Expanding postgraduate provision

Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning has developed two new Master’s level programmes, growing its respected postgraduate taught provision.

The new programmes are open for September 2018 entry and capitalise on the School’s expertise in urban design, planning, environment and development.

MSc Environment and Development offers students the opportunity to explore the political, regulatory, cultural and economic links between development and environmental management. With a focus on the Global North and Global South, the complexity of contemporary trends and the process of development will be treated as intrinsically political (contested) and ecological (vital) activity that occurs at the interface between state, society and the rest of socio-nature. Students will examine and critically consider the many intractable challenges faced by contemporary global society including global warming and climate change, agri-food intensification, land and resource grabbing, urban and rural water scarcity, and biodiversity decline.

The MSc International Planning and Urban Design programme places an emphasis on the social, political and cultural impacts of planning and urban design. Currently, more than 50% of the world’s population (2014 Revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects). With this trend predicted to increase over the next 30 years, these urban centres face a growing number of social, cultural and infrastructural problems related to overcrowding, congestion, pollution and environmental damage, poor and failing infrastructure, sharpening inequalities in wealth, health and well-being, and issues associated with privatised governance and non-democratic control. In light of these challenges, national governments and municipal authorities are turning to professionals and practitioners in urban planning and design to help understand and address these issues.

Dr Scott Orford, Director of Postgraduate Studies at the School of Geography and Planning, said: “We’re excited to launch these two new programmes, and look forward to welcoming our inaugural cohorts to Cardiff in September.

“Our diverse portfolio of programmes is designed to address contemporary issues in human geography and planning, with the objective of tackling the grand challenges facing human societies, environments and places around the world. Our new programmes fulfil that ambition and will produce graduates who are equipped with the intellectual and critical skills to make a positive contribution to the fields of development, environment management, urban design and international planning.”

Find out more about the programmes, including entry requirements and how to apply by visiting the website.

Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning has an international reputation for teaching and research excellence. In 2014, the quality of its research was ranked in the UK top 10 (REF 2014) with 85% of its research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent. The School’s student experience also scores highly with 94% of final year undergraduate students satisfied with their overall experience (National Student Survey 2017)