University of the Free State UFS Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Urban and regional planning enhances people’s opportunities, strives towards addressing economic resilience, justice regarding space and social aspects. Planners join local insights with their professional techniques in a collective attempt to improve the quality of places. They develop long- and short-term plans to ensure the best use of land for a specific space. Town planners often work in multidisciplinary teams and should have insight in various disciplines, while understanding the needs of the community and be able to persuade decision-makers and politicians.

Programmes offered

The Department of Urban and Regional planning, offers postgraduate studies in the following fields:

• Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours
• Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours with specialisation in Human Settlements

In consultation with the national Department of Human Settlement, we are pleased to announce a new specialisation programme in 2016: A Bachelor of Honours in Spatial Planning, specialising in Human Settlements. The intention of this programme is to equip students with the necessary skills to work as Human Settlement (Housing) specialists.

• Master of Urban and Regional Planning (for Professional registration)
• Master of Urban and Regional Planning (by research)
• Master of Human Settlements (by research)
• Doctor of Philosophy with specialisation in Human Settlements
• Doctor of Philosophy with specialisation in Urban and Regional planning

 
More details on the programmes can be found in the Faculty Rule Book 2020

Career opportunities

Students with both honours and master’s degrees can find employment in South Africa. This profession has been identified as one of the scarce skills professions. Employment opportunities are available in national, provincial, and local government, NGOs, and the private sector. Graduates from this department are working in Namibia, England, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others.

Our Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning (for professional registration) is accredited by the South African Council for Planners. This means that graduates with the MURP and the Honours in Spatial Planning can register as professional planners once they have sufficient practical experience. UFS Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Applications

Honours and Master’s (for professional registrations)
Admission for the programmes is based on selection. University online application and departmental form (contact department) must be submitted before 30 September.
Applications for Research Master’s and PhD (first contact the department)

Contact details

Programme Director (Academic Enquiries)
Stuart Denoon-Stevens
E: DenoonStevensSP@ufs.ac.za
T: +27 51 401 7136
Head of Department
Prof Campbell, Maléne
E: CampbeMM@ufs.ac.za
T: +27 51 401 3575
General Enquiries
Abongile Mgwele
E: MgweleA@ufs.ac.za
T: +27 51 401 3210