No admission autumn 2025
In the face of rapid urbanization, climate change, and social inequality, the need for comprehensive and sustainable urban planning has never been more critical. The Urban Ecological Planning (UEP) program equips you with interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills to address the complex challenges of today’s continuously changing urban landscapes and shape the future of our cities.
It offers an opportunity to engage with the dynamic interplay of social, ecological, economic, political, and cultural systems in urban environments. Our practice-based approach ensures that you’re not just learning about these systems but actively participating in their evolution.
- A comprehensive understanding of the different facets of urbanism, in both parts and whole.
- An practice-based immersion into urban strengths and challenges in diverse “GLOCAL” contexts.
- The ability to view urbanism spatially, socially and strategically.
- An acumen for socio-technical methodologies for informed decision-making: enhancing planning tools with participative learning action and cocreation.
- Planning, documenting, and implementing projects in highly interdisciplinary environments.
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Learn about research linked to the Urban Ecological Planning programme
Our past students have been successfully employed in various professions, both in Norway and around the world. Many are active in the private and public sector as urban planning consultants, area planners, spatial planners, transport planners/researchers, architects, and landscape architects. Some have also developed successful careers in academia: as researchers and professors.
The global nature of our program has guided many UEP alumni to undertake roles as development professionals at different United Nations and European Union agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other multilateral institutions.
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Trondheim, often referred to as Norway’s best student city, offers a vibrant and engaging student environment with a variety of activities and events. The city provides a plethora of indoor and outdoor leisure activities catering to diverse interests, ensuring that students can always find something enjoyable to do in their free time.
Additionally, Urban Ecological Planning (UEP) enriches the academic experience by organizing workshops, trips, and events each semester that are directly related to the study program.
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The program consists of four semesters, each comprising 30 ECTS. The study plan is structured in terms of obligatory courses, electives, and fieldworks.
- In the first semester, students attend an obligatory fieldwork for 6-8 weeks, typically abroad, in an urban context relevant to the program. Complementary obligatory courses, in addition, will help to improve the understanding of urban ecological planning concepts and theories, learning methods for participatory planning, and strengthen your research skills.
- In the second and third semesters, students engage in courses that explore both theoretical and practical aspects of urban planning, with the aim of advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations.
- Finally, the second fieldwork or an internship is undertaken individually during the fourth semester, forming the basis for your master’s thesis. The thesis is written in the last semester of the program and counts for 30 ECTS.
Read more about the programme structure
