Closing date for applications: 30 September

Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours (BC460145) BSPHons 

After completing the BSPHons programme, graduates will have the following skills:

• A thorough knowledge of the aims and purpose of urban and regional planning as well as planning theory, urban planning theory, regional planning theory, philosophy, and ethics.
• The ability to practically apply theory in urban and regional planning projects, e.g. the capacity to analyse issues from a theoretical and/or empirical perspective, and to recommend suitable alternatives.
• The ability to apply and understand economics for planners, socio-cultural aspects in planning and environmental planning; and link these to the everyday tasks and activities of urban and regional planners.
• The capacity to communicate clearly and logically, write good planning and research reports, and debate these with stakeholders.
• Programmes in Spatial Planning: Residential and Compact Learning can be conducted full time over 12 months or part time over 24 months, or in block weeks, with attendance taking place during five block weeks per year.

Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours (specialising in Human Settlements; BC460145)

After completing the programme, graduates will have the following skills:

• A thorough knowledge of Human Settlements Theory; Policy; Ethics; and Implementation.
• The ability to understand and apply the urban and regional planning context of human settlement development e.g. the legislative and institutional framework;the environmental and land use requirements; the socio-cultural; and economical parameters.
• The ability to structure and implement Human Settlement strategies; programmes; and projects, e.g. the ability to analyse settlement needs from a theoretical and empirical perspective; to engage communities; and to propose and implement appropriate interventions.

Master's in Urban and Regional Planning (BC470448; MURP)

After completing the MURP programme, the graduates will obtain a professional degree and will possess the following skills:

• The capacity to complete practical urban and regional planning projects, including spatial frameworks, development plans, and layouts
• The capacity to analyse issues from a theoretical and/or empirical perspective and to recommend suitable alternatives
• The capacity to communicate clearly and logically, write good planning and research reports, and debate these with stakeholders
• The ability to critically evaluate information and theories and to apply relevant concepts from different disciplines in innovative approaches to planning issues

Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) - Research

This programme culminates in obtaining the master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

Students in possession of a four-year Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Planning or an Honours degree in Urban and Regional Planning or an acceptable alternative qualification (equivalent to NQF level 8) may study to obtain the MURP degree by:

• writing a dissertation (URMD8900) or
• through the publication (or acceptance for publication) of an article in an accredited journal. The article must be accepted by an accredited journal as a scientific article before it will be accepted as an alternative to the script.

Philosophiae Doctor (PhD)

The degree of Philosophiae Doctor is conferred in Urban and Regional Planning (URPD9100). According to the 2018 General Rules, “A Doctoral Degree requires a candidate to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels, culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. However, candidates may also present academic interrelated publishable manuscripts/published articles and papers [three articles are required] and, in certain fields, creative work such as artefacts, compositions, public performances and public exhibitions in partial fulfilment of the research requirements. Coursework may be required as preparation or value addition to the research, but does not contribute to the credit value of the qualification. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that the candidate is required to demonstrate high-level research capability and to make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of a discipline or field. The work must be of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication. The degree may be earned through pure discipline-based, multidisciplinary or applied research. This degree requires a minimum of two years’ full-time study, usually after completing a Master’s Degree. A graduate should be able to supervise and evaluate the research of others in the area of specialisation concerned. An additional type of doctorate, the Higher Doctorate Degree, may be awarded on the basis of a distinguished record of research in the form of published works, creative works and/or other scholarly contributions that are judged by leading international experts to make an exceptional and independent contribution to one or more disciplines or fields of study.”