My name is Andrés Málaga, and before joining the programme I was trained and working as an architect. At that stage of my career, my professional practice was strongly focused on architectural design, form, and space at the building scale. However, I increasingly felt the need to understand what lies beyond individual projects: the social structures, cultural layers, urban systems, and human experiences that give meaning to architecture within the city. I was searching for a programme that would allow me to expand my vision, challenge my assumptions, and reconnect design with people, place, and context. That search led me to the MSc Urban Design and International Planning at The University of Manchester.

What initially drew me to this master’s programme was its clear commitment to a practical, critical, and people-centred approach to urban design. From the very beginning, it became evident that this was not a programme focused on abstract or detached design exercises, but one deeply rooted in real urban problems and lived realities. The way the course addressed placemaking by understanding cities as spaces shaped by social life, culture, and everyday practices resonated deeply with my own interests and values as a designer. The emphasis on understanding context before proposing solutions was, for me, one of the programme’s greatest strengths.

One of the most transformative aspects of the MSc was its close relationship with the Manchester Urban Design Lab (MUDLab) and the Applied Urban Design framework. This methodology reshaped the way I think about design. It offered a clear and structured yet flexible way of understanding urban design, integrating the fundamental questions of why we design and who we design for with how we design. Through its four key stages (strategic and local analysis, urban design programming, design development, and technical design) the framework allowed us to move confidently from deep contextual understanding to concrete, feasible design proposals.

What made this framework especially powerful was its emphasis on multiscale thinking and contextual responsiveness. We were encouraged to analyse cities not only as physical forms, but as complex systems shaped by social dynamics, functional requirements, liveability qualities, and technical constraints. The inclusion of international best practice examples, alongside live case studies in Manchester and Aalborg, helped bridge theory and practice in a very tangible way. These experiences allowed me to understand the true role of the urban designer: not simply as a form-giver, but as a mediator between people, place, policy, and design.

Among the many memorable moments of the programme, the one-week study trip to Vienna stands out as particularly impactful. Experiencing the city first-hand, its housing models, public spaces, and long-term urban strategies, was deeply inspiring. Vienna offered living examples of how urban design can prioritise social inclusion, quality of life, and spatial equity. Walking through these neighbourhoods, understanding their governance structures and design logic, and discussing them critically with peers and tutors brought theory to life in a powerful way. It was a moment where learning became truly embodied and collective.

After completing the MSc, I returned to my home country, Peru, carrying with me not only new technical knowledge but a transformed way of seeing and understanding cities. Today, I work as a lecturer in the School of Architecture at Universidad Católica San Pablo, where I teach future architects and designers, encouraging them to think critically about the urban environment and their role within it. Alongside my academic work, I am also the Head of Design at a real estate development company, where I lead projects that seek to respond thoughtfully to local contexts, users’ needs, and broader urban challenges.

The MSc Urban Design and International Planning played a fundamental role in shaping this professional path. The programme provided me with the analytical tools and conceptual clarity necessary to develop stronger, more grounded urban proposals. It strengthened my ability to read and interpret urban contexts, to articulate design decisions with confidence, and to propose solutions rooted in placemaking and human experience. These skills have been invaluable, both in the classroom and in professional practice, where thoughtful, context-sensitive design is increasingly essential.

To future applicants considering this programme, my advice would be to embrace its intensity and high level of demand, especially within the design track. It is a challenging programme that requires commitment, curiosity, and critical thinking, but it is precisely this rigor that makes it so rewarding. The practical orientation of the course pushes students to go beyond aesthetics, encouraging them to design with purpose, responsibility, and empathy. For those willing to engage deeply with context, people, and place, the experience can be truly transformative.

In many ways, the MSc Urban Design and International Planning was more than an academic programme for me, it was a space of growth, reflection, and redefinition. It reshaped how I understand urban design and reaffirmed my belief in the power of cities to improve lives when designed thoughtfully and inclusively. I am deeply grateful for the experience and proud to be part of The University of Manchester alumni community.

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