Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

After completing your MUP degree, you will have the knowledge and skills to effectively engage in urban planning practice at local, national, regional and international levels. Many of our alumni are in leadership roles in planning administration and policymaking in the UAE.

With a solid foundation in urban planning theory and concepts, you will successfully deal with planning challenges in their local context without overlooking broader global dimensions. By valuing sustainability as a basic guiding principle, you will be better equipped to actively address these challenges in a way that creates positive impact and change.

Our graduates are successful urban planners who are making a difference in their communities. They influence urban development and policymaking in various sectors, from local government to consulting firms across the nation.

Bachelor degree from accredited university with minimum cumulative GPA 3.0, English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80 or EmSAT 1550), recommendation letters, statement of purpose, some programs may require additional tests

Core Courses Requirement (18 credits)

Students must successfully complete the following UPL courses:

• UPL 600 Planning History, Theory and Principles
• UPL 602 Computer Applications in Planning
• UPL 604 Urban Planning Research and Analysis
• UPL 621 Environmental and Land Use Planning
• UPL 623 Urban Design Principles, Processes and Skills
• UPL 625 Plan Making, Communication and Process

Required Capstone Experience (6 credits)

Students must successfully complete the program’s capstone experience:

• UPL 681 Urban Planning and Research Workshop I
• UPL 682 Urban Planning and Research Workshop II

This two-part workshop experience involves working individually and as a group on applying substantive urban planning skills. It involves fieldwork, hands-on analysis, policy formulation and plan making.

Elective Courses (minimum of 9 credits)

Students must successfully complete three elective courses for a minimum of 9 credits. Electives are selected in consultation with the program coordinator from the following list of courses:

• UPL 633 Urban Infrastructure Planning
• UPL 635 Urban Transportation Systems Analysis
• UPL 638 Urban Transportation Systems Planning Techniques
• UPL 639 Urban Planning and Housing Policy
• UPL 641 Urban Economics and Analysis
• UPL 643 Spatial Planning
• UPL 649 Environmental Planning
• UPL 651 Negotiation Strategies
• UPL 653 Planning Theory and Methods
• UPL 676 Transportation Systems Operations and Control
• UPL 686 Space, Society and the Public Realm
• UPL 694 special topic courses in urban planning