MSc Urban and Regional Planning

Course content

Programme lead: Dr Chris McWilliams

Semester 1: September – December, 4 mandatory modules
Semester 2: January – April, 4 mandatory modules and site trip
Semester 3: May – August, Dissertation (MSc students only)

Semester 1

Planning Theories

(mandatory)

This module offers critical exploration of the key intellectual debates about planning theory and practice.

Urban Economy and Property Market;

(mandatory)

This module aims to develop an understanding of the spatial dimensions of property markets, the interaction between the property market and the urban economy and the impact on local property markets on urban management policies.

Spatial Planning

(mandatory)

This module introduces concepts of spatial planning at different spatial scales and reflection on the implementation and impact of planning policies.

Strategic Spatial Vision

(mandatory)

This module aims to develop advanced understanding of, and skills in, the preparation and evaluation of spatial visions and strategies and to develop competence in the professional skills of analysis, evaluation and prescription of policy in an urban context.

Semester 2
 

UK and International Housing Policy

(mandatory)

This module is intended to allow students to develop a broad understanding of and ability to analyse the way that the contemporary housing systems operate both in the UK and internationally.

Governance, Participation and Community Planning

(mandatory)

This module aims to develop critical knowledge and understanding of contemporary governance and community planning and the advantages of user participation in the development and delivery of services.

Social Sustainability

(mandatory)

This course introduces a range of ways of thinking about sustainability and equity spatially and across economies.

Environmental Planning

(mandatory)

This module provides students with an understanding of environmental management within planning systems both in the UK and internationally, within a context of climate change and improving the environmental and social sustainability of cities.

Site trip

Part of the Environmental Planning module, students are given the opportunity to explore numerous locations around Scotland’s Central belt and hear from industry experts The one day trip consists of various stops investigating the environmental planning and impacts on wildlife, quality greenspace and social sustainability and housing. The class are taken on a tour visiting the following locations:

• Kinneil, Bo’ness in the southern shore of the Forth Estuary, part of the Central Scotland Green Network
• Grangemouth
• Falkirk
• The Helix, home of the Kelpies
• Raploch, Stirling

Example of industry experts who you will hear from on the tour:

• Policer Officer from Scottish Natural Heritage
• Planning Officer from Falkirk Council
• Director of the Forth Housing Association

Assessment

PG Diploma students may choose to transfer to the MSc if they meet the following progression standards: average mark of 50% or higher and no course marks below 40%.

Additional course information

Students are expected to develop through their coursework and dissertation in depth knowledge in one of the following specialisms:

• Environmental policy and management
• Urban Design
• Land and property markets

The course also places importance on the preparation of a personal development plan (PDP) which links the learning experience to wider skills and employability of each student. The PDP is as an integral part of the course.

Career

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills to work as a professional planner. Our strong links to practitioners and employers are a vital part of developing these skills as well as your network of connections.

Students have the opportunity to engage with industry through guest lecturers, site visits and on research and coursework projects:

• All students are given the opportunity to have an external mentor who is a local practitioner that provides career guidance and advice.
• Previous companies who have provided guest lecturers include:
  • Met Office
  • Adaptation Scotland
  • Diageo

• Students are given the opportunity to go on a tour of Scotland’s central belt visiting Bo’ness, Helix Park and Stirling. Industry experts attend the tour and share their wealth of knowledge and expertise.
• Staff and lecturers are actively engaged in a variety of research projects relating to building design, specification, management and operation and have extension knowledge to share.

Our students and graduates

6 months after graduation in 2016, 100% of students surveyed from MSc Urban and Regional Planning have secured graduate level jobs across the UK, German and Nigeria.

Employers include:

• SEPA
• Colliers International
• JLL
• Scottish Borders Council
• Scottish Borders Housing Association

Hear from some of our graduates:

• Nikola Miller
• Zheng Qian

Entry requirements

Masters (MSc) level entry applicants must have one of the following:

• Minimum of 2:1 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in a non-cognate discipline
• Minimum of 2:2 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in a related subject area
• Corporate (or chartered) membership of relevant professional institutions will also be considered

PG Diploma level entry applicants must have an ordinary degree in a related subject area and relevant post qualification industry experience.

Candidates who do not meet the above entry requirements or have no formal academic qualifications will be considered individually based on their CV and possibly interview. Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Recruitment.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Heriot-Watt University is committed to providing opportunities to applicants who have a wide range of prior experiences through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Prior learning at postgraduate level is normally recognised to gain exemption from individual modules within a course based on an existing academic qualification. Note that the prior learning must have been rated at the level of the modules for which RPL is sought, yet credits from an award already held by an applicant can only contribute to a higher award in the same discipline, e.g. from PG Diploma to MSc. If you believe that you qualify for RPL, please contact the Learning and Teaching Support Team via egis-enquiries@hw.ac.uk, who will guide you through the RPL application procedure.

The school will only consider students' requests for RPL at the time of application for their course of study.

English language requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required with all elements passed at 6.0 or above. Please refer to English language requirements for further details.

Some applicants may be asked for alternative evidence in line with UKVI recognised English speaking countries. Applicants who have previously successfully completed courses delivered in the medium of English language may be considered and will be required to provide documentary evidence of this. Examples would be secondary school education or undergraduate degree. A minimum of at least one year of full time study (or equivalent) in the medium of English language will be required.

All evidence of English language needs to be dated within two years of the commencement of study.

We also offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your master’s programme:

• 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no more than one skill at 4.5)
• 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with minimum of 5.0 in all skills)
• 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with minimum of 5.5 in reading and writing and minimum of 5.0 in speaking and listening)

Fees

* If you are unsure which category you fall in to, you should complete a fee status enquiry form, which allows us to assess your fees.