Master Program of Urban Design

The Master Program of Urban Design at National Taipei University of Technology, based in northern Taiwan, focuses on the study of how cities are shaped, planned, and experienced. Urban design as a discipline sits between architecture and city planning, concerned with the form of streets, public spaces, neighborhoods, and the relationships between buildings and the spaces around them. Students in urban design programs typically examine topics such as urban morphology, land use planning, public space design, transportation and mobility, housing, and the social and environmental dimensions of city development. Coursework often combines design studio work, in which students propose plans for specific sites or districts, with theoretical study of planning history, policy, and community engagement. Because cities face ongoing challenges related to density, climate change, and infrastructure, urban design programs also tend to address sustainability and resilience in urban environments. Graduates of urban design programs commonly work as urban designers, city planners, and consultants to government planning departments, architecture firms, and development companies, contributing to projects that range from neighborhood revitalization to large-scale master planning. Some pursue further specialization in transportation planning, landscape design, or heritage conservation, while others move into public policy roles shaping how cities grow. The field requires both visual and analytical skills, since urban designers must translate research on how people use space into concrete design proposals that can guide construction and public investment. Taught in English, this program allows international students to study urban design in the context of Taiwan while engaging with faculty and classmates at National Taipei University of Technology.