Urban Planning

Specialization

Urban Planning Urban planning is a process through which one can build towns and cities. It involves the design, development, and management of community structures. It is a vast discipline that encompasses varied elements like architecture, design concepts, geography, and real estate. Today, most students are looking for such courses. They rank this course next to engineering and architecture. However, if you have a designer bent of mind, you can go for such courses. Let us learn more about such courses.

Course Overview

About the Course

Urban Planning is a course that gives equal importance to theoretical as well as practical aspects. You need to imbibe all-around skills to create a safe environment in keeping with design standards and safety guidelines. Moreover, sustainable living assumes primary importance today. You will learn about the zoning and coding laws of construction and can enhance your design skills. You can definitely learn from textbooks, but if you want to develop a global outlook in this field, you need to think out-of-the-box. Urban Planning also helps to create a flow between communities and transport.

The United States of America is one of the best countries to study urban planning. It is because of its world-class universities and institutions. You can go for an urban planning course that is available from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which emphasizes research and training. Apart from the USA, you can also study Urban Planning in other countries like New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Ireland and Lebanon, as well. The best universities await you, there. You can choose universities like the University of Auckland, University College Dublin, and RMIT University, to name a few.

Some of the main topics covered under the courses in Urban Planning are History, Theory of Urban Planning, Professional Development, Planning laws, City regeneration, Zoning, and Transport.

General Entry Requirement

You can study Urban Planning abroad in any of the colleges and universities mentioned above. The entry or eligibility requirements differ a little bit from one country or university to another. However, they are based on similar parameters. If you are pursuing the Urban Planning course at the undergraduate level, you should meet the following criteria.

You should have secured a minimum of 50-60% in your academics.
You should have studied Mathematics and Science, as the Urban Planning course requires a good number of calculations and scientific background.
Additionally, you should have a score well above 70% in English.
You should also have a valid TOEFL Or IELTS score on and above 5.5-7.0. If you do not meet the above criteria, you have to attend a pre-sessional English course.

For Masters in Urban Planning:

If you have an undergraduate degree in either architecture, engineering, science, geography, or mathematics, you can also go for the Master’s course in Urban Planning, which helps. A score above 70% definitely helps in securing admission to a prestigious college or university.
The English requirements remain the same as above.
You may be asked to present a portfolio, if you ever undertake any project related to the subject.

These are general prerequisites. Many universities have their own guidelines. So, it would be better, if you could connect with Admissify for the complete list of requirements.

What Courses Are Available?

There are several undergraduate courses that you can study abroad. They are Bachelor of Urban Planning, Associate Degree in Urban Planning, BSc Honors Urban Planning and Design, BSc Honors in Geography and Urban Planning, and many more. You can study various courses like International Planning and Urban Design, Master of Urban Planning and Design, MSc in Urban Planning and Design, and Spatial Planning, to name a few. Some universities also offer certificates, diplomas, and PG diplomas, if you have the requisite experience and work experience.

Personal Statement (SOP Requirement)

You should be able to craft the best personal statements when seeking admission to universities and college abroad. Urban planning mainly aims to improve upon a country’s or specific community’s growth, infrastructure, and ecology. It also takes into consideration the history and geography of the zone. You have to show, that you are a highly motivated individual who wants to contribute to society. You should mention how you want to take urban planning to the next level. Take a look at the SOP example below.

‘I have completed an undergraduate course in landscaping and design, from my home country. Now, I have a good hold over the subject. However, I am interested in taking my knowledge to the next level. Outside my academic interests, I have also worked on landscaping-related projects at college level, and in my internship. My personal qualities like perfection, commitment, and planning excellence are great for the roads ahead.’

Scope & Opportunities

Available Internship/ Scope of Job

The best way to head for an internship is to speak to your college and university. Most will help you secure one after you have scored well in the examinations. Some students want to avoid internships, as they want to relax a bit after completion of the course. When you step out of university or college, you will be bewildered to learn that most employers ask for a minimum of 6 months experience. As a fresher, you cannot have that. So, an internship definitely helps. As an Urban Planning Intern, you will be assisting other experienced Community Planners, managing their calendar meetings, search land deeds and records, and prepare maps as well. You will be expected to utilize your learning in planning principles, software programs, and also flexibility. There is a lot of scope in the Urban Planning sector today.

Key Area of Employment with Major Company Names

The key areas of employment in Urban Planning are in planning, development, and design. Here are a few roles that you can find in the job market after completing your course: