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City and Regional Planning, Ph.D.

  • Application Deadline
  • 60 months
    Duration
University rank #28 (QS) , CA,
The Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley provides training in urban and planning theory, advanced research, and the practice of planning. Established in 1968, the program has granted more than 180 doctorates.

About

Today, the program is served by nearly 20 city and regional planning faculty with expertise in community and economic development, transportation planning, urban design, international development, environmental planning, and global urbanism. With close ties to numerous research centers and initiatives, the program encourages its students to develop specializations within the field of urban studies and planning and to expand their intellectual horizons through training in the related fields of architecture, landscape architecture and environmental planning, civil engineering, anthropology, geography, sociology, public policy, public health, and political science.

The Ph.D. program in City and Regional Planning has the following goals:

  • To provide critical understanding of the history of thought in city and regional planning and urban studies, and to train students to contribute to theoretical advances in these fields
  • To enable students to develop their individual specializations within city and regional planning;
  • To prepare students to undertake original research through the formulation of research questions, use of appropriate research methods, and application of research design;
  • To encourage students to disseminate their research such that it has an impact in the worlds of social science scholarship, planning education, and national and international policy;
  • To create and nurture an intellectual community committed to promoting research in city and regional planning.

Detailed Programme Facts

  • Programme intensity Full-time
    • Full-time duration 60 months
  • Credits
    48 units alternative credits
  • Languages
    • English
    Schedule TOEFL® Schedule IELTS
  • Delivery mode
    On Campus

Programme Structure

Planning and Urban theory is a hallmark of the Ph.D. program. All students are required to demonstrate competence in this body of scholarship by completing at least two theory courses. It is recommended that students complete this requirement during their first year of study. Students are also urged to take more than the two required theory courses during their time in the program.

Courses include:

  • Planning and Urban Theory
  • Research Methods

English Language Requirements

  • Minimum required score:

    7

    The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.

    Schedule IELTS

  • Minimum required score:

    90

    The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120. Read more about TOEFL iBT ®.

    Schedule TOEFL®

  • Minimum required score:

    570

    The TOEFL®PBT is administered in a paper format and measures your ability to use and understand English in a classroom setting at the college or university level. It accurately measures how well you can listen, read and write in English while performing academic tasks. Read more about TOEFL®PBT.

    Schedule TOEFL®

General Requirements

  •  Most doctoral students enter the program with a master's degree in planning or a related field.
  • Admission to the doctoral program is very competitive. Only six to eight students are admitted each year, sometimes from a pool of as many as 80 applicants
  • All applicants to the doctoral program (even those required to take an English-language competency exam (TOEFL, TOEFL CBT, iBT TOEFL, or IELTS)) must take the Graduate Record Examination; tests should be taken before December to ensure timely receipt of scores. 
  • Applicants must also secure at least three letters of recommendation that can explicitly evaluate their intellectual capability and past research and academic work.

Tuition Fee

  • International

    33958 USD/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 16979 USD per semester and a duration of 60 months.

  • National

    33958 USD/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 16979 USD per semester and a duration of 60 months.

  • In-State

    18856 USD/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 9428 USD per semester and a duration of 60 months.
We've labeled the tuition fee that applies to you because we think you are from and prefer over other currencies.

Living costs for Berkeley

  • 1750 - 2820 USD/month
    Living Costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.

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