Urban Planning MSc

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

Urban Planning is the understanding of the place-making processes that underpin places, society and the environment. It's also interdisciplinary, with professionals having an understanding of 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 master's 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 an RICS-accredited route to gain Chartered Surveyors status.

The course is suitable:

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

Leading planning academics teach our modules. They are members of the 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 for over 12 months or part-time for over two years.

The part-time study consists of the same modules and options as the full-time programme.

This master's in Urban Planning has five specialist pathways. Choose a pathway to suit your individual needs, background and career aspirations.

Development pathway

The planning of the built environment is becoming more driven by economic rationales. This pathway will equip you with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with these. You'll be introduced to a variety of practical and theoretical skills. These provide a solid basis to build your career as a planner or surveyor.

Career pathways may include working for both public and private sectors or for non-governmental organisations, such as:

• the Homes and Communities Agency
• social enterprises interested in the development
• housebuilders and developers

This pathway is only available full-time.

Global Development pathway

This specialism is ideal if you want to work in spatial planning within an urbanising and globalising world. The pathway bridges the gap between urban planning and international development. You'll engage in the theoretical and practical context of planning in a range of countries.

The pathway will prepare you for work as an urban planner and development professional around the world. If you are an international student, you can relate the core learning to your own country.

Regeneration pathway

This pathway develops your knowledge of approaches to regeneration in Europe and North America. It covers different policy approaches, their potential and their actual impact on the place, society and the environment.

You'll learn:

• theories of regeneration practice
• alternative regeneration policy approaches (regional, urban and rural)
• the historical origins and changing political and cultural contexts that have shaped urban policy
• the potential and limitations of urban policy
• Teaching focuses on designing and delivering regeneration projects as well as developing a critical understanding of context.

Conservation pathway

This is for you if you’re interested in historic cities and urban conservation. It will develop your skills in conservation analysis, strategy-making and implementation. This pathway looks at conservation in the UK and internationally.

If you’re from a country with strong conservation traditions, or perhaps observing the loss of your heritage, you can explore:

• what heritage is
• what is valued and why
• what can be done to intervene on heritage's behalf

You'll explore ‘the historic’ city within different national contexts. You'll develop your understanding of the planning principles of conservation and heritage management.

The specialism is taught by a mixture of academic staff and conservation practitioners. It draws on the School’s conservation expertise and connections to engage you in the theoretical and practical context of heritage conservation.

Green Infrastructure and Landscape Planning pathway

Green Infrastructure (GI) is the development of solutions to address the increasing human impact on the environment. In an urbanising world, natural systems are under increasing pressure. GI development and landscape planning are important tools to respond to these pressures. These tools can enhance, restore or create landscapes with spaces and linkages for both human and natural systems.

This specialism offers a mix of teaching styles to develop a creative strategic approach to GI and landscape planning. Through real-world examples and the guidance of professionals, you'll gain an understanding of:

• the legal framework of GI
• engagement with local communities
• your own interests within the specialism

Professional accreditation and recognition

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

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

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

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

A Global Top 125 university (QS World University Rankings 2023), Newcastle is home to 29,000 students from 140 countries.

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