Lecturer (Teaching) in Urban Critical Theory and Design

Lecturer (Teaching) in Urban Critical Theory and Design

The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL) is an international centre specialising in academic teaching, practical training, research and consultancy in the fields of urban and regional development and planning. It is concerned with promoting sustainable forms of development, understanding rapid urbanisation and encouraging innovation in the policy, planning and management responses to the economic, social and environmental development of cities and regions, especially in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

About the role

The MSc BUDD course immerses students in the critical theory and practice of urban design. The course is designed to recalibrate mainstream practices towards new modes of inquiry and action, that centre on social processes of design towards just urbanism. At its core, the Practice module is a design research-oriented module that includes studio-based and fieldtrip components, and that equips participants with the expertise to address current urban challenges.

We seek to appoint an outstanding and dynamic scholar-practitioner to contribute to the MSc Building and Urban Design in Development (BUDD) course at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU), UCL.

This is a part time role (0.3 FTE - 10.95hrs per week), offered on a fixed term contract form 01/08/2026-31/08/2028.

About you

The successful candidate will demonstrate an excellent academic record and substantial experience in teaching, research, and practice in critical urban design theory and practice.

Applicants should hold a background in Architecture, Planning, Urban Studies, Geography, Sociology, or a closely related discipline. They must possess a strong grounding in critical urban theory, and social theory, including post-structuralist, Marxist, feminist, decolonial and/or related critical traditions, and demonstrate the ability to apply these frameworks to the analysis of urban inequality, displacement, housing, governance, informality, and neoliberal urban development.

A proven capacity to engage with and contribute to contemporary debates (multispecies, transhuman, scarcity, degrowth, geopolitics) in urban theory and urban studies - across the social sciences, humanities, and built-environment disciplines - is essential.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)

Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)

Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

On-site gym

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

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