Art Policy and Patronage

The European Spatial and Environmental Planning (ESEP) Master's programme is:

• a one-year International Master's programme;
• focused on the European dimension to spatial and environmental planning in the member states and regions of the European Union (EU);
• taught at one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands: Radboud University;
• taught in small groups and in a personal and interactive way;
• proud of its synergy between theory and practice, and;
• highly appreciated by its students.

You have the opportunity to critically discuss the spatial implications of EU policy in a comparative perspective, and to better understand the multi-level system of governance in an integrated European Union.

Core strength

Theoretical approaches taught cover institutional perspectives and theories on European integration, planning and policy-making. Methodologically, the focus is on comparative approaches to allow for a better understanding of differences in planning systems and policies across Europe.

Choose your diploma

You can choose whether you would like to graduate with a Master's of Science in Spatial Planning degree (60 European credits) or a Master's of Science in Social and Political Sciences of the Environment degree (60 European credits), depending on your interest and future career aspirations.

The ESEP Master's specialization consists of five substantive core modules and one core module on research methodology, as follows:

Institutional Perspectives on societal change and spatial dynamics - discusses spatial and environmental planning in times of societal change; perspectives on institutional dynamics, such as political-institutional, institutional-economic, and governance approaches; and responses in the practice of spatial and environmental planning.

Comparative planning - aims to provide students with a better understanding of the differences in how planning is organised in different European countries, to discuss the principles and practice of cross-national comparative policy analysis and to consider the potential for cross-national policy transfer.

European spatial planning and the EU territorial cooperation agenda - focusses on the cooperation of member states and regions at the EU and transnational levels in the field of spatial development and territorial cohesion.

International environmental politics - discusses the content and theory of global and EU environmental politics, institutional aspects, and the implementation of EU environmental legislation.

The EU and domestic impact: economy, space and environment - explores and discusses the way EU governance structures (new and pre-existing) and strategies impact upon economic, spatial and environmental developments at regional and national levels.

Preparation Master's thesis - an important part of the ESEP Masters specialisation is the independent Master's thesis, which students will prepare with this module and finalise under the supervision of a senior academic staff member during the second semester.

Master's thesis - For their Master's thesis, students will be supervised by staff with research expertise in a relevant area and have the possibility to link their own research to ongoing activities in the Faculty's research programme.

More information on the different core moduls can be found on the programme's website!

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in spatial planning or a related area A Bachelor's degree from spatially-oriented disciplines (such as spatial planning, human geography, social and political sciences of the environment).2. A proficiency in EnglishCambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) (minimum score of C), Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) (minimum score of C), TOEFL iBT (overall score at least 90, subscores not lower than 22), or IELTS Academic (overall score at least 6.5, subscores not lower than 6.5). In some cases you may be exempted from providing proof of English language competency (see the programme's website).3. A background in research methodology We require a basic training in research processes, e.g. research design and data-analysis.Please visit the programme's website for more detailed information on requirements!The information on Radboud University and its study programmes published on this website has been composed with the greatest care. No rights can be derived from this content. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C) TOEFL iBT® test: 90

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. A list, including detailed information, can be found on our scholarships and grants page at our website. Below some opportunities are described.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

Open to students from Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and China - offers a tuition fee waiver of 6,750 euros and exemption from visa and health insurance costs.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

Open to excellent American students - the grant will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 1,050 euros, international travel and the cost of the residence permit will be covered.

Erasmus Mundus ERANET

Open for Russian candidates - applicants may be undergraduate exchange students, Master's students, doctorate and post-doctorate candidates, as well as academic and administrative staff.

Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship

Open to students from China - the Dutch contribution to the scholarship consist of monthly allowance 1,000 euros, international travel costs 1,400 euros, tuition/research fee 1,906 euros, it also covers the cost of visa, insurance and other.

DIKTI-Neso Scholarships

Aimed at lecturers at higher education instituations in Indonesia who wish to pursue a PhD or Master's at a university in the Netherlands. A DIKTI scholarship includes allowances for living expenses, insurance, travel costs, tuition fees and more.

Dutch Student Finance

EU/EEA students and Swiss students under 30 years of age are eligible if they are working at least 56 hours per month in the Netherlands, or have been living in the Netherlands for five years or more. Dutch student finance consists of four components: a basic grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the parental income), a student travel product, and a loan.

Accreditation

NVAO is entrusted by law (the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act) to accredit all existing Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses and to validate new study programmes at government-funded institutions of higher education and at institutions approved (but not funded) by the Dutch government. Institutions that have neither government funding nor approval can apply for accreditation of post-initial Master’s degree courses.

With regard to the nature of accreditation in higher education, the Netherlands and Flanders (Flemish-speaking Belgium) have opted for accreditation at the level of study programmes. NVAO has laid down accreditation frameworks for this purpose for Flanders and the Netherlands.

In the Netherlands and in Flanders, accreditation is a precondition for government funding of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme, for the right to award recognised diplomas and, in the Netherlands, to grant financial assistance to students. In the context of the internationalisation of education and the labour market, accreditation provides for an equivalence of quality assurance in higher education.