Spatial Planning MSc

Spatial Planning MSc at UCL equips you with the skills to address complex planning challenges and develop sustainable, resilient communities. With a focus on strategic, integrated, and inclusive planning, this accredited urban planning degree prepares you for a successful career in city and regional planning, policy development, and related fields. Spatial planning manages space and develops places to meet societal, economic, and environmental needs. This degree explores the interaction and evolution of people, places, and the environment to influence these dynamics positively. Throughout your degree you delve into urban and regional planning complexities in the UK, exploring definitions and solutions. You gain a deep understanding of UK planning systems, critically comparing them with Europe and worldwide, investigating spatial and comparative perspectives in planning to learn about integrated solutions and sustainable development goals. By understanding social and physical dynamics, combined with ethical considerations, you are equipped to create planned interventions on urban and regional scales. This MSc is ideal for recent graduates and mid-career professionals looking to advance or shift their careers towards urban planning, housing, urban regeneration, urban design or related roles in central and local government, private consultancy, voluntary bodies and more. The degree is suitable for graduates from any subject and acts as a ‘fast-track conversion’ course to become a professional planner. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a working professional, we offer part-time and flexible study options that let you balance work and study. This programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with a duration of 5 calendar years.

An upper second-class Bachelor's degree (or higher) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of equivalent standing. There is no particular subject requirement as the MSc provides an 'initial' planning education for graduates with cognate and non-cognate degrees. Where candidates fail to meet the standard requirement (i.e. they hold a degree of a lower classification), the department will take into account professional experience in planning or a related field when deciding whether to admit a candidate. Applicants who do not hold a first degree may, in exceptional cases, by admitted to the programme if they are able to demonstrate at least five years of professional experience in planning or a related field. In such situations, a special qualifying essay will be set.