MS in Urban Planning for Transition

Iuav - University of Venice: why?

Iuav - University of Venice has long been recognised as one of the best Urban Planning Schools in Europe and across the world.

It is the only university in Italy to provide thorough education and training in urban planning, architecture, design, visual arts, theatre and fashion.

Iuav is deep-rooted in tradition but truly committed to innovation. Its workshops give students the opportunity to interact with high profile professors and world-level professionals.

It is a widely recognised school of excellence in an unparalleled city – Venice – famous for its beauty, culture and lifestyle.

Among the important scholars and professionals who have taught at Iuav are Edward James Blakely, Manuel Castells, Saskia Sassen, Luca Mercalli, Oriol Nel-Lo, Fred Bauman, Andreas Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos, Loren Landau, Raquel Rolnik, Serena Vicari, Jean-Bernard Auby, Alberto Montaña Raúl Letelier, Miguel Beltrán, Wang Lan, Zhang Long JLAN, Francesc Muñoz, Ombretta Romice.

Studying Urban Planning in Venice

It means absorbing the tradition of the first school in Italy, founded in 1970, that established a graduate degree programme in this field.

Today’s world is asking for an awareness in environmental and social issues, with a focus on urban resilience. Iuav MS programme offers a new vision concerning urban transition and innovation that considers the city and cultural heritage as common goods to be preserved despite the global change.

Through the educational offer, students can engage in both theory and practice thanks to the collaboration with local and international organisations, in order to investigate new challenges related to sustainability, climate change, urban metabolism, disaster planning and post-disaster rebuilding.

Students can also spend some time abroad, thanks to the Erasmus+ scholarship programme, in one of the many partner universities in Europe.

Double degree opportunities

By studying (2/3 semesters) in a partner university, students have the chance to obtain a double degree (issued both by Iuav and by the Partner). The MS in Urban Planning for Transition is a partner, for double degree programmes, of the Tongji University (Shanghai - China) and the University of Reims-Champagne Ardenne (Reims - France).

Iuav University of Venice was established in 1926 as one of the first Architecture Schools in Italy. To this day, it still maintains its unique status. It is a design-themed university focusing on teaching, research, and practice in the design of living spaces and environments (buildings, cities, landscapes, and territory) and in the design of everyday use objects, fashion, and graphics. It has a more recent but well-established tradition in the teaching, research, and practice of visual arts, theatre and performing arts, and multimedia events.

Syllabuses, courses, and learning and workshop activities are organized in 4 bachelor’s degrees and 6 master's degrees covering the fields of architecture, design, fashion, visual arts, urban and regional planning, and theatre . In 2019 a new Master Degree Program in Architecture, entirely taught in English, was activated.

In addition, Iuav offers advanced specialization courses and 9 PhDs .

A learning technique unique to Iuav is the workshop , which is meant to offer both learning opportunities and work experience under the direct supervision of high-profile professionals and teachers.

Iuav has established agreements with important Italian and foreign cultural institutions, museums, and universities such as La Biennale di Venezia, Teatro La Fenice, Palazzo Grassi, Musei Civici Veneziani, Triennale di Milano, Parsons School of Design, MIT, IIT, CCA, and Tongji University. Iuav students are involved with all of these institutions on a regular basis. Iuav is committed to investing in research and development on issues related to the city, the territory and environment, the landscape, infrastructures and mobility, environmental protection and conservation, sustainable design, the history of architecture, new frontiers of design, and arts.

Iuav has highly-equipped laboratories managed by specialists and experts. The university library houses a wide and rare collection of books, databases, and journals. The library is one of the mostimportant libraries in Europe in the fields of architecture, urban planning and thearts.

About 4,200 students attend Iuav University. Admission to both graduate and undergraduate programs is limited – an essential requirement to maintain high teaching standards. International Exchange Programs are currently available in partnerships with 200 European universities . They encourage student and staff mobility in order to raise awareness of common European citizenship, exchange good practices, and share research. Iuav has also established cooperation and exchanges with 70 non-EU institutions and universities and entered into over 30 agreements to boost student mobility.

Studying at Iuav means being open to what is really happening in the world and learning and working with outstanding personalities in the fields of architecture, urban and regional planning, design and visual and performing arts. Iuav was founded by such internationally renowned architects as Carlo Scarpa, Giuseppe Samonà, Manfredo Tafuri, Aldo Rossi, Giovanni Astengo, and Giancarlo De Carlo. Gino Valle, Michele De Lucchi, Nanda Vigo, and Egle Renata Trincanato have all made the history of our School. Notable scholars and professionals such as Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn, Frank Lloyd Wright, and, more recently, Alejandro Aravena, Judith Clark, Richard Serra, have been hosted as visiting professors at Iuav and have taught and tutored our students through the years.

International relations

Since its establishment, Università Iuav di Venezia has developed its international academic activities with the aim of improving the quality of its educational programs. It has done so by adapting itself to the principles of free academics and research, and free knowledge circulation, aware of the social role held by university education and scientific research.

Iuav takes on and promotes the international character of its academic programs , given its membership in the European Higher Education Area.

It develops international networks, activating study programs in collaboration with universities in other countries that enable curricula enrichment, exchange of students, and use of languages. All this in order to also foster relations with national and international public and private institutions, presenting Iuav students and graduates to an international level of job orientation.

To pursue these principles, Università Iuav di Venezia constantly develops protocols of understanding and implementation conventions of training and cooperation with universities and institutions in Europe and in the rest of the world, allowing exchanges of teachers and students.

In fact, the university holds about:

• 200 partnerships with European institutions
• 70 partnerships with non-European institutions

These are the reasons for Iuav student satisfaction: the wide choice of partner universities in which to experience international mobility.

Each academic year presents about 350 inbound and outbound exchange programs.

Students are also given the possibility to study and to attend traineeship abroad with the support of the Erasmus+ grant program .

There are also many opportunities for short mobility (international workshops) with the participation of foreign students and professionals.

Iuav also offers several double degree programs : by studying (2/3 semesters) in a Partner University, students have the chance to award a double degree (one from Iuav and the other one from the Partner).

Double degree partners are:

• École Nationale d'Architecture Paris Val de Seine
• Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile
• Universidad de Chile, Chile
• Université de Reims-Champagne Ardenne, France
• Universidad Diego Portales, Chile
• Universidad Mayor, Chile
• Tongji University – College of Architecture and Urban Planning, P.R. China