City and Regional Planning - Master of Science


Study programme description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Credits (ECTS)

120

Studyprogram code

M-BYUTV

Level

Master's degree (2 years)

Leads to degree

Master of Science

Full-/Part-time

Full-time

Duration

4 Semesters

Undergraduate

No

Language of instruction

English

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 study programme is a post-graduate programme that runs over four semesters and covers 120 ECTS, resulting in a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning. Students gain 90 compulsory study points (sp) in oral, project- and report-based assignments focusing on planning theory, methods, design, and regional planning. Over the third semester, students will be able to choose either exchange visits abroad (30 sp), or choose one of three specialisations (each 30 sp) in either “Sustainable Urban Development and Mobility”, “Renewable Urban Energy” or “Safe and Resilient Cities”.

The programme is in English, with optional Norwegian-taught courses.

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, with individual or team work trying assess - through drawings and site analyses - how best to address the needs of present users in a responsible, and yet future-oriented perspective.

Learning outcomes

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.

A completed Master of Science can qualify for admission to the PhD programme in science and technology with specialisation in risk management and societal safety at the University of Stavanger.

Course assessment

Schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in Quality system for education

Study plan and courses

  • Compulsory courses

    • BYGMAS: Master Thesis in City and Regional Planning

      Year 2, semester 3

      Master Thesis in City and Regional Planning (BYGMAS)

      Study points: 30

  • Courses at UiS or exchange 3rd semester

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Sustainable Urban Development and Mobility

        • BYG620: Urban Development Project 7

          Year 2, semester 3

          Urban Development Project 7 (BYG620)

          Study points: 10

        • BYG650: Practical training in City and Regional Planning

          Year 2, semester 3

          Practical training in City and Regional Planning (BYG650)

          Study points: 10

        • BYG655: New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development

          Year 2, semester 3

          New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development (BYG655)

          Study points: 10

      • Urban Renewable Energy Solutions

        • BYG655: New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development

          Year 2, semester 3

          New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development (BYG655)

          Study points: 10

        • MEE100: Societal Transition and Transformation - Energy and Climate Change

          Year 2, semester 3

          Societal Transition and Transformation - Energy and Climate Change (MEE100)

          Study points: 10

        • PET515: Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration

          Year 2, semester 3

          Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration (PET515)

          Study points: 10

      • Urban Safety and Resilience

        • BYG655: New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development

          Year 2, semester 3

          New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development (BYG655)

          Study points: 10

        • RIS505: Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science

          Year 2, semester 3

          Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science (RIS505)

          Study points: 10

        • RIS515: Theories of Risk Perception and Risk Governance

          Year 2, semester 3

          Theories of Risk Perception and Risk Governance (RIS515)

          Study points: 10

      • Other electives 3rd semester

    • Exchange 3rd semester

  • Compulsory courses

    • BYG500: Urban Analysis and Planning Methods

      Year 1, semester 1

      Urban Analysis and Planning Methods (BYG500)

      Study points: 10

    • BYG510: Placemaking

      Year 1, semester 1

      Placemaking (BYG510)

      Study points: 10

    • BYG655: New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development

      Year 1, semester 1

      New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development (BYG655)

      Study points: 10

    • BYG610: Sustainable City Regions

      Year 1, semester 2

      Sustainable City Regions (BYG610)

      Study points: 10

    • BYG640: Selected topics in City and Regional Planning

      Year 1, semester 2

      Selected topics in City and Regional Planning (BYG640)

      Study points: 10

    • RIS660: Research Methods in Risk, Safety, and Security Studies

      Year 1, semester 2

      Research Methods in Risk, Safety, and Security Studies (RIS660)

      Study points: 10

    • BYGMAS: Master Thesis in City and Regional Planning

      Year 2, semester 3

      Master Thesis in City and Regional Planning (BYGMAS)

      Study points: 30

  • Courses at UiS or exchange 3rd semester

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Sustainable Urban Development and Mobility

        • BYG620: Urban Development Project 7

          Year 2, semester 3

          Urban Development Project 7 (BYG620)

          Study points: 10

        • BYG650: Practical training in City and Regional Planning

          Year 2, semester 3

          Practical training in City and Regional Planning (BYG650)

          Study points: 10

        • IND570: Green Transition

          Year 2, semester 3

          Green Transition (IND570)

          Study points: 10

      • Urban Renewable Energy Solutions

        • MEE100: Societal Transition and Transformation - Energy and Climate Change

          Year 2, semester 3

          Societal Transition and Transformation - Energy and Climate Change (MEE100)

          Study points: 10

        • PET515: Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration

          Year 2, semester 3

          Energy, Energy Technologies, and Energy System Integration (PET515)

          Study points: 10

        • SAM550: Energy, Societal Safety and Sustainable Development

          Year 2, semester 3

          Energy, Societal Safety and Sustainable Development (SAM550)

          Study points: 10

      • Urban Safety and Resilience

        • Urban Safety and Resilience

          • RIS505: Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science

            Year 2, semester 3

            Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science (RIS505)

            Study points: 10

          • RIS515: Theories of Risk Perception and Risk Governance

            Year 2, semester 3

            Theories of Risk Perception and Risk Governance (RIS515)

            Study points: 10

        • Choose one course

          • BYG620: Urban Development Project 7

            Year 2, semester 3

            Urban Development Project 7 (BYG620)

            Study points: 10

          • BYG650: Practical training in City and Regional Planning

            Year 2, semester 3

            Practical training in City and Regional Planning (BYG650)

            Study points: 10

      • Other electives 3rd semester

    • Exchange 3rd semester

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 not overlap with courses you have already taken. Some advice is to think about your specialisation and your field of interest.

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.

Find out more.

Contact your student adviser at the Faculty if you have questions about guidance and pre-approval of courses.

Vanessa Brune

General questions about exchange:

Go to the exchange guide in the Digital student service desk

Student exchange

  • All countries

    Aalborg Universitet

    Aalborg Universitet (AAU) er kjent for å benytte seg av problembasert læring i grupper, noe som kan by på en spennende læringsprosess.

    Griffith University

    Griffith University er en populær utvekslingsdestinasjon for UiS-studenter. Universitetet er et særlig godt valg for studenter innen musikk/dans, hotell/turisme og business.

    North-West University

    Politecnico di Milano University

    Politecnico di Milano er Italias største tekniske universitet med om lag 40.000 studenter og er høyt rangert på en rekke internasjonale rankinglister.

    Queensland University of Technology

    Queensland University of Technology (QUT) er et av Australias største universitet med 40.000 studenter og en stor andel internasjonale studenter. Reis "down under" og bli en del av dette studentmiljøet du også!

    San Diego State University

    San Diego State University (SDSU) ligger helt sør i California, på grensen til Mexico, og bare et par timers kjøretur fra Los Angeles. Dette er en svært populær utvekslingsdestinasjon for UiS-studenter.

  • Australia

    Griffith University

    Griffith University er en populær utvekslingsdestinasjon for UiS-studenter. Universitetet er et særlig godt valg for studenter innen musikk/dans, hotell/turisme og business.

    Queensland University of Technology

    Queensland University of Technology (QUT) er et av Australias største universitet med 40.000 studenter og en stor andel internasjonale studenter. Reis "down under" og bli en del av dette studentmiljøet du også!

  • Danmark

    Aalborg Universitet

    Aalborg Universitet (AAU) er kjent for å benytte seg av problembasert læring i grupper, noe som kan by på en spennende læringsprosess.

  • Italia

    Politecnico di Milano University

    Politecnico di Milano er Italias største tekniske universitet med om lag 40.000 studenter og er høyt rangert på en rekke internasjonale rankinglister.

  • Sør-Afrika

    North-West University

  • USA

    San Diego State University

    San Diego State University (SDSU) ligger helt sør i California, på grensen til Mexico, og bare et par timers kjøretur fra Los Angeles. Dette er en svært populær utvekslingsdestinasjon for UiS-studenter.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for specialization in Urban Planning and Development

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.

Admission requirements for specialization in Urban Planning and Engineering

A bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent. Other technical/natural sciences degrees can also qualify for admission after individual assessment. Applicants must have the equivalent of 25 ECTS credits in mathematics, 5 ECTS credits in statistics and 7,5 ECTS credits in Physics.

Admission to this master's programme requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in your bachelor's degree. Applicants with a result Second-class lower Division or lower are not qualified for admission.

Contact information

Faculty of Science and Technology, tel. 51 83 17 00, e-mail: post-tn@uis.no

Study Adviser: Sabrina Ebenhoch