Urban and Regional Planning
Are you interested in how cities and regions function and transform? Do you want to develop plans and strategies for a sustainable society? If so, urban and regional planning can be the right choice. Study at a world class university, learn from the best researchers and enjoy teaching that is closely connected to research.
Subject description
Urban and regional planning is about taking into consideration the various challenges and opportunities, but also to develop strategies and projects, for the sustainable development of our cities and regions. As such, urban and regional planning is an interdisciplinary study area. In planning, you study different issues on the development and future of society, such as land-use, climate and environment, use of resources, local and regional economic development, urban-rural relations, demography, democracy, housing and mobility.
At Stockholm University you receive a mainly social science-based education in urban and regional planning that enables you to delve into the political, societal, economic, social, cultural and historical contexts in which planning evolves.
One basic tenet within this education is to understand the spatial dimension of planning, so how and why places, cities and regions change. For this, you will enjoy a number of learning and teaching activities that are focused on the underpinning drivers and mechanisms for change. In addition, you will learn about the various institutions that are relevant within urban and regional planning and how planning is governed and practiced in interaction with various actors and their often conflicting interests.
Another objective of this education is to reflect upon the various roles and tasks that planning practitioners have to deal with and to distinguish between different types of knowledge and information, their sources and functioning within planning processes. Geographical information systems (GIS) are an important tool nowadays for urban and regional planning and you will also learn how to apply other relevant theories, concepts and methods.
Our programme in urban and regional planning offers you broad competences and skills to work with urban and regional planning at different levels (local, regional and (trans)national), and within different organisations such as municipalities, counties, ministries and other public agencies as well as private firms and other types of organisations in Sweden and internationally.
Career opportunities
With a degree in urban and regional planning, you can work with various kinds of issues within urban and regional planning. This may concern investigation, analysis and evaluation and work on developing plans, programmes and strategies.
The education gives you a broad competence to work in urban and regional planning in both public administration (municipalities, regions, authorities) and in the private sector and other organizations that are involved in planning in Sweden or internationally.
What you can work with depends partly on how you form and focus your education, which courses and themes you choose to focus on. The labour market for planners in general is broad, varied and good.
Courses and programmes
Courses and programmes within the subject area.
Courses at bachelor's level
Current courses at bachelor's level
Courses at master's level
Current courses at master's level
Master's programmes
Current master's programmesDegree
To get a bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, study the programme listed under Courses and programmes.
To get a master's degree in urban and regional planning, study the programme listed under Courses and programmes.
Research
As an urban and regional planning student at Stockholm University, you will have the unique opportunity to engage with leading researchers and teachers in planning and related disciplines such as archaeology, economic history, economics, environmental management, ethnology, geosciences, human geography, political science, sociology and statistics.
Our department provides a dynamic and vibrant international research environment, where the boundary between teachers and students is low, and where there are excellent opportunities for discussions in smaller seminars and with individual researchers.
Research about urban and regional planning at the department includes themes such as urban and regional governance cultures, the planners’ knowledge and expertise, urban development and mega-projects, social movements and spatial justice, culture and creativity, comparative research on planning systems as well as EU cohesion policy.
More about the research at the Department of Human Geography
Contact
Contact details for questions about education
Study Counsellor
The study counsellor can provide information and guidance on study pathways, programme and course selection, admission, eligibility, approved leave from studies, discontinuation of studies, credit transfer, degrees and careers. You should contact the study counsellor if you are experiencing difficulties keeping up with your studies or have other study-related concerns.
