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Introduction to the Double Degree Master in Sustainable Urban and Regional Development

The Double Degree Master in Sustainable Urban and Regional Development is a full-time program offered by the University of Groningen and Gadjah Mada University. This program combines content from the master's in Geography (track Regional Development) at Gadjah Mada University with content from the master's in Society, Sustainability, and Planning at the University of Groningen.

Program Description

The program is designed for students who want to study sustainable urban and regional development in the context of Europe and Southeast Asia. Students start their two-year program with a year in Indonesia, followed by a year in the Netherlands. Please note that some of the courses in year 1 are not taught in English but in Bahasa Indonesian.

Facts and Figures

• Degree: MSc in Society, Sustainability, and Planning
• Course type: Double Degree master
• Duration: 24 months (120 EC)
• Croho code: 66653
• Language of instruction: English
• Start: August, September
• Faculty: Spatial Sciences

Why Study this Program in Groningen?

• Unique focus on designing socially sustainable spatial solutions
• Numerous 'hands-on' assignments, field-visits, and contacts with practitioners
• An emerging societally relevant field within Spatial Planning research and practice
• Thinking (policy strategies) and doing (practical work on projects and plans)
• Compare international theory and practice

Program Structure

The program consists of two years, with the first year spent in Indonesia and the second year in the Netherlands.

Year 1

• Development of Concepts and Theories in Geography (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Population and Development (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Research Design and Methodology (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Smart City, Village, and Region (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Space and Place in Globalization (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Spatial Data Representation (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Spatial Development Planning (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Structure and Dynamics of Regional System (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Sustainable Regional Development (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Design of Monitoring and Evaluation (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Fieldwork (3 SKS) (4.5 EC)
• Marginal and Border Area Development (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Pre-proposal (1.5 EC)
• Regional Development Information System (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Regional Development Studio (3 SKS) (4.5 EC)
• Statistic for Geography (2 SKS) (3 EC)
• Sustainable Urban Development (2 SKS) (3 EC)

Year 2

• City Matters (5 EC)
• Interaction, Society, and Space (5 EC)
• Planning Theory (5 EC)
• Engaging Society in Spatial Transformation (5 EC)
• Optional courses (10 EC)
• Master's Thesis (parts 1-3) (5 EC)
• Revitalising Neighbourhoods (5 EC)
• Living Lab Sustainable Places (ID) (5 EC)

Study Abroad

Study abroad is required for this program.

Entry Requirements

• Dutch diploma
• International diploma

Admission Requirements

• Previous education: Bachelor's degree in Geography, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Spatial Planning, Environmental Science, Economic Development, Regional Development, Social Science, and Politics, Public Administration, or any other subject related to the DDM program.
• Grade average: Overall weighted average grade of at least 3.25 (Indonesian Grade) for Indonesian students, or at least 6.5 (Dutch grade) for Dutch students, or equivalent for other students.
• Language test: English certificate according to the requirements of the Common European Framework (CEF): C1 or better
  • IELTS overall band 6.5, no less than 6.0 on each section
  • TOEFL 92 IBT
  • Cambridge English: Cambridge certificate C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CAE/CPE)

The language proficiency requirement can be waived for students who can demonstrate that they are enrolled in or have completed a Bachelor's program that is fully taught in English.

Application Deadlines

• Dutch students: 15 April 2026 for the August 2026 start, 15 April 2026 for the September 2026 start
• EU/EEA students: 01 March 2026 for the August 2026 start, 01 March 2026 for the September 2026 start
• non-EU/EEA students: 01 March 2026 for the September 2026 start, 01 April 2026 for the August 2026 start

Tuition Fees

• EU/EEA: € 2601 for the first year, € 2695 for the second year
• non-EU/EEA: € 21400 for the first year, € 22200 for the second year

Scholarships

Check the Nuffic website for information about scholarships.

After Your Studies

Job Prospects

Our graduates work at:

• Various levels of government
• Consultancies, housing associations, and developers (private sector)
• NGOs (environmental, social, heritage)
• Universities and research institutes

We support you in developing a rich set of analytical tools and practical skills that allow you to create sustainable cities. You become a critical professional who knows how to engage citizens in the major spatial transformations of our times.

Research

The MSc Socio-Spatial Planning (SSP) program follows the research agenda of the Department of Spatial Planning and Environment as well as the Faculty of Spatial Sciences in more general. This research agenda focuses on the relationships between wellbeing of people (with different identity markers, backgrounds, values, wishes), institutional innovation (improved governance and policy making), and spatial transformation (changing landscapes, cities, and regions).

The emphasis in Socio-Spatial Planning related research lies on the social side of planning. ‘Ordinary’ people and local communities are often neglected by planners, and the focus tends to be more dominantly on policy, governance, strategic planning, and legal frameworks. Research conducted by researchers active in Socio-Spatial Planning program aims to understand the ‘HUMAN FACTOR’ in spatial planning: why different groups of people embrace, contest, or reject spatial changes? how do they take the lead in shaping their own environment and how to align such initiatives with more formal plan- and policy-making? how do spatial interventions influence different stakeholders and their well-being? and how to engage society effectively in spatial transformations?

The core ambitions of the research that informs the teaching program of Master SSP are to:

• Contribute to planning for liveable, resilient, and resourceful communities and places
• Be able to create coalitions and stimulate collaboration among different stakeholders
• Design policy solutions for an inclusive and sustainable society

Some examples of recent research topics of the researchers closely connected to the program of Socio-Spatial Planning include:

• Liveability, resilience, and resourceful communities (prof. Ina Horlings, dr. Elen-Maarja Trell)
• (Spatial) justice and urban (in)equality (dr. Barend Wind)
• Civic initiatives and self-governance (prof. Gert de Roo, dr. Ward Rauws, dr. Elen-Maarja Trell)
• Design-dialogues and vision-building (dr. Terry van Dijk)
• Place-based development, place-branding, and leadership (prof. Ina Horlings)
• Age-friendly neighbourhoods (dr. Ward Rauws)
• Coalition building and collaborative planning (prof. Ina Horlings)

The articles written on the above topics by the staff members are often used as direct input for lectures and as key literature for the core courses. The Department also facilitates connecting Master thesis research to the ongoing research of staff members.