Spatial Planning
Overview
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
| Field | Engineering Sciences |
| Language | German, English (specializations) |
| Standard program duration | 2 semesters (full-time) or 3 semesters (part-time) |
| Admission restrictions | None |
| Further information | Homepage Module Handbook (German only) Syllabus (German only) |
Short profile
The Master’s program qualifies students for the increasing demand in professional practice for planning know-how with a sound scientific foundation. It teaches them the ability to organize and manage planning projects at all planning and decision-making levels as well as to lead interdisciplinary working groups. Together with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, the Master’s degree additionally permits graduates to commence a traineeship in urban development within the civil service.
The program serves, in particular, to prepare students for a career in international science and research, but also for management functions in those areas of professional practice in spatial planning that require a close interlinking of research and practice. The M.Sc. in Spatial Planning especially empowers students to apply their fundamental knowledge of spatial planning in an interdisciplinary manner in new contexts and to further their individual expertise and skills in areas they choose themselves from the research activities conducted at the Department of Spatial Planning. Important elements of the program are the possibility to specialize in a chosen field of spatial planning as well as group-based learning through research in a study or design project.
If preferred, the M.Sc. in Spatial Planning can be completed as a part-time course. Students must decide at the time of enrollment if they want to study part-time. This then applies first of all for the semester in question.
Knowledge and skills
The communicative skills needed for working in a team and for dealing with the different opinions of everyone involved in the planning process, e.g., technical experts, politicians, citizens, companies, authorities or social groups, are indispensable.
In order to develop and put into practice problem-solving approaches and strategies, planners require – in addition to technical knowledge – above all the ability to analyze problems and situations and to find innovative concepts and solutions. This presupposes an interest in creative, political, economic, ecological, legal and sociological topics as well as the capacity to familiarize yourself quickly in new fields.
Prerequisite for the Master’s program in Spatial Planning is the successful completion of an eight-semester Bachelor’s degree in spatial planning with a final cumulative grade of at least 3.59. If the preceding Bachelor’s program was on a smaller scale, applicants may commence the Master’s program on condition that they make up the missing study and examination achievements. Scale and type are decided by the Admissions Committee.
Professional fields
Dortmund graduates work at all levels of spatial planning and in all the different areas of activity related to planning, which is reflected in the Departments’s broad portfolio, interdisciplinary structure and training concept. These different spatial levels stretch from home environment and suburb, town/city as a whole, regional and national level to European and global level.
In terms of employers, there is more or less an equal balance between public services, e.g., municipalities, urban planning departments, local government and universities, and the private sector, e.g., planning offices, housing corporations and corporate consulting. Graduates also find employment with public corporations, societies, associations and non-state organizations, both at administrative and managerial level, or are self-employed.
Further information
The Department of Spatial Planning offers students many different opportunities to deal with spatial planning in an international context, including regular courses on international aspects as well as study projects with an international dimension. Students can also take advantage of the Department’s networks to complete a semester abroad. Erasmus, the EU’s exchange program, is a particularly good platform for this. The Department has entered into cooperation agreements with about 40 universities throughout Europe for the exchange of students.
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Location & approach
The campus of TU Dortmund University is located close to interstate junction Dortmund West, where the Sauerlandlinie A 45 (Frankfurt-Dortmund) crosses the Ruhrschnellweg B 1 / A 40. The best interstate exit to take from A 45 is “Dortmund-Eichlinghofen” (closer to South Campus), and from B 1 / A 40 “Dortmund-Dorstfeld” (closer to North Campus). Signs for the university are located at both exits. Also, there is a new exit before you pass over the B 1-bridge leading into Dortmund.
To get from North Campus to South Campus by car, there is the connection via Vogelpothsweg/Baroper Straße. We recommend you leave your car on one of the parking lots at North Campus and use the H-Bahn (suspended monorail system), which conveniently connects the two campuses.
TU Dortmund University has its own train station (“Dortmund Universität”). From there, suburban trains (S-Bahn) leave for Dortmund main station (“Dortmund Hauptbahnhof”) and Düsseldorf main station via the “Düsseldorf Airport Train Station” (take S-Bahn number 1, which leaves every 15 or 30 minutes). The university is easily reached from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg.
You can also take the bus or subway train from Dortmund city to the university: From Dortmund main station, you can take any train bound for the Station “Stadtgarten”, usually lines U41, U45, U 47 and U49. At “Stadtgarten” you switch trains and get on line U42 towards “Hombruch”. Look out for the Station “An der Palmweide”. From the bus stop just across the road, busses bound for TU Dortmund University leave every ten minutes (445, 447 and 462). Another option is to take the subway routes U41, U45, U47 and U49 from Dortmund main station to the stop “Dortmund Kampstraße”. From there, take U43 or U44 to the stop “Dortmund Wittener Straße”. Switch to bus line 447 and get off at “Dortmund Universität S”.
The AirportExpress is a fast and convenient means of transport from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Dortmund Central Station, taking you there in little more than 20 minutes. From Dortmund Central Station, you can continue to the university campus by interurban railway (S-Bahn). A larger range of international flight connections is offered at Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), which is about 60 kilometres away and can be directly reached by S-Bahn from the university station.
The H-Bahn is one of the hallmarks of TU Dortmund University. There are two stations on North Campus. One (“Dortmund Universität S”) is directly located at the suburban train stop, which connects the university directly with the city of Dortmund and the rest of the Ruhr Area. Also from this station, there are connections to the “Technologiepark” and (via South Campus) Eichlinghofen. The other station is located at the dining hall at North Campus and offers a direct connection to South Campus every five minutes.
The facilities of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent “Technologiepark”.
Site Map of TU Dortmund University (Second Page in English).