The MSc in Urban and Regional Planning promotes a thorough understanding of how cities and regions function. As a graduate, this will allow you to make a real and positive difference to the social, environmental and economic welfare of towns, cities and regions.

Programme structure

At its core, the programme aims to promote the social scientific understanding of cities.

You will be taught to understand:

• the economic underpinnings of urban and regional development
• the processes and institutions of urban governance
• the relationships between places and urban society.

You will also learn to demonstrate the value of research-based urban analysis and understanding. In this process, you will improve your own research skills.

You will develop an understanding of cities, property markets, institutions and governance. This provides an essential foundation to effective action in the development and management of cities.

To promote effective work across professional boundaries, you will critically appreciate the roles of a range of urban professionals and other stakeholders.

You will understand the importance of research and reflection as a route to successful urban planning innovation.

Graduate attributes

This degree programme equips you for a wide range of opportunities by providing the knowledge and understanding to:

• Critically identify cities as dynamic spaces in the local, national and global economic and political system
• Evaluate the main theories about the uniqueness of cities, their development in time and space, and their particular assets from a social, economic, cultural and environmental perspective
• Contrast and compare urban trends in different regions of the world, together with the drivers of these changes
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the current urban problems faced by different professions in urban planning and management; as well as city dwellers themselves
• Evaluate environmental sustainability as a concept, with particular reference to the demands and pressures cities place on the natural environment in different regions
• Assess the underpinnings of urban planning theory and how it has shaped urban interventions
• Critique the roles and functions of planning in cities areas with a view to shaping urban change
• Compare the rationale for, and assess the effectiveness of, different forms of partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors in implementing urban development and regeneration, and understand the political variations in the urban development processes in different countries.
• Evaluate the relationship between market processes, built form, private and public realm, different development models and patterns of movement
• Assess the economic and financial implications of alternative development strategies and evaluate how best to create high quality places and generate and capture added value for both particular interests and the wider community.

Career prospects

Graduates will find that opportunities exist in planning and development agencies, consultancies, property developers, local and regional authorities, regeneration and development agencies and government; and further study at PhD level.