. Applicants are encouraged to apply early from 1 October to 31 December 2024. * ASEAN member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
√ A Bachelor’s degree or above in built- environment disciplines (architecture, urban or spatial planning, landscape architecture, environmental design). We are also open to related disciplines (e.g. real estate, transport planning, building environment, project management, human geography). Professional experience relevant to urban design is preferred. √ Applicants are expected to submit design portfolio to showcase the applicant’s excellence on built-environment design and placemaking. √ For applicants whose medium of undergraduate instruction is not English, A minimum TOEFL score of 92 (internet-based testing) or 6.5 for IELTS is required. ¡ is usually Nov 15 to Jan The application period 15 yearly. For latest updates on application deadlines, other requirements and tuition and application fees, please visit the programme website.
Quantum Two Fellowships will be awarded, and each Fellowship covers 40% of full-time tuition fees per academic year. Selection Criteria 1. Academic Excellence 2. Leadership potential in the respective profession and arena of practice 3. Potential to bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the programme Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview and additional materials may be requested for further deliberation. Either NUS or the programme reserves the right to not award any scholarship if there are no candidates of sufficient merit. The decision of the selection committee is final. Enquiries or disputes surrounding its decisions will not be entertained. Terms and Conditions of the Fellowship • Fellowship recipients may not concurrently hold any other scholarship, fellowship, bursary, grant, award or allowance, without prior approval from the University. • The Fellowship will be renewed every semester provided the fellowship recipient maintains a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (or equivalent) and has good conduct. • The Fellowship is tenable for the normal candidature period and cannot be transferred across programmes. • Neither NUS nor the programme guarantees and/or provides Fellowship recipients with employment upon graduation. • If the Fellowship recipient decides to withdraw from the University and/or terminate the scholarship prematurely, the University reserves the right to impose repayment of all Fellowship monies disbursed to the Fellow.
CONTACT PROGRAMME DIRECTOR PROF. ASMA ANNIE KHAWATMI ASMA@NUS.EDU.SG WEBSITE HTTPS://CDE.NUS.EDU.SG/ARCH/PROGRAMMES /MASTER-OF-ARTS-IN-URBAN-DESIGN/ INSTAGRAM @ NUSURBANDESIGN DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 4 ARCHITECTURE DRIVE, SINGAPORE 117566