Location:

Dublin, Ireland

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Urban Affairs & Planning

Program Overview

Program Description:

Who is the Master of Regional and Urban Planning for? The Master of Regional and Urban Planning (MRUP) is a two-year professional planning degree, which will provide you with the first steps to becoming a professional chartered planner. The MRUP offers you the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values fundamental to a career in planning and skills and knowledge which are transferrable to other careers. Applications are welcome from graduates from any discipline, though undergraduate disciplines with a thematic link to Planning are preferred. The programme is also suitable for those with a professional background in a field related to Planning who might wish to develop and broaden their skillset. What will I learn? Within the MRUP programme you will develop an understanding of the administrative, legal and policy frameworks in which spatial planning operates and the social political, economic and environmental challenges facing planning. You will become familiar with the use and application of GIS methodologies and will develop skills for plan making and transportation planning. You will also develop a suite of transferrable skills, including skills in spatial analysis, project management skills, mediation and advocacy skills, organisational management and leadership skills, problem solving and decision making skills and, communication skills. Depending on your interests you can choose to specialize in either development and design or environmental planning. Studio modules, where students work on practical projects with significant input from planning practitioners as well as academic staff allow students to apply their theoretical understanding in ways that mirror situations encountered in the professional world. How will I benefit? The Masters in Regional and Urban Planning is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Irish Planning Institute and these qualifications are recognised internationally. The degree is highly regarded by prospective employers and gives you a competitive advantage in the job market. The course is taught by both our academic staff and planning practitioners and as a result students benefit from research informed teaching and practical and professional insights. Students are encouraged and assisted in securing Planning practice internships in the summer break between the two years of the course, thus obtaining professional experience vital when entering the employment market. An innovative new internship module allows students to obtain credit for a significant practice based project where approved by the course director. What is the programme about In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, with the threats posed by climate change, economic crisis, and rapid urban growth, planners face the challenge of creating places that combine good environmental quality, with a vibrant economy, good quality of life and distributive justice. This two-year professional planning degree develops the requisite conceptual knowledge and practical skills, required by planners in this increasingly complex environment. Why UCD? Top Ranking, We’re ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide Global, Ireland’s largest and most global university with over 26,000 students Flexibility, Highly flexible and diverse curriculum Advising, Comprehensive academic advising & career counselling On-campus housing, Range of on-campus housing options Facilities, Cutting-edge sports and campus facilities Information on funding opportunities is available on request.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

The programme is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute of the UK and the Irish Planning Institute. Students are advised to consult with their local Planning associations (American Planning Association for US students) to determine whether accreditation applies in their local market and what requirements there might be for transferring accreditation if not.

Financial Aid:

No

Requirements:

An undergraduate degree in any academic field, with a preference for fields of study related to Planning and/or equivalent relevant professional experience. A minimum of a 2.2 Honours degree at undergraduate level. As a guideline for US based students a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher would generally be competitive in any given year. A lower cumulative GPA may be considered depending on the quality of applications received, relevant professional experience etc.

International Requirements:

Students whose native language is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in an institution where the language of instruction is English would be required to submit a recent (no more than 2 years old) IELTS or TOEFL examination certificate. The minimum requirement is 6.5 overall with no less than 6 in any category for IELTS or 95 in the Internet based TOEFL examination. Other English language qualifications may be considered, please contact the School for details if you have a certification other than the two listed above.