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Master of Regional & Urban Planning

MRUP (NFQ Level 9)

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

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In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, with the threats posed by climate change, economic crises, energy security and rapid urban growth, planners face the challenge of creating places that combine environmental quality with a vibrant economy, quality of life and distributive justice. This one-year professional planning degree develops the requisite conceptual knowledge and practical skills required by planners in this increasingly complex environment. 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. In addition, students develop practical skills for plan and policy making, including environmental assessment, retail assessment, public participation methods, development and project management, and GIS. Students will also engage with understanding the role of planning in public policy and sustainability and can avail of independent research or internship opportunities which are assigned on a competitive basis. The UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy has an established international track record as a leading research centre in spatial planning and is in the Top 150 QS World University Rankings by subject area. The School is a member of the Association of European Schools of Planning.

All students undertake modules worth 90 credits. These establish the context and theory for urban design, provide the opportunity for engagement with core themes within a studio-based context, introduce key research skills, and allow students to pursue their own specialist interest through the completion of a thesis. Please note that some modules listed may not be available in a given year.

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.

The other 1 year version of this programme (W178) is only available to UCD internal students progressing from UCD's City Planning & Environmental Policy degree. All other eligible applicants should apply for the Master of Regional and Urban Planning programme (T399)

About This Course

  • Apply knowledge and research skills to generate integrated and well substantiated responses to spatial planning challenges at various spatial scales.
  • Appreciate planning and environmental policy research, exhibit the skills of autonomous researchers and recognize the value of research as an input into improved planning policy and practice.
  • Appreciate societal diversity and recognize the importance of equity and equality of opportunity in spatial planning processes.
  • Communicate effectively verbally, graphically and through written documents and to communicate ideas, concepts, knowledge and conclusions to peers, specialist and non-specialist audiences within an interdisciplinary environment.
  • Demonstrate effective research, analytical, evaluative and appraisal skills and the ability to reach appropriate evidence based planning decisions.
  • Diagnose problems, define solutions and make decisions based on balancing a range of competing professional and stakeholder interests.

On successful completion of the programme students should be able to

  • Understand how spatial planning operates within the context of political, institutional and legal frameworks, and understand the wider social, economic, political and environmental context for planning sustainable environments
  • Understand the challenges and responsibilities of balancing competing economic, social and environmental requirements in shaping space, will be open to critically assessing these, reflecting on them and acting in a professional and ethical manner in the interests of the common good
  • Work effectively both on their own as part of a team in an interdisciplinary context

Graduates of the MRUP are to be found working as professional planners in the public and private sector, as GIS consultants, as policy advisors, property  development consultants, and as community & rural development coordinators. Our graduates have found employment with: national and international planning  agencies, government departments, local authorities including urban and rural authorities in Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand; transportation agencies including the National Transport Authority; planning consultancy firms including Tom Philips and Associates, Brock McClure Planning and Development Consultants, and KPMG Future Analytics consulting; urban regeneration companies,  large house builders including Glenveagh Properties; wind and solar energy companies including Eirgrid and ABO Wind, and environmental NGOs including An Taisce.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PLAN40160 Planning Studio: Plan Making Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PLAN40630 Planning Methods, Skills & Techniques Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PLAN40640 Planning Institutions & Govern Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PLAN40610 Environment & Sustainability Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PLAN40620 Planning, Design & Development Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Spring Option Modules: ALL students must select one of the following Options. Please note that students may only take Advanced GIS if they have already completed a GIS Module.
PLAN40350 Advanced GIS Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Spring Option Modules: ALL students must select one of the following Options. Please note that students may only take Advanced GIS if they have already completed a GIS Module.
PLAN40390 Sustainable Cities Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Spring Option Modules: ALL students must select one of the following Options. Please note that students may only take Advanced GIS if they have already completed a GIS Module.
PLAN40570 Conservation and Placemaking Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Spring Option Modules: ALL students must select one of the following Options. Please note that students may only take Advanced GIS if they have already completed a GIS Module.
PLAN40580 Rural & Landscape Planning Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Spring Option Modules: ALL students must select one of the following Options. Please note that students may only take Advanced GIS if they have already completed a GIS Module.
PLAN40650 Healthy and Sust. Communities Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
REQUIRED SUMMER OPTION: ALL students must select from the following Required Options: Either PLAN40240 Thesis @ 30cr, OR PLAN40600 Internship PLUS PLAN40590 Practice Based Project
PLAN40240 Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
REQUIRED SUMMER OPTION: ALL students must select from the following Required Options: Either PLAN40240 Thesis @ 30cr, OR PLAN40600 Internship PLUS PLAN40590 Practice Based Project
PLAN40590 Practice Based Project Summer  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 1 of:
REQUIRED SUMMER OPTION: ALL students must select from the following Required Options: Either PLAN40240 Thesis @ 30cr, OR PLAN40600 Internship PLUS PLAN40590 Practice Based Project
PLAN40600 Internship Summer  20

We are seeking accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Irish Planning Institute for Master of Regional and Urban Planning (MRUP)(T399) programme. It is anticipated that accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) will be awarded in Spring 2024 and this qualification is recognised internationally. 



The other 1 year version of this MRUP programme (W178) which is only available to UCD internal students progressing from UCD's City Planning & Environmental Policy degree is fully accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute and The Irish Planning Institute.


Ciara Shevlin MRUP Graduate

"I graduated from the Master of Regional and Urban Planning in UCD in 2022. Before undertaking the MRUP, I completed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and History in Trinity College Dublin. Although I had no previous academic experience of planning, it was something I was always drawn to. During my undergraduate degree I took part in an Erasmus year in Utrecht. During this time, I realised the differences in how cities operate and their different housing and transportation systems. This led me to decide to apply for the Masters in UCD to pursue a future career in planning. The modules on the MRUP were a great way to introduce students who did not come from planning backgrounds to gain a rounded understanding of the planning system in Ireland. This knowledge really helped me to understand national, regional and local policies which were then utilised in modules such as Placemaking and Plan Making. I personally really enjoyed the Plan Making module as it allowed students to utilise their academic knowledge of planning policy to create new policies, objectives and ideas for the chosen case study sites. The MRUP provided students with opportunities to network throughout with guest speakers from the planning institutes and private and public sector planning organisations. These talks and events were really helpful to see the range of career possibilities which are available to you as a planner, of which there are plenty! I partook in a summer internship in a private planning consultancy and accepted a permanent position with the consultancy the following year. I now work as a planner in South Dublin County Council on the Development Management Team, making decisions on planning applications in the county. "

Master of Regional & Urban Planning (T399) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10300
nonEU    fee per year - € 29100

Master of Regional & Urban Planning (W178) Full Time
EU          Year 1 - € 10300
nonEU    Year 1 - € 29100
EU          Year 2 - € 9810 aa
nonEU    Year 2 - € 27720 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2024 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2023/24
***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 www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/

  • An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ Level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in a cognate discipline including Geography, Sociology, Economics, Politics, Social Science, Law, Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Property Economics, Surveying and/or equivalent relevant professional experience. Those with other degree qualifications may apply but will be required to undertake an interview.
  • 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.
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

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 Master of Regional & Urban Planning:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T399
Master of Regional & Urban Planning
Master of Regional and Urban Planning		 Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W178
Master of Regional & Urban Planning
Master of Regional and Urban Planning		 Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page
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