Urban Design and Planning 1 4.5 credits

About the course

The course introduces urban design and planning. Knowledge is provided on urban design as a way of shaping the built environment in relation to preceding urban planning processes. How these frame spatial development defined by socio-economic, political and, increasingly, environmental agendas are discursively studied. The Swedish planning system is introduced and discussed in relation to different means of governing society, land and resources.

How aspects of landscape conditions, private/public domains, accessibility, mix, density and liveability, as well as scale and flows have been conceptualized and implemented through urban and rural planning and design in the past, present and future forms a recurring theme throughout the course.

The student’s understanding of the city’s political, social, historical and ecological context in relation to spatial configurations and complexity is developed. Various methods for analysing contextual factors of the urban environment are explored and practiced.

The course is divided into two modules:

Module 1: Urban Design and Planning as a Strategy for Organising the Future Development of Society and Resources (1.5 credits)
Module 2: Contextual Mapping and Spatial Analysis (3 credits)

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This course is part of a programme

This course contains occasions that are included in a degree programme at Umeå university and applies only to those of you who are admitted to the programme. You will receive information about application times and what applies to you from your institution.

Read about choosing courses within programmes

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Spring 2027
- Urban Design and Planning 1
  
  Offered as a part of a Degree programme
  
  VT27 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Application opens 15 September 2026
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
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  Starts
  18 January 2027
  
  Ends
  6 June 2027
  
  Number of credits
  4.5 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  17%
  
  Teaching hours
  Daytime
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-5900F
  
  Eligibility
  
  All courses in semester 2:
  
  Architectural Design 1:2
  Architectural Technology 1:2
  History and Theory of Architecture 1:2
  Tools and Communication in Architecture 1:2
  Perspectives on Sustainability and Architecture 1
  
  Selection
  
  Guaranteed admission within TYARK.
  
  Application
  The online application opens 15 September 2026 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2026.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 17,760
  
  Total fee: SEK 17,760
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

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