Study programme description for students
City and Regional Planning - Master
Facts
Studyprogram code M-BYUTV
Credits (ECTS) 120
Level Master's degree (2 years)
Leads to degree Master of City and Regional Planning (byplanlegging)
Full-/Part-time Full-time
Duration 4 semesters
Undergraduate No
Language of instruction English, Norwegian
The goal of this study programme is to educate students who are equipped with multi-disciplinary competences, with the ability to create and evaluate sustainable, functional, safe, and resilient urban infrastructure and communities. The programme integrates technical courses with design and social understanding. Placemaking, spatial analysis, conceptual development and design, as well as planning processes are central topics in this programme. The master's programme in City and Regional Planning focuses on shaping sustainable and robust urban infrastructure and communities, along with renewable energy solutions.
The target group for this study programme is planning-, civil engineering- or architecture students who are interested in combinations of design, technical and social issues. Experience with city/urban/spatial planning courses as well as traditional and digital graphic design and representation skills are highly recommended.
The programme is in English, with elective courses taught in Norwegian.
Programme content, structure, and composition
The study programme is a master's programme that runs over four semesters and covers 120 ECTS, resulting in a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning.
The programme includes 90 compulsory study points (ECTS) in oral, project-based, and report-based assignments focusing on planning theory, methods, design, and regional planning. In the third semester, students can choose either exchange visits abroad (30 ECTS) or one of three specializations (each 30 ECTS): “Sustainable Urban Development and Mobility,” “Renewable Urban Energy,” or “Safe and Resilient Cities.” During the final semester, students write a master’s thesis.
The programme explicitly connects planning, engineering, and design to several sustainable development goals, pivoting especially towards numbers 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities and 13 - Climate Action. It contributes to these SDGs by applying theoretical concepts and practice-oriented approaches with the ambition of making cities more inclusive, adaptable, resilient, and sustainable. Using different pedagogical strategies, the programme achieves this through applied and conceptual approaches and evidence-gathering methodologies that measure, for example, climatic impacts and associated adaptation and mitigatory strategies. This could involve, for example, field trips to sites that further express classroom-based discussion, and the cross-examination of how sustainability goals transpire in present urban situations.
Learning outcome
After having completed the master’s degree programme in City and Regional Planning, the student shall have acquired the following learning outcomes, in terms of knowledge, skills and general competences:
Knowledge
K1: Has advanced knowledge within city and regional planning, and specific insight into selected topics.
K2: Has in-depth knowledge about scientific theory and methods within city and regional planning.
K3: Can apply knowledge to new topics within city and regional planning.
K4: Can analyse relevant problems while taking planning history, traditions, methods and social responsibility into account.
K5: Can understand and evaluate technical and aesthetic aspects of existing urban environment as well as propose new ones.
Skills
S1: Can participate and lead interdisciplinary planning processes on city, region and neighbourhood scales.
S2: Can analyse a space in terms of topography, history, built environment and traffic.
S3: Can propose compound master plans and small-scale designs.
S4: Can shape sustainable, functional, safe and resilient environments.
S5: Can critically assess consequences associated with proposed land use, building development and transport plans.
General Competence
G1: Can analyse professional, theoretical and research-ethical problems.
G2: Can apply knowledge and skills to new areas in order to implement advanced tasks and projects.
G3: Can convey extensive pieces of independent work and master planning terminology –orally, written and graphically.
G4: Can communicate planning problems, analyses and conclusions, to both experts and the public.
G5: Can critically assess and reflect on literature and projects on city and regional planning.
G6: Can contribute to original thinking and innovation.
Career prospects
The programme’s combination of courses in technology, design, and social sciences give students a wide skillset, and thus a large spectrum of job opportunities. Typical examples include work in physical planning and management, urban design and planning, and urban analysis in both public and private sectors.Course assessment
Schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in Quality system for educationStudyplan with courses
Student exchange
Schedule for the exchange
Students can go on a study abroad experience during the 3rd semester of the master's programme in City and Regional Planning. This semester consists of 30 ECTS credits of electives. During the exchange semester you can choose courses similar the master program specialisation. The courses you want to take abroad must be approved by the department. It is important that the subjects/ courses from abroad do not overlap with courses you have already taken.
More opportunities
In addition to the recommended universities, The University of Stavanger has several agreements with universities outside Europe that are applicable to all students at The University of Stavanger, provided that they find a relevant course offering. Within the Nordic region, all students can use the Nordlys and Nordtek networks.
Contact your student adviser at the Faculty if you have questions about guidance and pre-approval of courses.
General questions about exchange:
Go to the exchange guide in the Digital student service desk
See where you can travel
Admission requirements
A bachelor’s degree within planning, civil engineering, architecture, or equivalent. The degree must include minimum 30 ECTS credits in physical planning, city and regional planning, landscape engineering, environmental or urban management, transport planning, technical planning, or equivalent.Contact information
Faculty of Science and Technology, tel. 51 83 17 00, e-mail: post-tn@uis.no
Study Adviser: Sabrina Ebenhoch
