Key information
- Funding
- Self-funded
- School
- Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Delivery type
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start date
- September
Members of staff who work within this research theme address issues of spatial planning and urban design, as well as linked issues of urban governance. They provide teaching, training, research and knowledge transfer services in connection with a range of themes and issues. This is targeted to a wide range of governmental, private sector, non-governmental and community organisations. Specific research funders in recent years have included the UK Department of Communities and Local Government, the Scottish and Welsh Governments, Scottish Natural Heritage, Carnegie Trust and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
In overall terms this work has a focus on policy development, implementation and good practice in fields such as, development planning, development management, urban design policy and practice, equality and diversity, and sustainable resource management. A key emphasis is on shaping emerging research and policy agendas, linking with interdisciplinary partners from academia and practice, so as to provide relevant analyses and skill development and support, which provide integrated solutions to policy and practice problems.
More specifically, our researchers address key questions relating to the orientation of policy instruments in spatial planning with modernisation agendas; promoting interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable planning, exploring social inclusion and competitiveness in the governance of spatial planning and the design and management of public space. Emerging research interests include: the spatial planning response to the challenges of climate change; the design of ‘liveable' places; marine spatial planning; and differential participation in planning and governance systems.
Project supervisor
Staff contributing to this research area include:
- Dr John McCarthy
- Sarah McIntosh
- Dr Harry Smith
Entry requirements
Candidate criteria
We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates. Please visit our How to apply page.
Funding information
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £5,006 | £2,503 |
| England / Wales / N Ireland | £5,006 | £2,503 |
| International | £19,816 | £9,908 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
We offer a number of competitive funded scholarships for research degrees. Full or partial support may be available for well-qualified candidates from UK research councils, research pools, charities or industry.
View our full range of scholarships.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
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