Masters Degrees (Spatial Economics)

Our Economics MPhil programme aims to develop rigorous scholars who can advance both academic knowledge and practice in the area of Economics. The programmes are designed to give you greater depth to your professional life and to equip you with the skills necessary to succeed in a knowledge-intensive economy.

Our research is organised into 15 research centres and groups. Each of these involves externally funded research, international collaboration and the active involvement of doctoral students. A brief outline of some of the disciplines is outlined below.

The Applied and Theoretical Microeconomics (ATM) group focuses on issues in theoretical microeconomics and applied microeconomics. The interests of group members includes:
-General equilibrium theory with production and financial markets, game theory and overlapping generation economies
-Theoretical work on markets with search frictions
-The labour market
-Spatial economics including industrial location, health economics, transport economics,
-The role of information in markets
-The effects of government intervention on private-sector behaviour

The Applied Econometrics (AE) group is an interdisciplinary School research group with members from both the Economics and the Accounting & Finance subject groups. Members of the AE group undertake research on topics in economics and finance, linked by their use of econometrics. Main areas of interest include:
-Bayesian econometrics
-Linear and nonlinear time series models
-Time series forecasting
-Structural break estimation
-Unit root testing and cointegration analysis
-Vector autoregressive models

The Economics of Safety, Health, Environment and Risk (ESHER) research group brings together some world-leading research in health economics and the economics of safety and environment. ESHER is co-led by Professor Luke Vale, Health Foundation Chair in Health Economics and Professor Sue Chilton in Economics. Its areas of research include:
-Valuing benefits/quantifying preferences in health, safety and environment
-Development and application of economic evaluation
-Priority-setting in health care
-Econometric applications in studies of health, safety and the environment (especially income and health inequalities)

The Macroeconomic Analysis & Applications (MAnA) group focuses on the ever-evolving boundaries between economic theory and real world phenomena. The group promotes academic and policy relevant research on all areas of macroeconomics and currently the main research interests of MAnA members includes:
-The study of microeconomic behavior with macroeconomic implications
-Monetary policy, inflation, expectations
-International prices and the macroeconomy
-Economic integration and economic interdependence
-Economic growth and institutions

The Economics groups offer supervision across the broad range of microeconomics and macroeconomics, and have a good number of doctoral students in these areas.

Accreditation

Newcastle University Business School is accredited by the:
-Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
-European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)
-Association of MBAs (AMBA)

Only 1% of business schools worldwide hold this triple crown and we are one of only 20 to have these accreditations in the UK.

Our accreditations reflect the investments we make for our students through providing a high quality teaching environment, innovative programming and active engagement with industry.

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University, with over 3,100 students representing over 93 nationalities. The School's location and modern design creates a dynamic centre point for a valuable network of regional, national and international thought leaders, alumni and leading professions.

Our facilities provide:
-A flexible and dedicated conference suite with panoramic views across the city
-Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing approximately 120 PCs
-Four large lecture theatres and 21 seminar rooms, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
-A dedicated Hub, Base, and Lounge providing a balanced mix of study space and relaxation areas
-A contemporary café

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Overview

Teaching you to become a spatial planner who can engage with EU policies, cooperate with planners across borders and coordinate with other sectors like environment and economic development.

The influence of the European Union on spatial and environmental planning in the member states and regions is ever increasing. The Master’s in European Spatial and Environmental Planning (ESEP) offers a solid theoretical foundation to analyse the EU policies for environment, renewable energy and regional development and to understand how they influence spatial planning policies and practices. This programme also offers training in research methodology and teaches how to conduct meaningful comparisons.

Although the main focus of ESEP lies on the European Union and its policies and influences, the programme also addresses international policies and legislation that influence spatial planning, notably in relation to climate change. We look at the different positions member states and influential global players have on contemporary themes and critically discus how solutions can be found that would benefit all. You’ll better understand the multi-level system of governance in the integrated European Union, how EU policies are made and the influence they have on spatial planning systems, and how professionals can engage in European policy debates.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/esep

Why study European Spatial and Environmental Planning at Radboud University?

- This programme looks beyond domestic policies and beyond spatial and environmental planning within one country, and acknowledges the significant role the EU nowadays plays in our policies and practices.

- This programme focuses on the influence of the EU and international policies and how to cooperate with planners in other countries. It also teaches you how different sectors are interlinked in the field of spatial planning.

- This is an interdisciplinary programme as it is jointly offered by the Master’s programmes in Spatial Planning and of the Political and in Social and Political Sciences of the Environment. This also means you can choose with which MSc degree you would like to graduate (programme outlines are identical).

- You can mould this programme to suit your interests and future career plans through the choice of assignment topics and your Master’s thesis and a possible internship in the second semester.

- This programme is policy-oriented with links to planning practice. There are opportunities to prepare the thesis during an internship or to combine it with a stay abroad. We already have a wide network of partners for those wanting to go abroad.

- This Master’s challenges and stimulates students, who work in small groups on contemporary themes and learn to think critically about new developments.

Career prospects

There is great demand for spatial and environmental planners with a thorough knowledge of the European and international policy context. Our graduates work in European institutions, national and regional public authorities, consultancies and NGOs dealing with spatial planning, regional policy and environmental policy. They work in positions as researchers, consultants, project managers and policy advisors. Because of the international orientation and the thorough academic foundation of the Master's programme, graduates are also well prepared to pursue a PhD degree in the Netherlands or another European country.

- Choosing your expertise

During your application process you’ll choose whether you want to do this specialisation as one of the following Master’s programmes:

- Master’s in Spatial Planning

- Master’s in Environment and Society Studies

This means that you will graduate with an MSc in either Spatial Planning or in the Social and Political Sciences of the Environment, even though the study programme is identical. The diploma supplement accompanying your degree certificate will state that you have followed the ESEP specialisation and the courses you passed.

Experience shows that the choice of MSc degree will likely reflect your personal preferences, but because the programme outlines are identical it does not influence your career prospects.

More important for your future career aspirations are the topic of your Master’s thesis and possible internship. We therefore offer our students a large amount of freedom in choosing their thesis topic within the field of spatial and environmental planning. We also have a broad European network which allows us to help you go abroad if that will help you acquire the knowledge you need and the expertise you desire.

Our research in this field

The Radboud University department in Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment has developed its own profile, which is supported with internationally recognised research. The emphasis is on the social science and policy studies approach to environmental policy and spatial planning. We use approaches from EU studies, governance studies, political sciences, economics, sociology and other related approaches in our research.

All researchers of our department are affiliated with the Institute for Management Research (IMR). Central to the IMR research are six Multidisciplinary Research Groups bringing together expertise from different disciplines and addressing complex societal issues. In these groups, interaction with societal actors takes place, needs for both fundamental knowledge and knowledge from society are articulated, and both conceptual and empirical research undertaken. The Multidisciplinary Research Groups in which researchers from Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment participate are:

- Europeanization of Policy and Law

- Gender and Power in Politics and Management

- Global-Local Divides and Connections

- Governance and innovations in social services

- Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Ecosystems

- Responsible Decision Making

Thesis topics

As a Master’s student of European Spatial and Environmental Planning you have plenty of freedom to choose your own Master’s research topic in order to create your own expertise.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/esep

Radboud University Master's Open Day 10 March 2018

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Gain a thorough grounding in applied and theoretical econometrics.

Overview

The public and private sectors are gaining an increasing awareness of the value of quantitative skills to assess and use evidence from large amounts of data, making econometricians highly sought after. Our MSc in Econometrics and Economics will provide you with the essential skills that you need to follow a professional career, or to pursue further research, in applied and theoretical econometrics. The Masters is aimed at those with a prior knowledge of economics and econometrics, and/or mathematics and statistics.

You'll follow a core course in advanced economic and econometric theory. The modules are taught by world-leading experts in areas of economic theory, microeconometrics, panel data analysis, time series, spatial econometrics and nonparametric methods. Applied econometrics modules will equip you with state-of-the-art data analysis skills. You'll also develop your skills in analysing economic and financial data, and using econometric software widely employed by the leading researchers in the world.

Course Content

To achieve an MSc in Econometrics and Economics you'll complete modules to the value of 180 credits. This includes 90 credits from the core taught modules, 10 credits from the optional taught modules, and an 80 credit dissertation.

Modules
For the Masters you will need to take 100 credits of taught modules. There are seven compulsory core modules which amount to 90 of these credits:
-Advanced Microeconomics (20 credits)
-Advanced Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-International Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Econometric Methods for Research (20 credits)
-Applied Microeconometrics (10 credits)
-Time Series (10 credits)
-Either Project or Topics in Financial Econometrics (10 credits)

In addition, you'll choose one 10 credit option from:
-Design and Analysis of Mechanisms and Institutions (10 credits)
-Development Economics: Theory and Evidence (10 credits)
-Emerging Market Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Experimental Economics (10 credits)
-Industrial Economics (10 credits)
-Labour Economics (10 credits)
-Project (10 credits)
-Public Finance (10 credits)
-Public Sector Economics: Microeconomic Applications (10 credits)
-Topics in Financial Econometrics (10 credits)

You'll complete a piece of independent research carried out over three months of the summer, guided by a supervisor. The dissertation, of up to 10,000 words, is worth 80 credits and offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

The Department of Economics and Related Studies was ranked eighth in the UK for the impact of its research in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.

Since its foundation, members of the Department have made pioneering contributions in econometrics, as well as in public economics, health economics, macroeconomics and finance, experimental economics, economic theory, and economic history. York is one of only three UK institutions to receive five stars from the Centre of Higher Education Development for postgraduate economics.

Careers

The Masters will act as a springboard to a professional career in applied economics and econometrics. It is also an ideal preparation for a PhD. Research shows that around 80 per cent of our department's MSc graduates go on to economics related careers.

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Explore sustainable solutions for environmental problems.

Overview

You'll develop the skills needed by today's environmental managers, policymakers and scientists to tackle environmental issues at local, regional and global levels. You'll be prepared for a wide range of careers across the public and private sectors. This Masters also provides a good basis for further study at PhD level.

The core modules will provide you with knowledge in Environmental Economics and a appreciation of the challenges to which economic analysis can be applied. You'll also be equipped to incorporate environmental feedback into economic decision making in a way that satisfies both ecological managers and economists.

This Masters is suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds, including economics, human geography, business, sociology, politics, environmental science and more. You'll be taught by a range of interdisciplinary staff with varied Environmental research interests.

Course Content

You'll learn about the economics and management of natural resources and develop your critical and analytical skills in these areas. You'll gain both theoretical and practical experience of issues in environmental economics and management. You will be trained in suitable research methods and relevant ethical and legal issues. You'll develop your research skills and experience through completing a large research project.

For the Masters you will need to take a 100 credits of taught modules. There are four core modules, which amount to 50 of your 100 required credits:
-Current Research in Environment, Economics and Ecology (10 credits)
-Applied Environmental Economics (10 credits)
-Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas (10 credits)
-Research Skills and Statistical Methods (20 credits)

You'll also choose 50 credits from a range of optional modules:
-Business and Environment (10 credits)
-Development Economics (20 credits)
-Economics for Natural Resources and Environmental Management (20 credits)
-Environmental Governance (10 credits)
-Environmental Impact Assessment (10 credits)
-Spatial Analysis (10 credits)

You'll also complete a 8,000 word dissertation, worth 80 credits, as part of the MSc. Staff will suggest a range of possible subjects and titles, but you can also devise your own dissertation title. You'll have a dissertation supervisor who will provide regular guidance and will be able to comment on your first draft of the dissertation.

Careers

You'll develop the skills and knowledge you will need to follow a career in an environmental organisation in both the public and private sectors. The Masters in Environmental Economics and Environmental Management also provides an ideal basis to progress to further study at PhD.

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In a competitive international business environment, real estate professionals need a sophisticated understanding of finance, economics and law to succeed. The MPhil in Real Estate Finance has been designed to provide rigorous training in the latest concepts from these three key areas as applied to international real estate markets.

The course is aimed at those who may already have some experience or interest in real estate markets, banking or investment and wish to upgrade their skills or for those who are looking to commence a career in this area. The programme offers an opportunity to study theoretical and practical finance, investment and law applied to global commercial real estate markets, while enjoying the cultural, social and recreational facilities of Cambridge. The course takes students from a wide variety of backgrounds: finance, geography, economics, law, biology, international business, mathematics. These students have in common a strong desire to work in property and investments coupled with strong academic skills.

Tuition in the programme is based around classroom lectures, case studies and field trips to ensure students can apply the theoretical concepts taught. The programme can also serve as an entry point into PhD training for those interested in pursuing research in real estate finance in greater depth.

See the website http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/lelempref

Course detail

MPhil courses offered by the Department of Land Economy share common aims. These are:

i) to enable students of a high calibre to pursue their education at an advanced applied level drawing on the primary disciplines of economics, planning and environmental policy, with additional specialisms in finance and law;

ii) to provide students with opportunities both to build on and develop material which they may have studied at undergraduate level as well as to broaden their knowledge base;

iii) to equip students with the necessary skills to pursue careers at a high level in a range of areas, including business and finance, civil service, public service, property professions, environmental agencies and organisations, national/international agencies and further study;

iv) to provide opportunities for education in a multidisciplinary environment so as to advance the understanding of cognate disciplines and their applications;

v) to provide opportunities for learning with colleagues from different social, economic and legal systems;

vi) to provide students with appropriate skills and experience to enable them to use information and resources critically and to equip them with the means to undertake their own research;

vii) to provide an educational environment with a strong research ethos that brings together students from a wide variety of backgrounds and fosters an international approach to common problems.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, students will have acquired the following skills:
i) Knowledge and understanding of the subject matter of the various components of their course.

ii) Intellectual skills: the ability to study steadily, assimilate issues and large amounts of literature swiftly, evaluate countervailing positions and to produce succinct arguments to tight deadlines and to engage with those with whom they disagree. Particular methodologies used include: data evaluation, case evaluation, legal analysis, textual analysis, the convergence o theory and empirical data and advanced critical evaluation.

iii) Practical skills: identification and use of bibliographic materials, via libraries and electronically; taking notes effectively, thorough IT skills.

iv) Transferable skills: the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; to work to deadlines and under pressure; to manage time; to set priorities; to formulate an argument; to work independently and with initiative; basic IT skills (email, data analysis and internet use); critical analysis; to present material in a seminar context; skills of analysis and interpretation; self-discipline, self-direction; and respect for other views. The ability to develop and present a major piece of written work.

v) Research skills: the ability to locate, utilise and organise a wide range of materials independently, on paper and electronically. The ability to assess and evaluate such material, to develop and pursue a critique of existing material. The ability to develop, structure and sustain a line of argument. The establishment of relationships with researchers in related areas. The ethical use of research material.

vi) Communication skills: the ability to marshal arguments and present them succinctly and lucidly. The ability to effectively criticise the views of others powerfully but fairly. The presentation of written material in a persuasive and coherent manner.

vii) Interpersonal skills: the ability to work with others in seminars and smaller groups towards common goals. The ability to share research data ethically. The ability to respect the views of others and to acknowledge deficiencies in one's own argument.

Format

Candidates study a total of eight modules, some of which are compulsory, and submit a 12,000 word dissertation.

The modules offered for this course are confirmed on an annual basis but may include:
- Quantitative research methods I
- Introduction to real estate finance
- Real estate securities, securitisation and investment
- Private real estate investment
- Real estate development
- Legal issues in land use and finance
- The macroeconomy and housing
- Real estate project modelling and decision methods
- Urban and environmental planning
- Spatial economics

Plus optional modules from other taught MPhil courses offered by the Department of Land Economy.

Continuing

Continuation to the PhD degree - Approval of an application to continue to the PhD degree will depend on three criteria:

1. Availability of a supervisor
2. The approval by the Degree Committee of a research proposal
3. The achievement of a minimum overall mark and minimum dissertation mark in the MPhil Examination as prescribed by the Degree Committee in any offer of admission

How to apply: http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying

Funding Opportunities

There are no specific funding opportunities advertised for this course. For information on more general funding opportunities, please follow the link below.

General Funding Opportunities http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/funding

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About the course

The two-year full-time study programme (120 ECTS) addresses key social, economic and environmental challenges in geography and spatial planning with a strong emphasis on sustainable development strategies, cross-border issues, and the patterns of spatial development and spatial governance in Europe.
The programme is entirely taught in English and benefits from a proximity to European institutions and international research centres.
We provide a unique combination of academic courses and practical work. Students will learn to identify and explain conceptual and theoretical models and work with geographic information systems, computer-aided cartography, statistical tools as well as qualitative assessment and survey methods.

Aims

As a student, you will

• be trained in a wide range of approaches in geographical analysis and spatial planning
• be prepared to meet the demands for sustainable spatial planning strategies and improved urban and territorial governance processes
• be prepared to understand a wide range of European and transnational planning philosophies and processes
• acquire a set of soft skills that are increasingly required in professional life such as working in groups, debating within interdisciplinary and intercultural teams, preparing and presenting projects

Course modules

• Urban and Spatial Planning
• European Territorial Trends and Policies
• Territorial Governance and Policy Analysis
• Cartography and GIS
• Geographical Modelling
• Projects and Practice
• Research Methods and Seminars
• Language modules

Career

The programme leads to a variety of professional careers at different geographical scales and in various sectors, as well as an opening to PhD programmes. Most of our graduates work in private and public spatial planning bodies, mobility and transport consultancies, urban and regional development agencies, European and cross-border institutions, as well as in universities and research centres.

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The Master Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy (SEEP) is an innovative, internationally unique program that equips participants with the necessary theoretical background and factual information about the interconnected dynamics of economic and social systems and the physical environment. The program also enables participants to use appropriate analytical tools to engage in decision processes and longer-term policy on multiple spatial levels.

Visit the website: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/socio-ecological-economics-and-policy/overview/

Course detail

Rapid environmental change, population dynamics, poverty, and exclusion are interrelated processes that challenge human development. To tackle these complex issues, traditional disciplinary approaches to analysis and policy formulation are not sufficient. Instead, integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to studying the working of the human-environment system are needed. The Master Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy presents integrated approaches to development and human well-being that go beyond the usual polarization between socioeconomic development and environmental goals.

Purpose

The program offers training in socioeconomic analysis and focuses on the interfaces between environmental, economic and social challenges. This interdisciplinary and internationally oriented approach is based on three major pillars: theory, methodology, and application. The theory courses include concepts from a variety of disciplines, chosen for their relevance to global challenges. The methodological courses offer an integrated introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods and thus illustrate how they are best combined in empirical analyses. Relevance for policy making and organizational practice is emphasized throughout the program.

Our main focus lies on providing a thorough internationalization at the home university by attracting a diverse set of students from all over the world. The “international classroom at home” thus created is meant to allow students to experience foreign (academic) cultures, languages (especially English), and an international renowed faculty without having to leave the campus.

Format

The program offers four concentration areas of which you can choose two: Environment, Population, Multi-Level Policy and Social Policy.

- Semester 1 -

- Contemporary Global Policy Challenges
- Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research
- Growth, Well-Being, and Development
- International Institution, Governance, and Policy Evaluation
- Service Learning 1

- Semester 2 -

- Actors, Behaviors, and Decision Processes
- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
- Service Learning 2

Concentration Area 1 and 2 – choice of two:

- Environment
- Population
- Multi-Level Policy
- Social Policy

- Semester 3 -

- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2

Concentration Area 1 and 2 – continuing the chosen two areas from 2nd semester:

- Environment
- Population
- Multi-Level Policy
- Social Policy

- Semester 4 -

- Research Seminar
- Master Thesis

Career Prospects

The program has been designed to provide students with the necessary understanding of global sustainability issues, an ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and sound training in socio-economic concepts and methods.

The MSc program prepares graduates for:

- Employment as policy analysts, program managers, consultants, civil servants, project managers, and advisors who provide an insight into and support decision processes relating to sustainability issues by, for example, undertaking risk and uncertainty analyses in the social and environmental sectors; analyzing long-term developments relating to climate change, population development or aging in society; undertaking sustainability appraisals at company, regional or policy levels; helping design social, environmental, economic or educational policies; designing and facilitating participatory processes

- Working in international organizations, consultancies, companies, ministries, national and international NGOs, and research institutes where interdisciplinary skills and knowledge about the interactions of sustainability issues are needed

- Doctoral studies in the social sciences, in particular in economics, social policy, environmental studies and demography

How to apply: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/socio-ecological-economics-and-policy/application-admission/

Funding

Information on funding and scholarships can be found at the following webpage: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/students/my-degree-program/masters-student-guide/grants-and-scholarships/

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This highly regarded programme will prepare you for a career in urban planning and development, where you may be required to shape and consider development proposals and devise or interpret plans and policies, negotiate and regulate development schemes, undertake community consultations, develop evidence and present reports to clients and decision makers. In line with our academic  strengths in planning and development and real estate markets and investment, this Master’s programme will develop your specialist knowledge and skills in planning and development and equip you for a career in the private or public sector. The MSc Spatial Planning and Development is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The programme focuses on planning as it engages with economic and property development processes at all levels, from the site, neighbourhood, local, national and international. You will be able to concentrate on particular aspects of development planning to suit your interests and career aspirations (e.g. strategic, economic, environment, regeneration or countryside) and you will have the opportunity to undertake in-depth study, within a framework that emphasises integration, as well as apply your learning to another country through the European field study.

Why Henley?

Programme

The MSc Spatial Planning and Development is recognised in the UK and more widely, to be one of the foremost planning programmes which develops both spatial planning competencies but also market aware planners who are well prepared for the orchestration and negotiation of development schemes. The programme has strong appeal for future employers in the private and public sectors because of the blend of analytical rigour and practical application. Many graduates of this programme, and its forerunners, have progressed to senior positions in the real estate and planning sector.

Real Estate & Planning

Our School is the largest in the UK for teaching and research in real estate and planning. Established in 1968 at the University of Reading, we are the only major UK real estate and planning centre to be located within a business school. Being part of the Henley Business School reflects our close and longstanding collaborative relationship with industry.

We enjoy a worldwide reputation for excellence in both teaching and research and we are consistently highly ranked in all major league tables. We undertake internationally recognised, leading edge research into real estate, planning and land and we offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, all of which are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Our planning courses are also fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Our programmes are held in high regard by leading employers, many of whom come to us each year to recruit our graduates. We are proud of our outstanding employment record, with more than 95% of our students entering graduate level jobs within 6 months of leaving us.

Henley Business School:

• Consistently maintain highest standards: Henley is in top 1% of business schools worldwide to hold accreditation from all three bodies in the UK, Europe and US
• Excellent networking potential : 72,000 Henley alumni members in 150 countries
• High calibre students: always oversubscribed, 1,000 ambitious new Masters students join Henley each year
• Award winning campus: beautiful, green, 134 hectares, with state of the art facilities
• World-leading faculty: widely published, frequently asked for expert comment by media and to speak at events
• Henley is proud to be part of the University of Reading. The University is ranked within the top 200 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016/17 and QS World University Rankings 2018) and 98% of the research is rated as being of international standard.

Course content

Module descriptions are correct for modules taught in the academic year 2017/18. Optional module listings are indicative, and may be subject to change.

Compulsory Modules

• Planning Theory, Politics and Practice - REMP02
• Urban Design and Sustainability - REMP16
• Real Estate Development and Planning Law - REMP30
• Development Planning Projects - REMP31
• Cities, Regions and Strategic Governance - REMP32
• Real Estate Economics - REMFRE
• Spatial Planning Dissertation - REMDISS30

Optional modules

from a range which may include:

• Comparative International Planning Studies - REMP19
• Countryside Planning and Policy - REMP14
• Sustainability and Real Estate - REMF31
• Regeneration - REMP08
• Land, Property Rights and Institutions - REMP33
• Housing Markets and Policy - REMF53

Careers and accreditations

Our graduates tell us that the programme has led to excellent and prestigious employment opportunities, helped in part by developing their commercial awareness as well as other key skills.

The MSc Spatial Planning and Development programme is a leader of its type and students benefit from its strong connections to industry and across the profession generally. Many successful graduates have been highly sought after by both private and public sector employers, including planning consultancies, development companies, local planning authorities and large multidisciplinary property firms.

Reading has an excellent reputation with the planning profession in both the private and public sectors. Our postgraduates tend to be sought after by employers and many find employment before graduating.

Our alumni association, The Reading Real Estate Foundation, organise career development and recruitment events for our students throughout the year. These include an evening lectures series with key industry speakers, an annual Careers Fair and our highly successful Mentoring Programme which pairs students with professionals in the industry.

We have a professional Careers Development Advisor, [email protected], who helps our students with every aspect of the career development process, including identifying work placement, internships and permanent career opportunities.

In the public sector there are varied options at the local, regional and national levels: government offices and departments, regional agencies and local planning authorities. The range and diversity of jobs and careers offered under the mantle of 'planning' is really very wide and stimulating. We will be happy to advise you in finding work experience and talk to you about your employment options during your time with us.

The MSc Spatial Planning and Development is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

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Ecological Economics focuses on how to make sustainability and environmental management work in practice by applying economic principles.

This programme is run in collaboration with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Graduates with postgraduate training in this area are in greater demand than ever before in business, industry and government.

This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.

• Global Environment & Society Academy

Programme structure

You will learn through lectures, group work, informal group discussion and individual study, as well as the spring study tour. After two semesters of taught courses, you will begin work on your individual dissertations. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of option courses to suit individual interests and career goals.

You will learn through lectures, group work, informal group discussion and individual study, as well as the spring study tour. After two semesters of taught courses, you will begin work on your individual dissertations. You will be able to choose from a wide selection of option courses to suit individual interests and career goals.

Compulsory courses typically will be:

• Foundations in Ecological Economics
• Applications in Ecological Economics
• Ecological Economics Field Methods in Research and Practice
• Dissertation

Option courses previously available include:

In consultation with the Programme Director, you will choose from a range of option courses^. We particularly recommend:

• Principles of Environmental Sustainability
• Marine Systems and Policies
• Understanding Environment and Development
• The Ecology of Ecosystem Services
• Political Ecology
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Participation in Policy and Planning
• Water Resource Management
• Forests and Environment
• Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability
• Principles of GIS
• Energy & Society I; Key Themes and Issues
• Atmospheric Quality and Global Change
• Introduction To Spatial Analysis
• Climate Change and Corporate Strategy
• Frameworks to Assess Food Security
• Soil Protection and Management
• Encountering Cities
• Development: Principles and Practices
• Further Spatial Analysis
• Sustainability of Food Production
• Interrelationships in Food Systems
• Case Studies in Sustainable Development
• Introduction to Environmental Modelling
• Marine Infrastructure and Environmental Change
• Ecosystem Service Values

^Courses are offered subject to timetabling and availability and are subject to change

Field trip

To experience and understand conflict between ecosystem conservation and human development needs at ground level, this programme typically includes a unique 7-10-day study tour, usually overseas and in the developing world (previous destinations have included South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania).

Career opportunities

Being able to identify ecological economic problems, and apply economic principles and methods to solve these problems is increasingly valued by employers.

Our graduates are working in a variety of sectors, including environmental consultancies; international and governmental agencies; NGOs; financial institutions; multinationals; environmental education and research.

Additionally around a quarter of our masters students go on to doctoral research programmes.

Student experience

Would you like to know what it’s really like to study at the School of GeoSciences?

Visit our student experience blog where you can find articles, advice, videos and ask current students your questions.

• Student experience blog

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This course integrates regional development and spatial planning concerns in an international context. It brings together two disciplines and addresses the challenges of building capacity for analysis, strategy and policy making.

The course is a joint initiative involving staff based in the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) and The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (APL).

The Regional Development and Spatial Planning course offers a distinctive integration of regional development and spatial planning not found at other institutions elsewhere in the UK. It has an international focus and outlook and includes conceptual, practical and policy content. There is an emphasis on links between theory, policy and practice.

Delivery

Our teaching and learning strategy is seminar based, combining a mixture of sessions led by full-time staff and programme participants. We use interactive and participant focused teaching methods, including:
-Discussion of taught and read material
-Individual and group projects
-Case study analyses
-Practical projects
-External practitioner speakers

Facilities

This course is taught in dedicated Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) seminar and meeting rooms. The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape has a range of facilities available to students including:
-A workshop
-Studios
-Exhibition spaces
-Crit rooms
-Seminar rooms
-IT suites

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Associated with the research group Cass Cities, this Spatial Planning and Urban Design MA embeds you amongst the city-focused researchers of The Cass. Architecture, urban design and planning subjects are explored while you're introduced to a live site in London at the forefront of urban change. Resources and connections across the city are here to help support you throughout your studies. In the most recent (2014-15) Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 100% of graduates from this course were in work or further study within six months.

More about this course

The Spatial Planning and Urban Design MA is associated with Cass Cities, a group of doers, thinkers and researchers at The Cass led by Professor Mark Brearley.

The course combines the disciplines of architecture, urban design, and planning to help you become effective in all aspects of urban understanding. We'll encourage you to become an architect and architectural designer who understands how to intervene strategically in city-level architecture and planning.

Cass Cities engages in urban research and proposition. Urban change happens when people with ideas, knowledge and experience work in creative ways to transform cities. This happens through designing buildings, engaging with local communities, developing masterplans, re-thinking public transport networks and informing policy change.

We'll nurture your ability to form architectural propositions and develop a strong spatial judgement, but we'll also emphasise that there is much more to city processes than building design.

You'll work in the Cass Cities Unit alongside postgraduate architects, and every year we choose live and significant sites which are at the forefront of urban change, with a strong focus on London. There will be work on these live projects as well as the attendance of meetings on relevant topics and access to influential decision-makers in London. These resources and connections will help you direct your work in professional, practical and influential ways.

The projects produced in the unit are concerned with the shaping of both buildings and places. You'll participate in contemporary debates in all forms as a proposer, responder and observer.

Get a taste of things to come by watching this video of Professor Mark Brearley talking about the MA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkCHzBzQOcs

The course can lead to a further MA by Project or PhD research opportunities.

Assessment is through a range of methods, including written coursework submissions and design portfolio presentation.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2016/17 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:
-Design Thesis (core, 60 credits)
-Economics of Place (core, 20 credits)
-Planning and Urban Practice (core, 20 credits)
-Planning and Urban Theory (core, 20 credits)
-Research for Spatial Planning and Specialism (core, 20 credits)
-Sustainable Communities and Governance of Place (core, 20 credits)
-Urban Design (core, 20 credits)

After the course

The course is designed for practicing planners and architects wishing to specialise in urban design, as well as urban design practitioners who require knowledge of spatial planning. It is also suitable for graduates with relevant degrees who wish to obtain a postgraduate qualification in planning or urban design. Graduates of this course have gone on to become urban designers and freelance consultants.

If you are a student who has already obtained a relevant London Met first degree, especially in architecture, and wish to progress into the above professions, then we recommend you consider this MA course. Even if you come from a background that does generally do not progress into spatial planning or urban design positions, this course will be of advantage to you in your career.

Moving to one campus

Between 2016 and 2020 we're investing £125 million in the London Metropolitan University campus, moving all of our activity to our current Holloway campus in Islington, north London. This will mean the teaching location of some courses will change over time.

Whether you will be affected will depend on the duration of your course, when you start and your mode of study. The earliest moves affecting new students will be in September 2017. This may mean you begin your course at one location, but over the duration of the course you are relocated to one of our other campuses. Our intention is that no full-time student will change campus more than once during a course of typical duration.

All students will benefit from our move to one campus, which will allow us to develop state-of-the-art facilities, flexible teaching areas and stunning social spaces.

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This programme is unique in its focus on the core challenges facing our increasingly 'smart' cities, from their operational functions and planning through to management and control. Reflecting the changes that technology is making to the operation of, and our understanding of, the city, the degree gives students the technical and theoretical skills needed to make a difference to the cities of today and tomorrow.

About this degree

Students are equipped with key quantitative practical skills such as mathematical and statistical modelling, computer programming, spatial analysis and cartographic visualisation, underpinned by broad theoretical perspectives on the demographics, economics, form, function, network interactions, governance, policy, planning and crucially science of cities across the world.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of six core modules (105 credits), one optional module (15 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma, six core modules (105 credits), one optional module (15 credits), is offered.

Core modules

• Geographic Information Systems and Science
• Quantitative Methods
• Smart Cities: Context, Policy and Government
• Urban Systems Theory
• Spatial Data Capture, Storage and Analysis
• Urban Simulation

Optional modules

• Introduction to Programming
• Or any other open 15-credit module from across UCL

Dissertation/report

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The technical aspects of the programme will be delivered through traditional workshops, lectures and practicals, but we will seek to incorporate novel assessment methods such as blog posts, and shared outputs such as visualisations/maps and web apps. Assessment is through a variety of written coursework assignments and final dissertation, presentation of researched material and practical investigations, and participation in dedicated skills modules.

Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Smart Cities and Urban Analytics MSc

Funding

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

This programme gives students the skill set and knowledge base to embark on a professional or academic path through the highly interdisciplinary field of spatial science.

Employability

Students will graduate with an extremely broad range of new transferable practical skills including computer programming, database management, (big) data mining and web-visualistation, along with an understanding of mathematical and statistical analysis methods, geographic information science, spatial analysis and urban modelling. All of these skills are developed in parallel with a wider appreciation of the problems and challenges facing contemporary cities and how the latest data and analysis methods can help address them.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The UCL Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) is one of the leading research centres in the science of cities, generating new knowledge and insights for use in city planning, policy and design, and drawing on the latest geospatial methods and ideas in computer-based visualisation and modelling.

Smart Cities is a key area of future innovation and investment in the UK, and Smart Cities and Urban Analytics is currently the only UK-based Master’s programme available in this area.

Companies such as Intel, IBM, ARUP and CISCO all have strategies around smart city development, creating a demand for skilled personnel. CASA has well-established links with these companies and the Head of Department sits on the Smart Cities Board at the Greater London Authority to advise the Mayor on developments.

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Introduction to the programme

Human Geography is a research field which focuses on studying the spatial behaviour of people, firms and organisations. Or, to put it simply, it is a study that observes the relationship between human activities and their spatial environment. Because it is an integrative discipline, Human Geography serves as an excellent platform for integrating knowledge from various related disciplines, such as Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, International Relations, Economics, Business Administration and Development Studies.

Specialisations in the Master's in Human Geography

The Human Geography Master's programme at Radboud University offers five specialisations and the option to develop your own specialisation:

- Conflicts, Territories and Identities

- Economic Geography

- Europe: Governance, Borders and Identities

- Globalisation, Migration and Development

- Urban and Cultural Geography

- Free specialisation: combination of courses of your own choice, subject to approval by the Examination Board

The Master's programme can also be conducted in dual mode (information in Dutch: studying next to working in the human geographic profession). Additionally there is a post-Master's programme for secondary teacher training also called educational Master's at the ILS (in Dutch).

Assessment during the programme

Throughout the Master's programme you will be assessed by a mixture of written exams, essays, papers, projects, oral presentations and your Master's thesis.

Career prospects with a degree in Human Geography

Graduates of the Master's in Human Geography will be qualified for many different job positions. These jobs all require excellent analytical skills at an academic level, a critical perspective, thorough knowledge of societal relations and a clear vision of how crucial societal problems can be solved. Human Geography graduates find jobs rather easily at (international) research institutes, international companies, or at consultancy firms. Top-ranking positions, in private industry as well as in governmental and non-governmental organisations can also be found.

Our approach to this field

Human Geography is a research field which focuses on studying the spatial behaviour of people, firms and organisations. Or, to put it simply, it is a study that observes the relationship between human activities and their spatial environment. Because it is an integrative discipline, Human Geography serves as an excellent platform for integrating knowledge from various related disciplines, such as Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, International Relations, Economics, Business Administration and Development Studies.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/english/education/masters/human-geography

Radboud University Master's Open Day 10 March 2018

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We offer a flexible range of opportunities for postgraduate research. We welcome MPhil proposals in any topic related to architecture, planning, or landscape.

We offer supervision in the following areas.

Architectural and planning education

We conduct research into innovative teaching methods, the integration of theory and practice, and learn from related creative disciplines.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has funded research into effective skills transfer. This activity is strengthened through our involvement in the:
-European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE)
-Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP)
-European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS) including the Le NOTRE EU Network

Architectural science and environmental design

-Design related aspects of construction and the use of buildings
-Non-destructive testing
-Simulation
-Measurement of energy
-Environmental performance

Cities and technology

-The changing relationship between utilities, the development, planning and management of contemporary cities
-Culture and the built environment, including cultural change and transformation of the built environment

Design history and theory

-Architectural history
-Architectural theory
-Material culture

Environmental economics

-Environmental economics
-Valuation
-Benefit appraisal

Environmental management

-Our research in this area covers environmental planning, management, impact assessment, sustainability, and Local Agenda 21 issues.

Housing and community

-Social housing
-Community development

Information technology in construction

-Computer-based information search
-Retrieval systems
-Building product modelling with a philosophy of taking basic and applied research through to the end users

Landscape architecture, landscape planning, landscape design and landscape management

-Landscape architecture theory, philosophy and environmental ethics
-Sustainable landscape planning, design and management
-The history and development of the designed and cultural landscape

International urban development

-Interpreting and managing change in diverse urban contexts
-Improving the environment and quality of life in the cities of the developing world

Planning processes and policy

-Contemporary policy and practice issues in planning
-Development and urban regeneration, in the context of theoretical developments and European experiences

Spatial analysis

-Spatial change
-Spatial statistics
-The use of GIS

Urban design

-City design and development
-Design control
-Urban public space
-Public art in cities
-Meaning in the built environment
-Conservation
-Urban regeneration
-Urban design

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Programme Background

This programme provides the foundation, knowledge and skills needed to work as a development surveyor or planner. On completion, graduates will be able to work either in the public or private sectors, advising on the complexities of property development to occupiers, investors, developers and planning authorities.

The programme is designed to build understanding of the complex interactions and uncertainties of the development process. It provides students with the essential knowledge components of economics, valuation, planning, law, and regeneration and sustainability principles. It also develops an appreciation of the skills and tasks inherent in development projects, including community participation, satisfying the statutory planning considerations, undertaking the necessary financial appraisals, and achieving funding to make it happen.

Our students and graduates

This programme is suitable for graduates with an interest in pursuing a career either as a chartered development surveyor or as a planner with a specialism in land and property markets. Such opportunities are available in a range of employers in the private and public sector, including local development and regeneration agencies.

On completion of this programme graduates will be able to have a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the property market context and the nature and theory of spatial planning and sustainable development.

Professional Recognition

The MSc gives full recognition from all the educational requirements of the Royal Town Planning Institute and has professional accreditation from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Heriot-Watt University is a leading education centre for planning and surveyor professionals in the UK.

Programme Structure

This programme is composed eight core courses at PgDip level. For those looking to complete the programme at MSc level a Masters dissertation is also required. Students are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination.

Semester 1

Spatial Planning
Sustainable Design and Development
Real Estate Appraisal and Valuation 1
Real Estate Economics

Semester 2

Strategic Spatial Vision Project
Governance Participation and Community Planning
Real Estate Investment Analysis
Real Estate Development

Graduate Opportunities

The MSc in Real Estate and Planning is focused on professional relevance ensuring that graduates of the programme are quickly able to make to make a positive and effective contribution to the success of their working environment, and the development of their own professional careers.

The programme is suitable for graduates with an interest in pursuing a career either as a chartered development surveyor or as a planner with a specialism in land and property markets. Such opportunities are available in a range of employers in the private and public sector, including local development and regeneration agencies.

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