Pursue Your Passions in the UK

Studying at The University of Dundee offers students the unique opportunity to study both architecture and urban planning in one course. The city of Dundee provides plenty of resources, such as studio spaces, stimulating guest lectures, and nurturing tutors.

Sakshi Mehta, a student from India, travelled to the UK to study architecture and urban planning and found the perfect fit in Dundee. She started off her studies in architecture at the University of Kent, and decided to pursue urban planning when she discovered the dual-degree course offered by Dundee.

“When I was at University of Kent, I realised I really enjoy urban planning, but I didn't want to leave architecture yet,” says Mehta. “Then I discovered Dundee has the only course in the UK that does a masters in both architecture and urban planning. So I thought, OK, this is ideal.”

The teaching for the course is structured in two parts. There are three-hour long lectures for the planning modules, and weekly tutorials for the architecture side. The course also had guest lectures from employers, who shared employment opportunities and encouraged students to pursue careers with them. Mehta had the privilege of having Hellen O’Connor as her tutor, who she describes as “the best tutor I've had in five years.” O’Connor was very nurturing and encouraging, “she would even get all of us snacks for our reviews to keep us from getting stressed”.

Mehta found the course could be challenging, as she had to manage her time well due to the dual-degree program. However, she found the course to be very rewarding, stating she could see how much she had grown and broadened her thinking. The university also provides plenty of studio spaces, allocating each student an ongoing area to call their own while developing their various projects. In her words, “it's like a second home; I love it”, describing how she can work and leave her things behind without ever worrying about them.

For her end of year project, Mehta was inspired by the bus station in Dundee and decided to develop a solution to improve the city centre. She noticed that train stations are often given more importance than bus stations around the world, so she proposed moving the bus station next to the train station. During her research, she discovered the “last mile problem” - the last mile that people have to travel from the bus station to their final destination. To address this issue, she proposed introducing mobility hubs around the ring roads to encourage the use of public transport. She also looked at the relationship between public transport and the public realm, and proposed creating public spaces for people to interact and socialise.

With her studies now complete, Mehta is looking to pursue a career in the public sector. She is applying for Council planning jobs in London, as she believes that a lot of great work is being done, which she is eager to be part of.

If you’re looking to combine your passions, then perhaps you should consider following in Sakshi’s footsteps and enrolling in Dundee’s MArch (Hons) Architecture and Urban Planning. Or, one of the many other University of Dundee courses that offer a combination of subjects.