PLAN40280 Design Thesis (pathway)

Academic Year 2023/2024

A key component of the MSc Planning, Development and Urban Design programme is that students will produce a design thesis on a topic that is related to their chosen specialist area. The design thesis will let students explore a topic in depth and develop an innovative urban design response with guidance from an academic supervisor. The key difference between the design thesis and other assignments is that the question is set by the student. The design thesis is therefore a test of the student’s ability to generate an interesting and relevant question relating to a specific urban design challenge, to critically review relevant academic literature, to develop a coherent research methodology, to formulate an innovative evidence-based and project-based urban design response, and to generate and analyse results. In short, it is a test of the student’s intellectual ability to work independently. The design thesis will allow students to develop specialist knowledge, building on the knowledge derived from core modules. The design thesis will give students an opportunity to develop a more in-depth understanding of their subject, to develop specialist knowledge and skills, to expand and hone research and design skills, and to cultivate individual initiative and judgement.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the thesis the student will:
• Recognise the need and value of high quality research as an essential requirement in contributing to the delivery of innovative urban design solutions in practice.
• Have generated an interesting and relevant topic with coherent aims and objectives.
• Have conducted a search and critical review of the academic literature on the topic, and in particular to have reviewed the peer reviewed journal literature.
• Have developed and implemented an appropriate research methodology for the topic.
• Have analysed the results using relevant techniques
• Have developed conclusions which reflect on their research results and how it relates to the broader academic literature, to policy and to practice.
• Have developed an advanced ability to apply concepts, theory and research skills to generate robust, integrated and evidence-based responses to urban design and planning challenges in practice.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

600
Total

600
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students will be allocated a thesis supervisor to provide guidance. This module will also involve a high degree of autonomous student learning including the application of knowledge and skills acquired and consolidated in preceding taught modules. Extensive reading, critical thinking, writing, and project-based design work will be necessary. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
ARCT40660 - Street Life:Urban Design Intro, ENVP40050 - Research Design & Methods, LAW41660 - Planning Law APEP, PLAN40010 - Planning Methodology, PLAN40030 - Planning Society and Diversity, PLAN40200 - Nature-Based Solutions

Equivalents:
Design Thesis (PLAN40210)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Project: Written thesis and design project Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Formative feedback is provided to students in individual meetings with thesis supervisor, and written summative feedback provided to students post-assessment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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