Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies and Planning

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers a degree in a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies and Planning which is an advanced research degree in planning or urban studies and is focused on training individuals for research and teaching in the areas of applied social research and planning. The Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies and Planning program emphasizes the development of fundamental research competence, flexibility in the design of special area of study, and encouragement of joint student/faculty research and teaching. The program is tailored to the needs of individual students, each of whom works closely with a custom ecosystem of scholars in their field and a mentor in the Department.

Admission to the doctoral program is highly competitive. About one in nine applicants is accepted and there are generally 10-12 doctoral candidates accepted each year. The percentage of men and women is usually equal, and approximately 30 percent are from abroad. The Department is committed to the active recruitment of minorities. Most incoming doctoral students hold a Master's degree in a field related to urban studies or planning, and have a year or more of work experience. However, candidates holding a bachelor's degree and demonstrating a strong commitment to research and teaching are also seriously considered.

The minimum score required for the IELTS is 7 and the minimum TOEFL score is 600 (250 for computer-based test, 100 for Internet-based test). While either test score is accepted, the IELTS score is preferred.