Bachelor’s in Urban and Spatial Planning_Foundations

Following a sound academic and practice-oriented education covering six semesters, the Bachelor's degree in Urban and Spatial Planning provides students with a professional qualification.

Project work
Every semester, students carry out study projects on current planning issues. These are central to the Bachelor's degree program and become steadily more important as the students progress through their studies. The first study project focuses on an urban neighbourhood, the second semester on an entire urban area, and in the following semester on an urban planning or open space planning concept. In the fifth semester, students are given a choice of different project topics. The study projects are carried out in groups so that students learn how to work in teams and communicate with each other towards a common goal. When combined with concurrent knowledge transfer through lectures and seminars, the study projects create an interface to professional practice.

Field trips
Besides the study projects, field trips to current urban and spatial planning projects in Germany and abroad constitute another link to professional practice, while also boosting intercultural and foreign language skills.

Work placement
In the fourth semester of their Bachelor's program, students are required to do a work placement of at least twelve weeks' duration either in Germany or abroad. This work placement gives students insights into areas of work in the field of urban and spatial planning, e.g. public administration, planning offices, private-sector companies or non-governmental organizations. Moreover, it gives them the opportunity to make their first professional contacts.

There is close cooperation between the Department of Urban and Spatial Planning and the ISP - Institute for Urban Research, Planning and Communication at FH Erfurt.

What personal characteristics and background knowledge do you need?

No specific specialist knowledge is required for the degree program in Urban and Spatial Planning. Applicants should have sound general knowledge and be interested in a wide range of subjects. The degree program in Urban and Spatial Planning offers an undergraduate curriculum that incorporates a wide range of topics and course content. There are many ways to access the degree program: as a first professional degree course after obtaining your university entrance qualification, following an apprenticeship or a degree in a related field (e.g. real estate management, architecture, geography), or after a period of work in the profession. Good analytical and creative skills, the ability to express yourself orally and in writing, and a talent for drawing are advantageous. 

What professional areas can I work in after graduation?

Urban and spatial planners work in both the public and private sectors. There is a great demand for urban and spatial planners in public administration at municipal and regional level as well as state, federal and EU level and in private planning offices.

Some of the occupational fields in which urban and spatial planners are active include the following:

• integrated urban development planning
• sectoral urban development strategies, e.g. transport or environmental planning
• municipal land use planning
• neighbourhood management and planning of social spaces
• planning at regional and federal state level
• city and regional marketing
• rural development and village renewal
• housing and real estate
• economic development
• international development cooperation

It is advisable to follow up your Bachelor's studies with a Master's degree in Urban and Spatial Planning or related discipline and thus broaden your knowledge of spatial planning or develop it in a related field. A Master's degree also qualifies the graduate to pursue a doctorate (in accordance with the doctoral regulations of the respective university), to undertake a trainee program in public administration (urban planning authorities, second state examination) or to be registered on the list of urban planners in the Chamber of Architects (as per the entry requirements).