Spatial Planning

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This part-time programme provides an opportunity for practitioners (with five years relevant experience) who work in the area of the Built Environment in Ireland or abroad, to become professional planners by attending a part-time planning course. Through a modular delivery of lectures, tutorials and seminars over a period of 2.5 years, including the successful completion of a dissertation, students can obtain a recognised planning qualification.

The course is presented within the new School of Spatial Planning in the College of Engineering and the Built Environment in DIT Bolton Street. It is envisaged that the intake of students will be approx. 10-15 individuals of different disciplines and backgrounds, all with substantial experience in the built environment. Because students will be experienced practising professionals from different disciplines, the course provides scope for a considerable degree of inter-disciplinary learning and evaluation of experience both within the student group as well as between lecturers and students. Students are expected to actively contribute to this interactive process.

The group environment fosters a creative atmosphere of interactive problem-based learning. Students are set real-life challenges often involving actual problems facing planning agencies, who also get involved in tuition and assessment. The teaching faculty is made up of highly committed DIT personnel in addition to practising professionals who are considered some of Irelands leading experts in their respective disciplines.

Students undertake a range of modules covering all areas of the social and environmental sciences. They gain practical knowledge of core planning practices; including planning law, development management, infrastructure planning, area planning, environmental assessment and urban design. The completion of a dissertation allows students a specific and relevant planning issue on an in-depth basis.

A full list of programme modules and descriptors is available on the DIT CourseWise website: -


Year 1:

History and Theory of Planning

Planning Law and Institutions I

Socio-economic Environment

Rural Environment and Planning

Sustainable Construction

Research Techniques

Local Area Plan

Year 2:

National and Regional Planning

Planning Law and Institutions II

Transport and Urban Development

Culture, Heritage and Urbanism

Environmental Assessment

Planning Techniques

Planning Practice logbooks

Urban Design

Assessment Project Work

Assessment is by part examination however a large portion of the programme is assessed by practical project-work, undertaken both individually and in teams. Projects undertaken include: -

Local Area Plan

Urban Design Planning Scheme

Strategic Environmental Assessment

General module assessment projects

Logbook requirement

Research Dissertation (undertaken in third year)

In order to be admitted to the course, students must meet the following requirements: * Have an appropriate honours (2.2 grade or higher) degree * Have normally a minimum of five years relevant experience in a professional capacity (not necessarily in consecutive years) * Have an ability to demonstrate a current position in employment that is relevant to spatial planning and indicate an ability to complete the logbook requirement of the programme (see below for details)Prospective students are expected to address these matters in the written application as well as in an interview.Note: Due to the considerable competition for our postgraduate programmes satisfying the minimum entry requirement is not a guarantee of a place. Depending on the programme of study applications will be assessed based on your academic grades and may also take into account your work/life experience. Applicants may also be required to attend for interview for specific programmes. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6 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. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 550