Do I need a planning background to take the Master in Urban Planning and Development?

Not necessarily. The master's accepts applicants from related disciplines such as architecture, civil engineering, geography and public policy. Pure planning background is helpful but not required.

Will the master's lead to RTPI chartered status?

Chartership is granted by the RTPI under its own criteria. The Master in Urban Planning and Development supports the academic side, but you should confirm current RTPI accreditation requirements directly.

Is the course more theoretical or practical?

It blends both. You will work with planning law, environmental policy and economic theory alongside applied projects and case studies of real cities.

Can I study the Master in Urban Planning and Development online?

Yes. Online and distance modes are available, which suits working planners well.

Is the qualification internationally relevant?

Planning law differs significantly by country, but the conceptual content — sustainable design, transport, infrastructure — travels well. Local employers may require additional local qualifications.

How long does the master's take?

Typically 12 to 24 months depending on study mode. Exact duration is confirmed at enrolment.

Master in Urban Planning and Development | HICL London | Harold International College of London

Master in Urban Planning and Development at HICL

The Master in Urban Planning and Development is for people who care about how cities actually work — how housing, transport, public space, infrastructure and climate resilience fit together, and how planning decisions made in committee rooms shape decades of urban life. It is aimed at planning officers, architects, engineers, geographers and policy professionals who want a postgraduate qualification to move into senior planning, development or city policy roles.

The programme is broad on purpose. Cities are not solved by one discipline. The Master in Urban Planning and Development is structured to give you a working command of land use planning, transport planning, sustainable design, urban economics and the political reality of taking a plan from a draft to an approved scheme.

Planning, Honestly

Planning is slow, contested, and political. Anyone who tells you otherwise has not spent enough time in a planning committee meeting. The master's takes that seriously. Expect content on planning law and process, community engagement, environmental impact, infrastructure funding mechanisms, smart-city technologies, and the long view on how cities adapt to climate change and demographic shifts.

Who This Master Is For

Planning officers in local authorities or development agencies aiming at senior roles.
Architects and civil engineers moving into urban-scale work.
Policy professionals working on housing, transport or sustainability.
International students from cities undergoing rapid development.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Master in Urban Planning and Development typically move into planner, senior planner, urban designer, development officer, infrastructure planner and policy analyst positions in local authorities, consultancies and development agencies. Some progress towards chartership through professional bodies such as the RTPI, which has its own requirements that should be checked directly.

How the Programme Is Delivered

Available on-campus, online and via distance learning. On-campus tends to suit students who want studio-style group projects; online suits working professionals applying the content to live local-authority work. Module structure and intake calendar are confirmed at enrolment.

Entry Requirements

Bachelor's degree in planning, architecture, geography, civil engineering, public policy or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
Minimum age 21.
A short statement about your professional interest in urban planning.

Apply for the Master in Urban Planning and Development

If you want to be one of the people behind the proper version of a city — the one that actually works for everyone living in it — the Master in Urban Planning and Development is the postgraduate route to consider. Click Enroll Now and HICL admissions will respond within one working day.