Urban planning research degrees

Our postgraduate research in urban planning including entry requirements for PhDs and other research degrees.

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Within Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD), our town and regional planning academics join our architecture academics in sharing an ethos based upon Geddesian dialogues between theory and practice, localism and the international, the synoptic view and specialism.

Visit our Architecture and Urban Planning research pages to learn more.

Current research includes work on the following:

  • zero carbon building and energy networks
  • the environmental performance of buildings
  • the environmental assessment of regions
  • planning, sustainable place-making and community engagement
  • social mobilities and spatial inequalities
  • urban culture and society
  • urban theory, history and subjectivities
  • building design in the landscape

Propose your own PhD topic

If you want to propose your PhD topic, you can use the contact details below to contact a staff member to discuss your proposal.

How to write your best postgraduate research proposal

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above, and/or a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS (overall) Reading Listening Speaking Writing
6.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.5

We also accept other English language qualifications

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.

Don't meet the English language requirements?

English language programmes

Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.

Urban planning PhD tuition fees

Academic year of entry Scottish/Rest of UK fee status International fee status
2023/24 £4,712 
per year of study		 £20,895 
per year of study
2024/25 £4,786 
per year of study		 £21,940 
per year of study

Tuition fee per year of study (subject to a 3% annual increase for Scottish/Rest of UK students and a 5% annual increase for International students).

Part time study, where available, is charged on a pro-rata basis.

Scottish/Rest of UK fee status annual increase

Each year, UKRI sets a recommended fee and stipend level for Scottish/Rest of UK students, which we use as the basis for fees charged to this group.

UKRI usually increases its fee and stipend levels in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator. 

Therefore, the Scottish/Rest of UK fees detailed in this table for 2025/26 (and beyond) can only be estimated according to the typical increase. 

The fee charged to you may differ, though only slightly, from the figure given.

Apply for a research degree

You can apply for a PhD or other postgraduate research degree using our Direct Application System.

We have three start dates per academic year.

PhD Urban Planning (3 years)

PhD Urban Planning (part time)

The University of Dundee welcomes applications from disabled students.

Enquiries