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Urban Planning, MSc

Newcastle University, the United Kingdom

Newcastle University

Study options for this course

The award How you will study Study duration Course start Domestic course fees International course fees
MScFull-time, Part-time12 - 24 monthsSeptemberfind outfind out

About Urban Planning, MSc - at Newcastle University

Our Urban Planning MSc provides a core introduction to planning issues, professional and theoretical debates and their application to live cases and places.

About this course

Urban Planning is the understanding of the place making processes that underpins places, society and the environment. It is also interdisciplinary, with professionals having an understanding across a range of topics. You'll gain an understanding of the fundamentals required for a successful career in planning or the wider built environment professions.

The Urban Planning MSc is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The Development pathway is partially accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and offers a RICS-accredited route to gain Chartered Surveyors status.

The course is suitable:

  • if you are new to studying planning
  • if you have before studied planning in a different regulatory context

What you'll learn

  • fundamentals of planning
  • academic underpinnings of planning
  • principles of planning
  • legal, economic, social, political frameworks in which planning is situated 

The course has five specialist pathways to suit your individual needs, background and career aspirations. 

Development pathway

Global development pathway

Regeneration pathway

Conservation pathway

Green Infrastructure and Landscape Planning pathway

Accreditation

This course is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The RTPI (a professional body for planners) is the UK's leading planning body for spatial, sustainable and inclusive planning. It is the largest planning institute in Europe with over 23,000 members 

The Development pathway is partially accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and offers a RICS-accredited route to gain Chartered Surveyors status. You can apply for RICS student membership through the RICS website.

Delivery

Leading planning academics teach our modules. They are members of planning teaching staff in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. Their world-leading research informs the teaching programme.

We teach the course on our Newcastle campus. You can study full time over 12 months or part time over two years.

If you study full time you are usually expected to attend 12 hours of taught contact time per week. You will need to allow around 28 hours of independent study per week. Contact hours and independent study times will vary depending on modules.

Part time study consists of the same modules and options as the full time programme. If you study part time, we timetable teaching for day release (one full day per week).

The majority of the course consists of a series of compulsory modules. They will introduce you to the core values and principles of planning. You will build on these throughout the rest of your studies and professional life. The main focus of these modules is the UK system complemented by international examples.

You will also have a choice of optional modules. These help you to develop a specialisation in planning practice informed by the latest research.

We deliver knowledge and skills through a series of lecture based modules in semester one and two. We also deliver teaching through:

  • workshops
  • seminars
  • tutorials 
  • optional international field trips (depending on the module)

A member of planning staff will mentor you through your individual dissertation research study.

Facilities

You will have access to a dedicated social space for planning students, with computing and printing facilities. This is in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.

Entry requirements

2:2 honours degree. International students need a qualification equal to a 2:1 honours degree. Your degree can be in any subject, but preference is given to graduates of a related discipline such as:

  • planning
  • geography
  • urban studies
  • sociology
  • history
  • politics
  • economics
  • architecture
  • law
  • modern languages

Applicants who demonstrate significant knowledge and professional experience in UK town planning are welcome. We will consider your application if you have lower or non-standard qualifications and demonstrate aptitude for further study.

English Language Requirements

To study this course you need to meet our Band 4

Direct Entry: IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in writing, and 5.5 in all other sub-skills).

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