Urban and Regional Planning
Urban and Regional Planning
Urban and regional planning deals with planning the development and renewal of cities and local communities. The program gives knowledge in areas such as urban design, planning processes, planning law and housing policy.
Design and artsExample courses
What do graduates do?
- Town planner
- Transport planner
- Urban designer
- Local government specialist
- Housing manager
- Historic building conservation specialist
- Sustainability consultant
Example: University College London (UCL), first-year courses
- Introducing Planning Systems
- Planning History and Thought
- Contemporary Cities
- Urban Lab I: Graphic Communication
- Introducing Urban Design: Design Skills
- Making Cities: The Production of the Built Environment
Length by country
United Kingdom
USA
Netherlands
GermanyExamples of schools where you can study this subject
8 schools in 6 countries. Programmes were checked on the schools’ own websites. These are only examples; every country has many more options. We choose the schools that fit your budget, documents and goals together.
Canada
Toronto Metropolitan UniversityUrban and Regional Planning · TorontoUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughCity Studies · TorontoUnited Kingdom
University of ManchesterPlanning MPlan · ManchesterUniversity of SheffieldUrban Planning · Sheffield
Ireland
University College DublinCity Planning & Environmental Policy · DublinNetherlands
University of GroningenSpatial Planning and Design · Groningen
New Zealand
University of AucklandBachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) · Auckland
Malta
University of MaltaBachelor of Science (Honours) in Spatial Planning · MsidaWhat to know, country by country
For each country where you can study this subject: an example tuition fee and the next step in the timeline. You can find the details in our country guides.
- 7 November 2026
Recommended application date for the University of Toronto first review rounds (OUAC 105)
- 26 October to 21 December 2026
Booking period for the January 2027 session of the ESAT, TMUA and TARA exams (for universities other than Oxford and Cambridge).
- October to November 2026
For Trinity, ask study@tcd.ie whether your high school is on the direct entry list.
- 1 December 2026
Early round deadline for University Colleges (AUC, LUC, UCU)
- 15 November 2026
For those considering February/March 2027 (Semester One) entry: the last day to apply from abroad at Otago. At Canterbury the international closing date is 1 December, and at Auckland it is 8 December 2026 for most bachelor's programs.
Let’s build your school list for Urban and Regional Planning together
- We choose schools from 26 countries that fit your grades, budget and documents.
- We gather every school’s application timeline, required documents and exam scores in one list.
- We put tuition fees and living costs side by side.
- We prepare your application file and personal statement together.
Frequently asked questions
Is a planning bachelor's enough to become a town planner in the United Kingdom?
Often it is not enough on its own. Bachelor's programs usually receive partial accreditation from the RTPI; after that, an RTPI approved master's or a complementary qualification is needed. Fully accredited graduates can move to Licentiate membership and reach full status with about 1 to 2 years of work experience.
Is there a placement year option in a planning bachelor's?
In some programs, yes. Cardiff University's Urban Planning and Development with a Professional Placement Year takes 4 years. The student spends one year working in a private or public organization; the program receives partial accreditation from the RTPI.
Other fields of study in this category
Last checked: October 2026.
Is Urban and Regional Planning right for you?
Let's talk about interests, strong subjects and target countries, and narrow down the subject and school options together.