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MSc in Planning, Development & Urban Design

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The capacity to develop planning and urban design solutions, to analyse them critically and to provide guidance in regard to their implementation is one for which there is a growing demand. Furthermore, urban design lies at the interface of architecture and urban planning, with both disciplines contributing complementary but contrasting approaches to urban design theory and practice. In this context, the MSc Planning, Development & Urban Design has been specifically tailored to enable fully-qualified architects to further develop, build upon and enhance relevant pre-existing professional knowledge, understanding, and skills, to specialise in both spatial planning and urban design.

This programme is open to Architects on the RIAI Register of Architects or persons eligible to seek registration as an architect in Ireland without further assessment.

The programme also draws upon the particular research strengths of the School, providing students with the opportunity to engage with innovative approaches to sustainable and resilient urbanism, exploring emerging challenges surrounding the role of urban design in mitigating or adapting to climate change, in promoting ‘healthy’ cities or neighbourhoods, and the incorporation of ‘nature’ into design (e.g. nature-based solutions) to address habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss.

Module Information:

Under the "What modules can I take?" section below you will see general module information, for a more detailed description including module selection rules click here.

About This Course

The programme aims to train, mentor and support fully-qualified architects in developing core, transferable and specialist skills and knowledge in urban design, conservation and sustainable and resilient urbanism, as well as social science research methods applied to the built environment, and will enable graduates to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to create better places through urban design. While interactive lectures and seminars introduce students to key concepts, theory and approaches in planning and urban design, studio modules provide experience of working with other disciplines to solve complex planning and urban design challenges.

Teaching, learning and assessment approaches include debates and discussions, presentations, case studies, graphic communication, group project work, independent research and academic and professional writing, to provide graduates with the requisite skills and knowledge needed in the rapidly changing global environment facing planning and urban design.

Graduates will have the option of continuing a career in architectural practice, but with a specialism in the sought-after areas of spatial planning and urban design. However, alternative career paths include roles in the public, private and community sectors, including planning and urban design consultancies, local authorities, development firms, regeneration companies, and environmental and other NGOs.

The MSc Planning, Development & Urban Design is fully accredited (both spatial and specialist) by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The School has an established international track record as a leading research centre in spatial planning and is in the Top 100 QS World University Rankings by subject area. UCD has over 50 years’ experience delivering high quality planning education and the School is a member of the Association of European Schools of Planning.


Assistant Professor Arthur Parkinson - Programme Director

The MSc Planning, Development & Urban Design aims to educate, train, mentor and support qualified architects to up-skill through specialisation in both urban design and spatial planning. A mix of learning and assessment strategies are employed, notably including studio-based learning, which will also include the involvement of leading practitioners to ensure that students acquire key ‘industry-ready’ urban design skills. Given that the programme may be of interest to mid-career architects, the programme is offered on a part-time basis, in recognition of the demands of professional practice, allowing these students to continue practising part-time alongside their studies.

MSc in Planning, Development & Urban Design (T324) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10300
nonEU    fee per year - € 29100

***Fees are subject to change

Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see http://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/scholarships/.

  • The programme is open to Architects on the RIAI Register of Architects or persons eligible to seek registration as an architect in Ireland without further assessment.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc in Planning, Development & Urban Design:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T324
MSc in Planning, Development & Urban Design
Master of Science		 Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Closed
* you can change options at the top of the page
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