Urban Planning
Does Urban Planning suit me?
Studying Urban Planning
Urban planning as a field of study focuses on the design of landscapes, regions, and cities: what should urban or rural spaces look like to meet the needs of users? And to what extent can these environments contribute to improving quality of life and reducing social inequalities?
Urban planning is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines content from subjects such as architecture, civil engineering, transport planning, geography, and environmental sciences. You’ll acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge: from the analysis of existing structures and spaces to the implementation of the entire planning process.
In this field of study, you’ll learn how to develop and present design concepts. In addition to technical skills, you’ll need knowledge of legal, economic, and sustainability requirements. You’ll also learn what to look out for in new build and renovation projects.
In urban planning, you’ll typically choose whether you’d prefer to focus on rural regions, cities, or the entire geographical area. Typical degree programs in this field of study include urban and regional management, spatial planning, regional planning, and infrastructure planning.
Personal requirements | Urban Planning
- Spatial imagination
- Technical and mathematics skills
- Analytical and logical way of thinking
- Creativity
- Ability to work in a team and strong communication skills
Study Choice Test
Find out which of the 143 fields of study suit you best! All you need is 7-15 minutes to answer 58 short questions - free of charge and without registration!
Take the testTypical course content | Urban Planning
- Regional development and regional management
- Open space planning and landscape planning
- Urban development and urban planning history
- Process and project management
- Spatial planning
- Concepts of sustainable urban development
- Traffic and infrastructure planning
- Planning law
- Computer-aided planning and design
- Social and societal aspects of urban development
Career prospects | Urban Planning
As an urban planner and spatial planner, you’ll develop planning concepts for infrastructure projects, renovations of existing spaces, and new construction projects. You’ll analyze planning areas, prepare expert opinions, and propose improvements to existing plans and areas.
After your studies, you can find work in the field of urban, regional, environmental, transport, or landscape planning. For example, you might work for architectural firms, construction or real estate companies, public planning offices, or consulting firms. Opportunities also await you in environmental protection and in the business management or marketing departments of cities or regions.
Compare your options
Unsure of what to choose? At studyamo you can compare all fields of study directly to get a clear view of which one best matches your expectations.