Master of Urban Technology
Degree Information

It’s a 12-month graduate degree from Taubman College on business, innovation, and technology for people who shape the built environment (architecture, planning, urban design, real estate, and operations). Students work in the gray areas between those fields to develop evidence-based approaches, new business models, and new technology.

The degree is offered 100% in Detroit at the University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI). No classes are expected to be taught in Ann Arbor.

It’s a full-time, three-term program (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer) totaling 30 credits, completed in 12 months.

Each term has a theme and 10 credits:

• Fall, “Radically Better”: Building the World with Purpose, Innovation in Detroit, Entrepreneurship for the AECO Sector, and Urban Informatics.
• Winter, “Radically Integrated”: Systems Thinking for the Built Environment, Urban AI, and the Urban Systems Innovation Studio.
• Spring/Summer, “Radically Possible”: Business Models & Finance for AECO Ventures, Leadership Through Complexity & Change, and a 6-credit Capstone.

Yes. The curriculum includes Learning Journeys. The first, in Copenhagen, is part of the Fall term, and the second, in the Midwest, is part of the Winter term. A third is included with the Spring/Summer capstone.

The faculty who will teach in the Master of Urban Technology are a part of the Urban and Regional Planning Program at Taubman College. You can meet a few of them through this webpage: https://taubmancollege.umich.edu/faculty/directory/?_programs=mut.

Attend a virtual information session. You can hear about the degree, ask questions, and get a feel for the program before you apply. See upcoming sessions and RSVP online: https://taubmancollege.umich.edu/admissions/visits-and-events/#mut

Estimated 2027-2028 costs for all three terms (living expenses vary by student):

Yes! Your admission application is automatically your scholarship application. To be considered, apply by the December 15 early action deadline. Awards after that date are possible only if funds remain.

U.S. citizens and eligible permanent residents should submit the FAFSA using U-M’s federal code, 002325. The FAFSA opens October 1, and the recommended deadline is March 1.

Taubman College offers a one-for-one match, up to $10,000, for students who enroll with a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. External scholarship search tools are available online.

International students aren’t eligible for U.S. need-based federal aid. They may receive competitive, merit-based departmental awards, which are noted in the admission letter.

People from any discipline with rigorous academic training and a passion for systems challenges and innovation in the built environment. Most students have at least 3 years of professional experience, but recent graduates of professional degree programs (architecture, planning, urban design) or relevant bachelor’s programs are also welcome.

We offer three rounds so applicants with different timelines can find the right fit. All rounds receive full admission consideration, but they differ in scholarship availability and decision timing:

• December 15 (Early Action): Best if you’ve identified this program early and want the strongest scholarship consideration. Decisions are released by mid January.
• February 15: Full admission consideration, though scholarship funding may be more limited. Decisions are released by mid March.
• April 15: Ideal if you discovered the program later in your search or are a working professional who has recently decided to pursue graduate study. Decisions are released by mid May. Scholarship funding is likely to be limited.

You’ll find peers in every round, since we expect our incoming cohort to include students from all three deadlines. If you’re ready by December 15, we encourage you to apply then, but a later deadline will not count against you in the admission decision.

Familiarity with the design process, statistics, and finance, through coursework or experience. Optional online learning is available to fill gaps.

December 15 (Early Action, recommended), February 15, and April 15.

A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants below a 3.0 may still apply, since the review is holistic.

• A response of 600 words or fewer to the essay prompt: “The built environment does not lack critics; it lacks protagonists.”
• A resume or CV
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended (official transcripts are required only if you accept admission)
• Two letters of recommendation

GRE scores are not required, and select applicants may be invited to a virtual interview.

Yes. $75 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and $90 for international students. Fee waivers are available for eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents, such as military veterans, Peace Corps and AmeriCorps alumni, and those with significant financial need.

Students attending a virtual information session (or special 1:1 appointments) are eligible for an application fee waiver.

Yes, for applicants whose native language isn’t English, unless they earned a degree from a university where English is the primary language of instruction. Accepted tests are TOEFL, IELTS (7.0 minimum), and MET (59 minimum). The TOEFL iBT minimum is 95 for tests taken before January 21, 2026; the page lists 4.5 for tests taken on or after that date.

The faculty will review your materials holistically and will make an admit, waitlist or deny decision. Select applicants may be invited for a virtual interview as part of the admissions process.

Mid-January for the December 15 deadline, mid-March for February 15, and mid-May for April 15.

Pay a $500 enrollment deposit, which is credited toward your tuition. The deadline is April 15, or June 1 for April 15 applicants.

Not if you need an I-20 for an F-1 student visa. U-M is not yet approved to issue I-20s for this program. Domestic students and non-U.S. citizens who won’t be studying in F-1 status are still eligible.