Program Overview

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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:

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 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:

the Homes and Communities Agency

social enterprises interested in 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 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

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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.