Architecture Planning & Environmental Policy - Regional & Urban Planning

MRUP Regional & Urban Planning
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 120)

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 environmental quality with a vibrant economy, 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. 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.

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 and has an exchange programme with the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Please note the 1 year version of this programme (W178) is only available to UCD internal students progressing from UCD's Planning, Geography and Environmental Policy degree or UCD's City Planning & Environmental Policy degree. All other eligible applicants should apply for the 2 year Master of Regional and Urban Planning programme (W032).

Vision and Values Statement
The Master of Regional and Urban Planning programme is a two-year professional planning programme, providing graduates with the requisite skills and knowledge to begin a career as a professional planner, with specialisation in either development and design or environmental planning. The MRUP is aimed at providing an integrated and inclusive understanding of the challenges required to create places that combine environmental quality, with a vibrant economy, good quality of life and distributive justice. The programme is underpinned by a critical and questioning approach aimed at equipping our students with intellectual confidence and the professional and ethical judgement to make decisions, which promote and ensure sustainable spatial development and manage environmental change. The programme fosters a learning environment that draws on the research and expertise of our academic staff, combined with insights from innovative practitioners in the planning, development and environmental field. Uniquely, we can draw on our location in Dublin and Ireland to reflect on the challenges of a rapidly developing vibrant city and modern economy set in an unsurpassed natural environment. The MRUP utilises a mix of lectures, hands on computer lab based work, group projects in a studio setting, regular student presentations, 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. Also there is potential in year 2 (based on competitive selection process) for 1 semester exchange with the Master in Urban Planning Program at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Programme Outcomes
Apply their 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 equality 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 and as part of a team in an interdisciplinary context.

Related Programmes
MSc Environmental Policy FT
MSc Urban Design & Planning FT
MSc Environmental Science FT

Stage 1 - Core
Planning Law APEP LAW41660
Planning Methodology PLAN40010
Placemaking: Urban and Rural Design PLAN40020
Planning, Society and Diversity PLAN40030
Rural & Landscape Planning PLAN40040
Transport, Environment & Sustainability PLAN40050
Housing Policy and Planning PLAN40070
Urban Design Studio PLAN40140
Geographical Information Systems for Policy and Planning PLAN40220
Research Design & Methods PLAN40330
Planning, Environ & Public Pol PLAN40340

Stage 2 - Core
Urban and Regional Development PLAN40060
Economic and Property Markets PLAN40080
Leadership, Project and Development Management PLAN40090
Planning Studio: Plan Making PLAN40160
Governing Nature PLAN40230
Sustainable Cities PLAN40390

Stage 2 - Option
Capstone Research Project PLAN40290
Planning Pract Internshp 20crs PLAN40420

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.

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

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:

MRUP (AP) FT (W178)
Duration 1 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

MRUP FT (W032)
Duration 2 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised.

1 or 2 years full-time.

MRUP Regional & Urban Planning (W032) Full Time
EU Year 1 - € 7885
EU Year 2 - € 7885 aa
nonEU Year 1 - € 25600
nonEU Year 2 - € 25600 aa

MRUP Regional & Urban Planning (W178) Full Time
EU Year 1 - € 8985
EU Year 2 - € 8985 aa
nonEU Year 1 - € 25600
nonEU Year 2 - € 25600 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20
***Fees are subject to change

Next Intake: 2020/2021 September

Career & Graduate Study Opportunity
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, John Spain Associates and 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.