International Planning and Sustainable Development MA

Course summary

This course is aimed at built environment professionals and others with a relevant social or physical science background who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of planning and sustainable development, whether to improve career prospects in their country or enter international practice. Through the course you'll examine the growing problems of sustainable development facing cities, regions and communities in a rapidly urbanising world, subject to growing climate change and other environmental, economic and social pressures and risks.

Based in London, you'll have access to the internationally recognised experience of spatial planning for sustainable development, and explore contemporary theories, public policy thinking and good practice in planning in both the developed and developing worlds. The University of Westminster is the UK's first Habitat Partner University. We work with UN-HABITAT and other like-minded institutions to promote the socially and environmentally sustainable development of towns, cities and regions, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda.

The course benefits from having strong links with the Max Lock Centre, an international development research unit, which is part of the wider Research Community for Sustainable Cities and Urban Environments. Associated research and consultancy focuses on the planning of cities and regions towards a sustainable and low-energy future and the exploration of the environmental and social impact of concentrating people and economic activity in cities and urban areas including the consequences for surrounding rural areas.

This course explores contemporary theories, public policy thinking and good practice in planning that spans both developed and developing world contexts, and offers you the opportunity to explore one area of specialism in a related field in some depth.

Course pathways

There are two Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) accredited pathways through the course. The Spatial Planning Pathway has a strong urban design component and an emphasis on the development planning process. The Urban Resilience Pathway provides a sustainable development-focused route with a core emphasis on climate change mitigation and adaptation planning. Urban design, planning and sustainability are mainstream elements across the course with the pathways providing an additional opportunity to specialise.

Although there is an opportunity in the course to develop a range of communication skills including graphic presentation, pre-existing design experience is a strong advantage for those considering the Spatial Planning Pathway. The Urban Resilience Pathway offers an opportunity to explore this growing area of planning interest in a world facing a climate change and biodiversity emergency.

Top reasons to study with us

• Learn from experts – You’ll be taught by academics and practitioners, experts in the field, who are involved in publication, research and consultancy for a variety of organisations in the UK and internationally
• Professional links – We have close links with professional practice and members of our teaching team are active in professional associations
• Accredited course – The Spatial Planning and Urban Resilience MA pathways each have full Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) accreditation as a ‘Combined Planning Programme’. This provides the basis for becoming a full Chartered Member of the RTPI following two years of professional practice as a Licentiate Member

Course climate action statement

The course recognises the historic colonial roots of climate crisis and the underlying issues of climate justice between Global North and Global South and East countries. The two pathways, Spatial Planning and Urban Resilience, allow students to acquire critical knowledge of theories, concepts and tools to address broader issues of social and environmental sustainability, and to put forward context-based and just climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in different cities and regions of the world.

Graduates from the course may secure promotion within their existing or a new related area of work, or move onto more responsible positions. This may include management posts or the responsibility for project or policy development. It is expected that graduates will enhance their potential to be considered for development positions outside their home country.

Graduates from this course can expect to find employment as planners or urban designers, urban regeneration or environmental management specialists in private consultancy, local and national government, and non-governmental sectors in their own country or internationally, including providing urban and sustainability planning expertise to international development agencies.

This course will prepare you for roles such as:

• Urban and regional planner
• Environmental planner
• International development expert
• International urban planner and designer
• Sustainable development specialist

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• AECOM
• Atkins Global
• Corporation of London
• IMC Worldwide
• IPE Triple Line
• World Bank