Course Title: Master of Science in Urban Regeneration and Development
The Master of Science in Urban Regeneration and Development is a two-year part-time course that reflects on the challenges facing our existing city, town and village centres today in terms of the renewal of underutilised and decaying urban areas. The course equips students with the knowledge and tools to tackle issues of urban decline in an effective and innovative manner. It will appeal to built environment practitioners and others who wish to broaden their skills in understanding and managing the processes and products of urban regeneration and development.
The course is designed to be multi-disciplinary and highly engaged with industry and civic society, encouraging best practice and reflectiveness, and to facilitate new research and innovation in urban regeneration. Sustainability is at the core of the programme, and shows how urban regeneration can benefit both the local and wider economy, environment and society.
The course exposes students to both traditional and emerging toolkits. Successful urban regeneration requires familiarity and competence in a range of skillsets, including but not exclusive to: development economics; urban planning and design; public engagement; and heritage conservation.
The requirements of the MSc in Urban Regeneration and Development are that each student must achieve a minimum number of 90 ECTS credits to successfully complete the course. A total of 30 credits are assigned to research techniques and the associated research dissertation (completed in year two). The remaining 60 credits are divided between two academic years and comprise of Core and Optional (elective) Modules.
Entry to the course is contingent upon:
- An appropriate honours (minimum 2.2 grade) degree; and
- An ability to demonstrate current professional practice OR a minimum of three years experience in urban planning, design, development or a related discipline. An interview may also be undertaken to assess the applicant’s interest in the subject and motivation for wishing to undertake the course.
Offers of places on the course can be made to applicants who successfully demonstrate the above criteria via the production of:
- academic transcripts
- a professional curriculum vitae
- appropriate references
- a brief covering letter
The brief (one-page) covering letter is required to outline principal areas of professional expertise and experience. This should include a short statement of motivation to undertake the course. Two references are required, ideally in support of professional, academic and/or personal ability.
Note: Satisfying the minimum entry requirement is not a guarantee of a place.
Graduates of the MSc in Urban Regeneration & Development are well placed to take up roles in the public, private and non-governmental sectors, dealing with the contemporary challenges facing our city, town and village centres. Graduates have the knowledge and tools to contribute towards the renewal of underutilised and decaying spaces as well as to understand and manage the processes and products of urban regeneration and development.
Graduates are eligible to apply for Affiliate Membership of the Irish Planning Institute.
Core Modules include the following:
- Urban Regeneration & Development Project (10 credits)
- Urban Regeneration & Development Fundamentals (5 credits)
- Funding, Feasibility & Economics of Regeneration (5 credits)
- Spatial Planning & Sustainable Communities (5 credits)
- Collaborative Planning (5 credits)
- Urban & Building Conservation (5 credits)
- Placemaking (5 credits)
- Research Techniques (5 credits)
- Dissertation (25 credits)
The elective aspect of the course varies but typically allows students to choose from a specified selection of taught modules selected to reflect the programme philosophy and learning outcomes. A list of available Option Modules are issued at the commencement of each term, but typically includes modules such as:
- Housing Policy & Practice
- Economy and Sustainable Development
- Society and Sustainable Development
- Local Governance, Development and Innovation
- Introduction to Sustainable Transport and Mobility
- Property Development & Valuation Techniques
- Environmental Design & Management
- Behavioural Change and Active Travel
- International Field Trip (subject to availability and demand)'.
The international field-trip allows comparative analysis and immediate exposure to contemporary practice in a contrasting environment. This and other optional modules may be delivered in conjunction with other masters’ courses within the School.
'Applicants can choose to aim for a full level 9 postgraduate Master's Degree (90 credits), or seek a Postgraduate Diploma (60 credits) exit award, or Postgraduate Certificate (30 credits) exit award. For applicants wishing to pursue the Diploma or the Certificate option, please apply for the Master's programme, and it will be possible to seek partial fee refunds as applicable ”.
Applications for this course are now closed.
This is a topical and wide-ranging course that provides a solid foundation in the diverse aspects of urban regeneration and development – from the theory of urban regeneration and the principles of place making to collaborative planning, urban & building conservation, and much more. In addition to the core modules, students have a choice of optional modules to allow them tailor their study to their professional interests. The course offers an excellent blend of theory and practice, covering for example the preparation of an urban regeneration plan for an Irish town or the development of sustainable transport strategies for an urban case study area. Lecturers are experts in their respective fields and classes are further enriched by guest lecturers who are recognised industry leaders. Site visits were well planned out, engaging and informative. The teaching staff are very supportive and cognisant of the challenges of combining work with study. This is a great course for anyone with a professional interest in urban regeneration and development.
Dr. Sandra O'Connell, Director of Architecture and Communication, Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), January 2023
This Masters allowed me to hone my knowledge and skills in the area of Regeneration and Sustainable Design, with modules on Environmental Design, Sustainable Communities/Placemaking, and Transport Mobility undertaken during the course. I really enjoyed the experience and would encourage others contemplating the return to study in this crucial area of Urban Design and Development to do so. This course gave me great background and understanding of the Planning context in Ireland and addressed important current and critical issues such as the Housing Crisis, Sustainability, and the Climate Crisis, with opportunities to interact with guests speakers during the course. The course mixes theory and practical projects, group and individual work, and also gave me the opportunity to travel to Hamburg on a student Field Trip, engaging with colleagues working in the area of Urban Regeneration and City Planning.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is passionate and interested in pursuing more in-depth knowledge in the area of Urban Regeneration, City and Town Planning, and the future of development in Ireland.
Ciara Reynolds, Architect, Private Practice, January 2023
This course is very well suited to those working in any area that directly or indirectly contributes to or affects Urban Regeneration and Development. I undertook this course to gain a greater perspective into the governance structures which may facilitate urban regeneration, particularly in our regional towns. The course is varied with an extensive mix of subjects covering areas such as such as Collaborative Planning, Local Governance, Funding, Housing, and many others! There were also innovative and progressive subjects such as behavioral change which provided an insight into how we may change our mindset in the while area of regeneration and sustainability and foster new ways of thinking. Group projects afforded a great opportunity to collaborate with my fellow students from different disciplines, and this provides for a great cross pollination of ideas and learnings. I couldn't have completed the course if it had not been structured so flexibly; a mix of online and in person lectures that can generally be integrated into anyone's busy schedule. All of the lecturers were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend this course.
Robert Lindsay, Surveyor and Public Servant, January 2023.
I participated in the Masters of Science in Urban Regeneration and Development on a part-time basis. It was delivered in a combination of online and in-person modules, delivered by engaged and passionate lecturers in an interactive, collaborative format using domestic and international exemplars.
Modules were scheduled to facilitate participants in full-time employment and included substantial expert guest speakers and some site visits around the country as part of the coursework. Coursework was completed in individual and group assignments with an emphasis on self-learning and research throughout. Core modules included Placemaking, Collaborative Planning, Sustainable Communities, and Funding, Feasibility and Economics of Regeneration, as well as a Research Dissertation in Year 2.
Having completed the course, I would have no hesitation in recommending it to those interested in broadening their knowledge and experience in this field of research, and as we re-evaluate how we use our towns and cities.
Barry McNamara, Architect, February 2023