UDL Thesis Publication 2026

Competition Brief

The UDL Thesis Publication 2026 is an annual open international call for graduate thesis submissions organised by Urban Design Lab (UDL), an Indian-based online platform for urban design, landscape, architecture, and planning education and publication. Now in its fourth consecutive edition, the programme invites undergraduate and postgraduate students from accredited institutions worldwide to submit thesis projects completed within the past five years for inclusion in a curated ISBN-attributed printed book.

The top 40 selected entries are published in the book and invited to present at a two-day online seminar in September 2026. Ten additional Honourable Mentions are recognised and published on the UDL website and social media. All registered participants receive a certificate of participation.

Intent

The publication aims to promote global design and research trends in the urban domain, offering a platform for student work to reach academic and professional communities internationally. The programme prioritises originality, thematic relevance, research quality, and overall presentation. It operates across four thematic pillars: Urban Renewal, Urban Landscapes, Urban Management, and Urban Networks, each with defined sub-themes.

Themes

Urban Renewal covers conservation, regeneration, revitalisation, and heritage revival of urban areas. Urban Landscapes focuses on climate resilience, green-blue infrastructure, landscape heritage, health and wellbeing, sustainable urbanism, and recreation. Urban Management addresses infrastructure, social cohesion, urban conflict, risk, tourism, and inclusive urbanism. Urban Networks covers mobility and accessibility, city linkages, transit-oriented development, and water-based transit connectivity. Each submission may address one theme only, and one submission per participant is accepted.

Requirements

Thesis projects must have been completed within the past five years and must be related to the urban domain across urban design, landscape, architecture, or planning. The thesis must have received a passing grade from an accredited institution. Submissions must be in English. Registration requires submitting a 500-word abstract. The thesis portfolio, submitted after registration via a provided web link, must be uploaded by 20 July 2026 in a single PDF file with a maximum size of 50 MB. Panels may be A0 (maximum 7 sheets), A1 (maximum 10 sheets), or A3 (maximum 15 sheets). Submissions must be anonymous, with no names, institution names, or country identification on any panel. Payments are accepted via Stripe, Google Pay, and PayPal in USD or INR.

Jury

1. Alessio Russo – Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. PhD from Università di Bologna. Expert in urban ecosystem services, green infrastructure, and human health in cities.
2. César Tarazona – Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), Lima. Master in Collective Housing, Polytechnic University of Madrid. Author of Obra habitada; recipient of the BIAU XIII Pedagogies Prize and Hexágono de Oro at the Peruvian Architecture Biennial.
3. Giulia Setti – Assistant Professor, Politecnico di Milano, Italy. PhD in Architectural and Urban Design. Research focuses on housing design, urban transformation, industrial building regeneration, informal settlements, and public spaces.
4. Sunggi Park – Assistant Professor, Seoul National University of Science and Technology; registered architect in New York; public architect for Seoul Metropolitan Government. Harvard GSD graduate; finalist for the James Templeton Kelley Prize and KPF Traveling Fellowship.
5. Jeannette Sordi – Visiting Associate Professor, New York Institute of Technology; consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank. PhD from University of Genoa; visiting student at Harvard GSD. Author of Landscape as Urbanism in the Americas and Ecological Design: Strategies for the Vulnerable City.
6. Karen L. Nelson – Dean and Faculty of Architecture, Boston Architectural College (BAC). Master of Architecture from Columbia University; Bachelor of Science in Art and Design from MIT. Former Director at BAC 1998-2013; practised housing architecture in New York City.
7. Beta Paramita – Associate Professor in Architecture, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung. PhD from The University of Kitakyushu, Japan. Specialises in sustainable cities, green buildings, and outdoor thermal comfort. Winner of the 2022 Million Cool Roofs Challenge.
8. Mohammed Fekry – Professor of Architecture and Design, Effat University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PhD from Cairo University. Research in architecture theory, design process, GIS, and urban conservation. Vice-chair of the Saudi Planners Association.

Registration Fees

Registration fees are non-refundable. Payments via Stripe, Google Pay, or PayPal in USD or INR. Alternative payment methods available for participants in countries where the payment gateway is unavailable; contact info@urbandesignlab.in.

Prizes and Rewards

There are no cash prizes. The printed publication book is available for purchase separately from the UDL website. The seminar is accessible to all registered participants, including those not shortlisted.

Key Dates

✦ ArchUp Competition Review

The UDL Thesis Publication is a niche but well-structured annual programme with a clear and honest value proposition: paid publication in a printed ISBN book for student work in the urban domain. Now in its fourth edition, it has a documented track record with previous publications available for purchase. The jury of eight is internationally diverse and academically credible, drawing from Queensland, Lima, Milan, Seoul, New York, Boston, Bandung, and Jeddah, which gives the evaluation genuine global range. The four thematic pillars, Urban Renewal, Urban Landscapes, Urban Management, and Urban Networks, cover the breadth of contemporary urban practice adequately without being so broad as to be meaningless. The early bird fee of $40 is competitive for a publication and seminar package, though participants should note there are no cash prizes and the publication book must be purchased separately. The anonymity requirement in submission is a positive transparency measure. The programme is best suited to students and recent graduates seeking to formalise their thesis work in a printed international publication and gain exposure to a global academic panel. For urban design and planning students in particular, it offers a structured post-graduation publication pathway that is uncommon at this price point.

Final Thoughts

The UDL Thesis Publication 2026 is a well-organised, internationally juried student publication programme with an Early Bird fee of $40, a submission deadline of 20 July 2026, and a printed ISBN book publication in December 2026. Register and download the brief at urbandesignlab.in/udl-thesis-publication-2026.

Registration Deadline

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