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Is Urban Planning For You? – The Definitive Checklist

Mathilde Frot

Updated Aug 09, 2024

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Introduction
Does this sound like you?
Are you interested in…?
Does your perfect working day include…?
Are you willing to…?

Find universities offering urban planning degrees

Behind every swarming metropolis, new bike path or development project is an anonymous urban planner armed with GPS, GIS, and Lego. If you’re thinking of entering the sector, be warned: the competition is fierce and urban planning jobs can be few and far between, depending on where you live. Make sure you’re the right fit by consulting our checklist.

Does this sound like you?

I enjoy working with others and coordinating large projects.
I’m a confident communicator and speaker.
I enjoy mediating between different community interests to facilitate projects.
I enjoy working with and for the public, and am ethically minded.
I’m a creative and hard-headed pragmatist.
I’m comfortable extracting valuable insight from complex data and studies.
I’m goal-oriented and able to keep an eye on the big picture.

Are you interested in…?

Urban spatial structure
How cities work
Urban life
Sustainable development
The social and environmental impact of planning decisions on communities
The interplay between transportation, services, the economy and land use regulations
Demographic trends in population, employment and health

Does your perfect working day include…?

Crunching data
Reading through environmental reports
Chatting with a variety of different people
Figuring out the perfect layout for a space or project
Typing digits and letters on your phone
Using a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Geographic Information System (GIS), and a laser printer

Testimonials

"CUHK’s MBA programme provided me with the stepping stone into a larger sports Asian market wherein I could leverage the large alumni network to make the right connections for relevant discussions and learning."

Read my story

Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

"I have so many wonderful memories of my MBA and I think, for me, the biggest thing that I've taken away was not what I learned in the classroom but the relationships, the friendships, the community that I'm now part of."

Read my story

Alex PittQS scholarship recipient

"The best part of my degree is getting to know more about how important my job as an architect is: the hidden roles I play, that every beautiful feature has significance, and that even the smallest details are well thought out."

Read my story

Rayyan Sultan Said Al-HarthyUniversity of Nizwa student

"An MBA at EAHM is superior due to  the nature of the Academy’s academic and  industry strength. The subject  matter, the curriculum structure and the  access to opportunities within the hospitality industry is remarkable."

Read my story

Sharihan Al MasharyEmirates Academy of Hospitality Management graduate

Are you willing to…?

Face tough competition for urban planning jobs
Get a master’s degree in order to land your first urban planning job
Do paid and unpaid urban planning internships during your studies
Work under strict non-negotiable deadlines
Manage a potentially stressful workload

Phew! Still fancy pursuing a career in urban planning?

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Written by

Mathilde Frot

I'm originally French but I grew up in Casablanca, Kuala Lumpur and Geneva. When I'm not writing for QS, you'll usually find me sipping espresso(s) with a good paperback.