Spatial Planning
MSc or PGDip
Key facts
Start dates
September 2020 / September 2021
Location
Course length
Full time: 12 months
Part time: 24 months, delivered on day-release over two years
Department
Accreditation(s)
Royal Town Planning Institute; Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Overview
Our MSc Spatial Planning is a benchmark qualification for those wishing to enter the planning profession. It is fully accredited by Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The course takes a broad approach to the “traditional” field of city and regional or town and country planning. And combines core planning education with the development of expertise in specialist areas.
You will develop a broad and flexible level of knowledge and understanding which enables you to adapt to developing pressures during your career. You will learn to integrate concerns across the board, including those of:
- economy
- climate change
- social need.
We have top-of-the-range facilities including studios, IT suites and computer programs. As well as three libraries and 24/7 online databases with all the academic material you need to be successful in your studies. Our links with practitioners in both the private and public sectors ensures that the course remains at the cutting edge of practice.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
The course is open to applicants who hold a 2.1 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent) in any discipline, as well as those seeking continuing professional development.
We will actively consider applications from candidates with lower degrees, who can evidence relevant planning & development experience.
Applications will also be considered from those who have no first degree but have three or more years' professional experience in planning, and have completed the university's Certificate in Spatial Planning Studies.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
We advise applying in advance to secure places, and allow sufficient time for applications to be reviewed.
There is no formal application deadline (recruitment closes when teaching capacity is reached).
Applicants should also factor any time needed to meet offer conditions, arrange accommodation, and obtain a UK Tier 4 visa (if applicable).
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Financial support and scholarships
The RTPI Future Planners Bursary programme is open to graduates from any discipline who enrol on a planning Master's degree at an RTPI-accredited Planning School in Scotland and England. You could receive a £2,000 bursary. Visit the School of the Built Environment's postgraduate scholarships webpage to find out more about this programme and other scholarships.
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
The course includes a compulsory overseas field trip that is part of the two semester 1 core modules. You will need to cover the cost of meals.
Other half or full-day field trips form part of the individual programmes of specialist modules.
You will need to cover the costs of printing for submissions and presentations associated with assessment.
Learning and assessment
Master's degree (MSc)
You must complete:
- 6 compulsory modules
- elective specialisations
- a 15,000-word master's dissertation.
Postgraduate diploma (PGDip)
You must complete 140 credits, including the compulsory modules. You can choose modules from the alternative compulsory modules list to gain your remaining 40 credits.
If you seek an exemption or transferred credit for any element of this award you must select an alternative module in its place.
The MSc in Spatial Planning is fully accredited by:
- the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
- the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
On graduating you can complete the Assessment of Professional Competence of these professional bodies and become a full member.
To gain full accreditation for the RTPI and RICS, you must combine the PGDip in Spatial Planning with one of our specialist master's courses. These include:
- MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management
- MSc in Historic Conservation
- MA in Urban Design.
Study modules
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip award your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
We use a range of teaching and learning methods such as:
- lectures
- directed reading
- workshops
- seminars
- practical and project work.
Some modules include site visits and fieldwork.
Teaching is organised on a module-credit basis. This involves approximately:
- 200 hours of personal study
- 36 hours of staff contact, normally delivered through three-hour teaching blocks over a 12-week period.
Field trips
The course includes a compulsory overseas field trip that is part of the two semester 1 core modules. We designed the field trip to provide you with practical examples and experience of planning in another European country.
The trip is usually three to four nights and takes place in mid-November. Past destinations have included Barcelona, Amsterdam and Lyon. The current destination is Dublin. Our teaching staff constantly review new destinations that will best contribute to your overall planning education.
This carries an additional cost. Please see the Additional costs section of this page for details.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Each course module is assessed individually, generally on the quality of written or design work, and to some extent on verbal presentations.
Assessment methods may include:
- essays
- seminar papers
- formal written examinations
- in-class tests
- project work
- design and verbal presentations
- Workshops
- simulations and practical exercises.
Research
The Department of Planning is widely recognised as a leading educator in environment, design and development subjects. We have a complement of over 60 teaching, administrative, technical and research staff. Together we perform a leading role in research and consultancy, with clients and projects covering subjects from local concerns to multi-national organisations, government and industry.
Key areas of expertise and scholarship in the department form the research groups and units listed below. These research groups and units also comprise a substantial part of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD):
- Impact Assessment Group (IAG)
- Spatial Planning Group (SPG)
- Urban Design Group (UDG).
We have links with universities worldwide, including Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Taiwan, Romanian, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and most EU member states.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Not only is the MSc in Spatial Planning seen as the benchmark qualification for professional planners, it is also widely recognised as providing the transferable skills and critical knowledge necessary in many fields of work in the built and natural environment.
Local government is just one of very many career opportunities available to MSc in Spatial Planning graduates.
Today our alumni can be found in senior positions in some of the largest international planning and environmental consultancies, in government agencies, in large NGOs and campaigning organisations. They can also be found in similar positions in organisations across the globe.
Our Staff
Dr Dave Valler
Dave is a Reader and Research Lead in Planning in the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes. He also coordinates the School's Spatial Planning Group, and a member of the Faculty's Research Grants Committee.
Read more about DaveProgramme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.