Program Overview

Introduction to the DDM Development Planning and Infrastructure Management Program

The DDM Development Planning and Infrastructure Management program is a Double Degree master's program offered by the Faculty of Spatial Sciences in Groningen and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in Bandung. This program is designed to provide students with the professional capability to deal with planning-related activities, focusing on local and central levels in both developed and developing worlds.

Program Description

The program is a full-time, twenty-four-month course, with the first twelve months spent in Indonesia and the second twelve months in the Netherlands. The curriculum focuses on theories in the field of planning, including planning and management of natural resources, decision-making processes, and infrastructure planning and management in the context of urban and regional development.

Facts and Figures

• Degree: MSc in Environmental and Infrastructure Planning
• Course type: Double Degree master
• Duration: 24 months (120 EC)
• Croho code: 66194
• Language of instruction: English
• Start: September
• Faculty: Spatial Sciences

Why Study this Program in Groningen?

• Urban areas and issues of infrastructure, environment, and water
• Thinking (policy strategies) and doing (practical work on projects and plans)
• Compare international theory and practice
• Program linked to international (e.g., AESOP) and national (e.g., Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment) institutes
• Groningen offers a wide range of English-language course options and facilities

Program Structure

The program consists of two years, with the first year spent at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in Indonesia and the second year at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

Year 1

• Semester I: August to December
• Semester II: January to May

Year 2

• Courses and research projects at the University of Groningen

Curriculum

The curriculum includes a range of courses, such as:

• Advanced Planning Theory
• Digital Literacy
• Elective Courses
• Advanced Research Methodology
• Planning Studio
• Dilemmas in Infrastructure Planning
• EIP: Interactive Workshop
• Planning Theory
• Comparative Research and Planning Practice
• Optional course MSc EIP
• Master's Thesis EIP
• Reinventing Environmental Planning
• Transitions in Water Management

Study Abroad

Study abroad is required, with the first year spent in Indonesia and the second year in the Netherlands.

Entry Requirements

• Dutch diploma
• International diploma
• Grade average: A minimum GPA of bachelor degree is 3.00 (or equivalent)
• Language test: English on VWO level or one of the following equivalents:
  • IELTS overall band 6.5, no less than 6.0 on each section
  • TOEFL internet based: Overall: 90, Reading: 18, Listening: 18, Speaking: 20, Writing: 21
  • Cambridge English: Cambridge certificate C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CAE/CPE)

Application Deadlines

• EU/EEA students: 15 May 2026
• non-EU/EEA students: 15 May 2026

Tuition Fees

• EU/EEA students: € 2601 (first year), € 2695 (second year)
• non-EU/EEA students: € 21400 (first year), € 22200 (second year)

After Your Studies

Graduates work as experts in the field of developmental planning and infrastructural management at:

• Governmental agencies
• Consultancies
• Non-profit organizations
• University and other research institutions

Research

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences at the University of Groningen has a strong academic position, nationally and internationally, and is well-embedded in a wider range of disciplines, such as social sciences and technology sciences. The research programme is titled TRACE (TRAnsformations, Communities and Environments).

Examples of Research Projects

• "Playing with Urban Complexity" – Dr. Ir. Katherina Gugerell
• "Flood Resilience in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom" – Steven Forrest
• "INTENSSS-PA" – Christian Zuidema
• "SMART Campus Zernike Groningen" – Dr. Elen-Maarja Trell

Study Associations

Ibn Battuta is the Faculty Association of Spatial Sciences, offering social drinks, foreign trips, lectures, and other activities for students.

Alumni Testimonials

• "Following the double degree programme was a truly unique experience." – Michel Zurkirchen
• "Doing my masters in Bandung was an unforgettable experience." – Niek Duregger