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1 Year On Campus Masters Program
University of Westminster
The MA International Planning and Sustainable Development at the University of Westminster equips you with a deep understanding of sustainable urban planning and development challenges facing cities and regions around the world, especially in the context of rapid urbanisation and climate change. It suits built environment professionals and graduates with social or physical science backgrounds who want to improve their career prospects or enter international planning practice by exploring both theoretical frameworks and real-world policy and design responses.
Curriculum Structure
Year / Full-Time (Core Learning & Pathways)
In your first and only year on the programme (12 months full-time or up to two years part-time), you’ll start by building a strong core foundation through modules such as Planning in a Globalising World, where you will examine global planning theories and the forces shaping spatial change, and Sustainable Neighbourhood Development and Management, which focuses on participatory approaches to planning for sustainable communities. You’ll also study Sustainable Cities and Neighbourhoods to explore interdisciplinary debates around environmental, economic and social sustainability, and International Spatial Planning Practice which introduces professional contexts and tools used by planners globally.
Year / Later Modules & Major Project
As you progress, practical and analytical skills become central: Planning Skills and Research Methods equips you with methodological tools for independent investigation, while the Dissertation or Major Project lets you carry out in-depth research or design work on a topic of your choice, preparing you for professional or academic research. Depending on your chosen pathway — Spatial Planning (with Urban Form and Growth) or Urban Resilience (with Planning for Urban Risk and Resilience) — you’ll tailor your studies to specialise in urban design processes or climate-oriented planning strategies.
Focus Areas (in a string)
Urban and regional planning, sustainable development, climate adaptation, spatial planning practice, sustainable neighbourhood design, urban resilience, planning research and methods.
Learning Outcomes (in a string)
Develop international planning theory comprehension, apply sustainable development frameworks in varied contexts, conduct planning research and analysis, produce professional-level projects and dissertations, evaluate policy and design solutions for equitable, resilient urban futures.
Professional Alignment (accreditation)
The MA is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a “Combined Planning Programme” for both the Spatial Planning and Urban Resilience pathways, laying the groundwork for future professional recognition and chartership through subsequent practice experience — a significant advantage if you aim for a career in planning practice, policy or consulting.
The MA International Planning and Sustainable Development at Westminster gives you practical skills that go far beyond lectures, helping you think, research and act like a planner and sustainability professional from day one. You’ll benefit from hands-on planning research, site analysis, graphic presentation practice, and exposure to real planning contexts through an international field trip embedded in the curriculum — all supported by expert academic staff and strong links with professional bodies and research units. Being based in London means you’re also immersed in a global city where urban planning and sustainability are part of everyday life and professional practice.
Here’s how that learning translates into real experience and tools you’ll use:
International Planning Field Trip: A core, credit-bearing field trip gives you direct practical insight into planning and sustainable development issues on the ground, helping you connect theory with real urban environments.
Planning Skills & Research Methods Module: You’ll gain practical research and planning skills — including site analysis, sustainability appraisal, written and visual presentation techniques — that prepare you for professional and academic work in planning.
London-Based Practice Exposure: Studying in London — a global hub for policy, design and development — gives you access to major planning organisations, professional guest lectures and potential networking opportunities with practitioners and institutions.
Max Lock Centre Research Links: The course has strong connections with the Max Lock Centre, a research unit focusing on sustainable cities and regions that enriches learning through research seminars, expert input and consultancy-informed perspectives.
Library & Digital Resources: As a Westminster student you have full access to the University library system with extensive collections of planning, sustainability and urban studies texts, plus specialist databases that support your planning research and dissertation work.
Internship and Placement Support: Westminster offers career-focused support and networking with organisations for placements and internships — helping you gain real-world work experience relevant to planning and sustainability sectors during or after your studies.
Graduates of the MA International Planning and Sustainable Development go on to pursue meaningful roles that shape the future of cities and communities — such as Spatial Planner, Sustainable Development Consultant, Urban Policy Advisor, and Climate Resilience Specialist — demonstrating the global relevance of your postgraduate training. Because this programme is rooted in both real-world planning practice and international policy frameworks, it equips you with the expertise employers seek in public, private and NGO sectors around the world:
University Careers Support: Westminster’s Zone29 Careers & Enterprise offers personalised career guidance, employer networking events, CV and interview support, and access to internship and job opportunities during your studies and for up to three years after graduation, helping you turn knowledge into a career. Westminster careers services include individual appointments, online job listings, and careers workshops tailored to planning, sustainability and built environment sectors.
Strong Graduate Outcomes: Recent University surveys show 88 % of Westminster graduates are employed, in further study, volunteering, or serving in meaningful work within 15 months of graduating — and 98 % report that their Westminster experience helped them achieve their professional goals, underlining the practical impact of your degree.
Industry & Research Partnerships: As the UK’s first Habitat Partner University, Westminster engages with UN-Habitat and other organisations focused on sustainable urban futures, giving you insight into internationally recognised frameworks and policy networks that enrich both study and employability.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: With RTPI-accredited pathways (Spatial Planning and Urban Resilience), this MA helps position you for professional planning roles and future chartership — a valuable mark of quality for employers and regulators in planning and sustainable development.
Graduation Outcomes Across Sectors: Westminster’s urban and sustainability graduates find work across government planning departments, international consultancies, sustainable development NGOs and private practice, reflecting the broad applicability of your skills in spatial planning, policy analysis, climate adaptation strategy and community engagement.
Further Academic Progression:
After completing your MA, you could continue with advanced research degrees such as an MPhil or PhD in Planning, Urban Studies, Sustainability or related areas, deepening your expertise and preparing for roles in academia, international policy centres or specialist research units. This programme also gives you a strong foundation to pursue professional qualifications and chartership routes in planning and sustainable development, enhancing your long-term career trajectory in strategic and leadership positions.
UK Req: A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a relevant built environment or land planning-related discipline (such as urban or transport planning, architecture, landscape design, surveying, civil engineering, or land management). Alternatively, a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a relevant human geography, a social or environmental science subject and relevant practical experience of working in a built environment discipline.IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0. & TOEFL: 88 or 4,5 overall with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 21 in Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking or 4 in the new scoring system. USA: Students applying for postgraduate courses requiring a UK Second Class Upper degree will need a GPA of 3.0 .China: For entry to a Master's degree that requires a UK 2:2 degree, you will typically need to have one of the following: Bachelor degree from 211, 985 or top national universities with an overall average grade of 65%. OR Bachelor degree from non-211/985 universities with an overall average grade of 70%. OR Master degrees with an overall average grade of 60% - 65% or above.India: You will typically need to have one of the following: 3-year Bachelor's degree (Honours) from an accredited university with a minimum overall average of 55% or CGPA 6.0 out of 10.0 depending on the university OR 3-year Bachelor's degree (Science) from an accredited university with a minimum overall from 58% or CGPA 6.5 out of 10.0 depending on the university OR 4-year Bachelor's degree (Eng/Tech) from an accredited university with a minimum overall average of 55% or CGPA 6.0 out of 10.0 depending on the universityGovernment treasury officerIntelligence specialistAssistant city managerMedia electronics analystLegal investigator
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