MSc in
MSc in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning Linköping University
Introduction
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- Start: August 2022
- Place of study: Linköping
- Level: Second-cycle
- Application code: LIU-91002
Our cities and regions are currently facing fundamental challenges related to climate change, globalization, urbanization, digitalization, and social inequality. Strategic urban and regional planning is one of the most powerful local instruments to (re)shape long-term urban and regional development and create sustainable cities and regions of tomorrow.
The program provides you with the opportunity to advance your knowledge about societal change and enhance your abilities to engage in complex planning processes and agendas, in collaboration with citizens and other stakeholders. The program has a special focus on regional development challenges in European countries.
The program offers training in urban and regional planning, with a focus on strategic urban and regional planning. Core elements are identifying and managing planning issues within complex social, environmental, and economic realities. This helps you develop skills in conducting studies, formulating strategies, and coordinating overall planning at various levels of society. Our teaching profile is integrated with advanced research in urban and regional planning. The program offers direct contact with ongoing research and there is a close collaboration with public and private employers offering real-world learning opportunities. As a student, you can tailor your studies in your area of interest, profession, or field of expertise. During the third semester of the program, you can choose elective courses, studies abroad and internships, at businesses, organizations, or research institutes in Sweden or abroad.
Syllabus and course details
Course details
The program runs over two years and encompasses 120 credits, including a thesis.
Semester 1 and 2
In the first two semesters, the program consists of compulsory courses (60 credits) characterized by both knowledge and skills within strategic urban and regional planning. The second term concludes with a course to prepare for writing a thesis in strategic urban and regional planning.
Semester 3
In the third semester, the program allows students an individual specialization through studies abroad, internships, and elective courses. The elective courses give the student opportunities to deepen the students’ knowledge and skills in, for example, health, visualization, foodscapes, urban sustainability, and the politics of planning. The internship can be performed in Sweden or abroad where the students carry out a specific task which links to the activities of the chosen organization and the student's future professional interests.
Semester 4
The topic of the master’s thesis is decided together with the supervisor. The master’s thesis shall be written within the main area of study, urban and regional planning, and should integrate the knowledge, skills, and theoretical approaches garnered in the first three semesters.
Syllabus
Introduction
The master’s program in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning is an educational program at an advanced level that leads to a master’s degree in urban and regional planning. The education is focused on strategic urban and regional planning and gives students an understanding of long-term and complex urban and regional planning processes. A planner who works with strategic planning must be able to lead overall planning at various levels of society: local, national, international, and global. Such planning processes involve many different stakeholders within public administration, the business world, and civil society. The program focuses on questions and problems in a European context. Particular emphasis is placed on the sustainability challenges that urban areas and regions are facing, including such issues as climate change, globalization, urbanization, digitalization, and social inequality. In order to be able to manage these challenges, students must be able to make well-founded assessments of a complex reality and use them to define objectives, formulate strategy, and direct planning. The program prepares students to conduct inquiries and to carry out project management, work management, and process management, within urban and regional planning. It provides opportunities for exchange visits and work placements and qualifies students for subsequent postgraduate education.
Aim
National Qualifications according to the Swedish Higher Education Act
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in urban and regional planning, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
- demonstrate specialized methodological knowledge in urban and regional planning.
Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall
- demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
- demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously, and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
- demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
- demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.
Judgment and approach
For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall
- demonstrate the ability to make assessments in urban and regional planning informed by relevant disciplinary, social, and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
- demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
- demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.
Teaching and working methods
The education is problem-focussed, and most of the courses take overarching issues as their starting point, and these issues are subsequently broken down and applied in various projects. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, excursions, project work, computer exercises, and tutorial supervision. During the program, students get to improve their oral and written communication skills. A recurrent component of most courses is that students are to learn to use digital tools to visualize and communicate knowledge and processes that are relevant for urban and regional planning. Examples of such tools are geographical information systems (GIS), visualization, and scenario-based methods. The program also contains several exercises in the field of strategic physical planning.
Research
Technology and Social Change
So much of our lives depend on technology. The development and use of technology create possibilities as well as social, ethical, and political dilemmas. That’s what we study at Tema T – Technology and Social Change.
The role of urban and regional planning in promoting sustainability energy transitions in the transport sector
Planning for a sustainable energy transition in the transport sector is becoming increasingly important, especially with the implementation of the global sustainability goals, so also in Swedish municipalities and regions.
Households infrastructure junctions
Sustainable energy systems are becoming increasingly integrated at the local level. This project focuses on the integration of energy systems from a user perspective.
Planning sustainable energy transition
This project will identify and in collaboration with regional and municipal actors further develop instruments and tools that give urban and regional planners a more active role in shaping a sustainable energy transition.
Admissions
Curriculum
Semester 1 (Autumn 2022)
- 709A01 --- Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 15
- 709A02 --- Planning and Public Administration --- 7.5
- 709A03 --- Strategic Planning of Urban Climate Transitions --- 7.5
Semester 2 (Spring 2023)
Preliminary courses
- 709A04 --- Recent Trends in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning – Urbanization and globalization --- 7.5
- 709A05 --- Planning for a Sustainable Information Society --- 7.5
- 709A06 --- Strategic Planning - Regions and EU --- 7.5
- 709A07 --- Research Methods in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 7.5
Semester 3 (Autumn 2023)
Preliminary courses
- 709A08 --- Critical Perspectives on Planning for Health --- 7.5
- 709A10 --- The Politics of Planning – Power, controversies, and legacies --- 7.5
- 709A11 --- Special Readings in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 7.5
- 709A11 --- Special Readings in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 7.5
- 709A11 --- Special Readings in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 7.5
- 709A11 --- Special Readings in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 7.5
- 709A12 --- Internship in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 15
- 709A12 --- Internship in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 15
- 709A12 --- Internship in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 15
- 709A13 --- Internship in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 30
- 709A14 --- Foodscapes in Urban and Regional Strategic Planning --- 7.5
- 746A74 --- Sustainability in the urban realm: city/neighborhood/home --- 7.5
- 746A88 --- Visualizing Sustainability Challenges and Pathways --- 7.5
Semester 4 (Spring 2024)
Preliminary courses
- 709A16 --- Master's Thesis in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning --- 30
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships
Linköping University (LiU) offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding international students. For some programs and nationalities, it is also possible to apply for a scholarship through the Swedish Institute. There are also other funding opportunities for studies in Sweden.
LiU International Scholarship
The LiU International Scholarship is aimed at supporting international master's degree students with significant academic potential who are required to pay tuition fees. The tuition fees for a student awarded a LiU International Scholarship are reduced by 25, 50, or 75%. We offer a limited number of these scholarships to new students.
Am I eligible to apply?
Students who have applied for a master’s program at Linköping University and who meet all the following conditions are eligible to apply for a scholarship:
- you applied by the deadline for the first admission round
- you submitted all the required documents by the deadline
- you chose a master’s program at Linköping University as your first priority (ranked as number 1 of 4)
- you have been admitted to your first choice in the First Notification of Selection Results (usually early April)
- you are required to pay tuition fees.
Scholarships for studies in Sweden
Swedish Institute scholarships
The government agency the Swedish Institute (SI) offers a variety of scholarships depending on the level of study, the country where you come from, and the purpose of your studies. The application period for the SI scholarships varies. Read more about the SI scholarships and how to apply on their webpage.
Other scholarships
Many associations, foundations, and other organizations offer scholarships or travel grants for studies in Sweden. The official StudyinSweden.se website has collated a list of resources, where you can look for scholarships open to students of many countries or from your country specifically.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Future opportunities
The program prepares you for a professional career as a planning and environmental strategist, plan manager, overview planner, district developer, urban planner or external analyst. You will be qualified for positions in regional associations, county councils, various government agencies, private enterprises, and non-profit organizations. You will also qualify for doctoral studies.