Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Sheffield offers a Master of Science (MSc) in Urban Design and Planning, a one-year full-time program that equips students with specialist skills and understanding of urban design and planning. The program is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and is designed to prepare students for a dynamic career as a chartered planner specializing in urban design in the UK and beyond.

Course Description

The MSc in Urban Design and Planning explores the critical role of urban design and planning in solving global challenges and includes opportunities to engage in design, planning, and development issues faced internationally. The program covers the relationship between design and planning in contemporary cities, and students learn from academic staff and leading practitioners who are at the forefront of their fields internationally.

Modules

The program consists of core and optional modules, including:

• Planning Place and Design Studio
• Perspectives on Spatial Planning and Development
• Spatial Planning Systems
• Masterplanning Studio
• Planning and the Development Process
• Optional modules:
  • Issues in Housing
  • Urban Informality
  • Planning Law
  • Health, Wellbeing and the City
  • Urban Regeneration
  • Extended Reality Design and Place-making
  • The Urban Climate Emergency
  • GIS for Built Environment Professionals
  • Urban Heritage and Conservation

Dissertation

Students can choose between a design dissertation or a conventional written dissertation, both of which are assessed in the form of an 8,000-word design portfolio or a 12,500-word research essay.

Teaching and Assessment

The program is taught through a mix of applied studio-based learning, small group workshops, project work, design crits, seminars, computer workshops, and tutorials, as well as lectures. Assessment methods include coursework, presentations, and a dissertation.

Career Prospects

The MSc in Urban Design and Planning equips students for professional practice in urban design and planning in the UK and internationally. Graduates have developed successful careers across the built environment sector, including in urban design, planning, real estate development, urban policy, central and local government, international development, non-governmental organizations, and research.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is a 2:1 undergraduate honors degree in any subject. International students must also meet the English language requirements, which are IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees for the program are:

• Home (2026 annual fee): £12,360
• Overseas (2026 annual fee): £27,755 There are also additional costs for field classes, and funding opportunities are available, including a £3,000 tuition fee discount for overseas fee-paying students and a £2,500 discount for Sheffield graduates.

School of Geography and Planning

The program is offered by the School of Geography and Planning, which is internationally recognized for its expertise in tackling global challenges such as climate and environmental change, urbanization, sustainability, and social justice. The school collaborates with professional bodies, alumni, policymakers, practitioners, and communities to contribute to creating a more just and sustainable future.