Program Overview

Specialisation Spatial Planning

As a spatial planner, you formulate scenarios for future landscape transformations and evaluate the effectiveness of those scenarios for many different stakeholders. You study planning processes and organise the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for spatial interventions. The focus is on reflecting on planning processes against the background of the environmental, social, cultural, economic, and political needs of society.

You will develop scenarios for transforming landscapes and evaluate the effectiveness of your scenarios in relation to objectives such as sustainability, enhancing or preserving ecological services, and intergenerational justice. You are aware that your transformations take place in an ever-changing society, with different ambitions, conflicts, and interests.

The specialisation courses increase your knowledge of different planning theories and methodologies. You are stimulated to reflect on spatial planning practices, to participate in academic debate across disciplines, and to improve your research skills.

Spatial Planning

In this specialisation, you study the processes and substance of spatial planning. Spatial planning is a discipline on the nexus of practice and science. Spatial planning practice relates to a wide variety of activities such as analysing spatial organisation, organising planning processes, and designing plans and visions for future landscapes. Spatial planning as a scientific discipline reflects on these practices and develops new insights and knowledge about (spatial) concepts, strategies, and instruments.

Courses, Internship, and Thesis

The specialisation Spatial Planning includes two specialisation courses, an internship, 12 ECTS in electives, and an MSc thesis, as well as a number of courses together with students in the specialisation Landscape Architecture. The standard schedule is shown below. You can find a detailed description of all programme elements in the Study Handbook.

MSc Thesis

In an MSc thesis on Spatial Planning, you reflect on planning situations and explain what is going on: Which people and mechanisms are at work and how are different aspects related to each other? Your thesis work is based on diverse theories, from inside and outside the planning domain. MSc thesis research can focus on the organisation of space, on planning processes, as well as on planners and their actions. Your project relates to the ongoing research within the chair group Land Use Planning, which covers themes such as:

• Land development
• Urban sprawl and urban networks
• Landscape ecology and nature
• Water management
• Heritage management
• Traffic, transport, and infrastructure
• Food planning and urban agriculture

Access to Specialisation Courses and Spatial Planning MSc Thesis

In order to succeed in this specialisation and be well prepared for the thesis, you will need to meet the admission criteria for this MSc as mentioned for ‘Spatial Planning’ on the Admission requirements page.

Education and Research

Bachelor's

• Bachelor's programmes
• Open days & study orientation
• Practical information
• Application & admission
• Tuition fees
• Student housing

Master's

• Master's programmes
• Open days & study orientation
• Practical information
• Application & admission
• Tuition fees
• Scholarships

More Education

• Engineering Doctorate
• PhD programmes
• Education for professionals
• Current students

Information for

• Parents
• Deans and counselors
• Teachers
• Alumni

Research Areas

The Chair Group Land Use Planning (LUP) is closely involved in the courses and the thesis projects. Research areas include:

• Land development
• Urban sprawl and urban networks
• Landscape ecology and nature
• Water management
• Heritage management
• Traffic, transport, and infrastructure
• Food planning and urban agriculture