Urban Planning: Top Courses, Universities and Careers

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Did you know that the University of Liverpool was the first university in the world to introduce a course on planning? Considered one of the oldest professions, studying real estate development, urban economics, political economy, and social theory, this course can be traced back to Greece in the 5th century BC! Its relevance as an academic and practical science has grown tremendously over the years, making it a lucrative career choice across the globe. If you are someone who enjoys engineering liveable and innovative spaces for public use then here is a guide on Urban Planning as a career!

Degree Graduate/Postgraduate
Type Professional/Academic
Mode Full-Time 
Duration 2 Years
Average Fee US $53,000/yr(INR 39 Lakhs)
Average Salary  US $65,000/yr(INR 48 Lakhs)

What is Urban Planning?

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Urban planning is the designing and process that is focused on significant uses of land space for the development of economic functions, and social impacts of the urban environment. Along with that, they are responsible for planning the efficient transportation of goods, resources, people and waste in their respective locations. The distribution of basic necessities such as water and electricity is also one of their core responsibilities. 

Check out Top Masters Degree to pursue after graduation  

Types of Urban Planning

  1. Strategic Urban Planning
  2. Land-Use Planning
  3. Infrastructure Planning
  4. Urban Revitalization
  5. Master Planning
  6. Economic Development
  7. Environmental Planning

Skills Needed

  • Analytical skills
  • Communication skills
  • Decision Making skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Bachelor of Urban Planning
  • Master of Urban Planning (Professional)
  • Master of Urban Planning
  • Master of Architecture (Professional) and Urban Planning (Professional)
  • Master of Urban Planning (Professional) and Heritage Conservation
  • Master of Urban Planning (Professional) and Urban Design
  • Master of Urban Design
  • Master of Spatial Planning with Sustainable Urban Design

Top Universities Across the World

University Country Course
Harvard University US Master in Urban Planning
Eastern Michigan University US Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning
Cornell University US Master of City and Regional Planning
University of Oklahoma US Master of Regional and City Planning
University of Birmingham  UK MSc Urban and Regional Planning
University of Glasgow UK MSc City Planning
University of Nottingham  UK M.Arch Sustainable Urban Design
Newcastle University UK Urban Design MA
Manchester Metropolitan University UK MA Architecture and Urbanism
University of Manchester UK MSc Urban Design and International Planning
University of Liverpool UK BA in Urban Planning, MA Town and Regional Planning 
University of Alberta Canada Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning
University of Waterloo Canada Master of Environmental Studies in Planning
University of Manitoba Canada Master of City Planning
University of British Columbia Canada Master of Community and Regional Planning – Urban Design
University of Melbourne Australia Master of Urban Planning
University of Auckland New Zealand Master of Urban Planning (with varied specializations)Bachelor of Urban Planning

Top Universities in India 

  1. GD Goenka University
  2. Birla Institute of Technology
  3. (IIEST) Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur
  4. (JNAFAU) Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine arts university
  5. (SPAV) School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada
  6. (LPU) Lovely Professional University

Admission Requirements

Country Eligibility
India B.Planning/BE Civil/B.Arch/or Masters in Economics, Geography, Sociology with a minimum of 55%
US Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized educational institution
UK A second-class Bachelor’s degree from an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. A minimum of 6 months of work experience.
Canada Students must have a minimum of 80% – 90% for the last two years of full-time studies of an undergraduate degree.

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English Language Requirements

Country Minimum English Language Requirements
US IELTS: 7.0TOEFL: 90 – 100
UK IELTS: 7.0TOEFL: 100
Canada IELTS: 7.0TOEFL: 94

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How to Apply? 

Here’s an easy step-by-step process to proceed with your application process at some of the popular universities mentioned above:

  1. Call our Leverage Edu student counsellors at 1800 572 000 to shortlist your Masters in Urban Planning Course with the help of Leverage Edu’s AI Course Finder.
  2. Gather all your documents like SOPs, essays, certificates and LORs and exam scores like IELTS, TOEFL etc.
  3. After submitting your application and all the necessary documents, the experts will then start with the application process for accommodation, Student VISA, and scholarships/student loans
  4. After submission, wait for your offer letter that takes around 4-6 weeks or more. 

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Cost of Studying

Here is the estimated cost of studying in popular countries for the course:

Country Average Fee
US USD 84,690(INR 62 Lakh)
UK GBP 26,000(INR 26 Lakh)
Canada CAD 24,381(INR 14 Lakh)

Cost of Living

Check out Leverage Edu’s Cost of Living Calculator for a more detailed breakdown of expenses in different countries around the world. However, the cost of living anywhere in the world depends on the choices you make. It is hard to come to an absolute estimation of the cost, but here is a general presentation of the average cost of living in the most preferred study destinations for international students:

Country Average Amount per year
US USD 10,000 – USD 18,000(INR 7 lakh – INR 13 Lakh)
UK GBP 10,000 – GBP 15,000 (INR 10 Lakh – INR 15 Lakh)
Canada CAD 5,000 – CAD 10,000(INR 2 Lakh – INR 5 Lakh)

Roles and Duties of an Urban Planner

  1. Prepares plans and studies
  2. He/She conducts inspections
  3. Prepares site approval documents
  4. They coordinate with other local governments
  5. They create and interpret maps and diagrams
  6. Meet with public officials and the public regarding development plans and land use
  7. They recommend approval or denial of proposals

Area of Recruitment

  1. Planning, design and development
  2. Transport
  3. Economic development
  4. Housing, urban regeneration 
  5. Tourism
  6. Environmental protection and environmental consultancy

Salary Expectations

Country Average Salary 
India INR 40,000 – INR 50,000 per month
US USD 58,537 (INR 43 Lakh) per year
UK GBP 27,000 (INR 27 Lakh) per year
Canada CAD 62,560 (INR 36 Lakh) per year
Related Job Profile Average Salary 
Architect USD 88,609 (INR 65 Lakh)
Civil Engineer USD 88,750 (INR 65 Lakh)
Surveyor USD 69,881 (INR 50 Lakh)
Market Research Analysts USD 55,391 (INR 40 Lakh)

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Planning to study abroad? Our Leverage Edu experts will provide you with end-to-end assistance starting from your university application to the time you reach your university and commence your studies. Call us at 1800 57 2000 to book a FREE 30-minutes counselling session today.

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