| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Overview
Urban Planning is the understanding of the place making processes that underpins places, society and the environment. It's 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 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 a RICS-accredited route to gain Chartered Surveyors status.
The course is suitable:
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.
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.
This is a social theory degree with no design content. If you're interested in a design degree, please see our Urban Design MA, PGDip.
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:
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 place, society and the environment.
You'll learn:
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:
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:
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Program Outline
What you'll learn
Through this master's in Urban Planning you'll learn:
The majority of the course consists of a series of compulsory modules. They introduce you to the core values and principles of planning. You'll 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'll also have a choice of optional modules. These help you to develop a specialisation in planning practice informed by the latest research.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Development pathway modules
Compulsory modules
You are also required to take the following not for credit module:
Optional modules
Global development pathway
Compulsory modules
You are also required to take the following not for credit module:
Optional modules
Regeneration pathway modules
Compulsory modules
You are also required to take the following not for credit module:
Optional modules
Conservation pathway modules
Compulsory modules
You are also required to take the following not for credit module:
Optional modules
Green infrastructure and landscape planning pathway modules
Compulsory modules
You are also required to take the following not for credit module:
Optional modules