Urban Planning and Policy Design

Study Urban Planning and Policy Design

The Urban Planning and Policy Design Master programme is promoted by the 1st School of Architecture (Architettura e Società). The programme bridges the knowledge and experience of urban design at urban and regional scales with competencies in policy making. The programme activities aim at developing a critical and up-to-date perspective in the field of urban studies within a wide range of research areas, practices and planning activities developed by the teaching staff. The programme is based at Campus Leonardo, the historical seat of the Politecnico di Milano.

The Urban Planning and Policy Design programme

The Urban Planning and Policy Design courses are activated throughout four semesters, over a period of two academic years. The first semester has the purpose of setting a common frame of reference for our students, who usually come from different disciplines and experiences. From the second semester onwards students are presented with a number of options according to two concentrations: urban design and urban policies.

Each concentration features two distinctive studios, dedicated to the preparation of a project, and a set of complementary classes. Courses, besides the Italian context, are facing a European and international perspective, in particular: local development policies, urban regeneration initiatives, public administration and governance, socioeconomic changes, infrastructure and transportation. Additional seminars, study tours or visits in Italy and abroad are organized as a complement to the study curriculum.

Since October 2005 the Master of Science has been taught in English. Qualified internships and stages held in public agencies and in private firms may be offered.

Urban Planning and Policy Design Career Prospects

The aim of the Urban Planning and Policy Design programme is to train professionals who can deal with the multiple and complex issues of the contemporary policy agenda for cities and regions. Students graduated in our M.Sc. are currently working for Local Governments, research institutes, private firms in the real estate and advising market, in Italy and abroad.

The M.Sc. is addressed to students holding a Bachelor Degree in one of the many subjects related to the Programme (Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Sociology and Social Sciences, Geography, Economy, Political Sciences, Environmental Sciences and others). After a qualitative and quantitative evaluation and according to their distinctive curricula, specific information about integrative courses or recognition of credits will be given to applicants who are going to enrol.

Among the Full Professors of the programme: Pier Carlo Palermo, Dean of the 1st School of Architecture (Architettura e Società), Alessandro Balducci (former President of AESOP, the Association of European Schools of Planning), Bruno Dente, Patrizia Gabellini (Head of the Department of Architecture and Planning), Costanzo Ranci. During 2004 the Laurea ad Honorem in Urban Planning was given to Giancarlo de Carlo e Nuno Portas. A qualified research staff and PhD students with significant international and professional experiences are involved in the tutorship and teaching activity. The School has a rich library, and the Architecture and Planning Department has a specialized library in Urban Planning.

Regular fees for are based on students’ family income and in the Academic Year 2009/10 they range from about 800 euro to 3,300 euro per year. Students obtaining a scholarship will have to pay only a nominal tuition fee of about 150 euro.

Study at the Politecnico di Milano - one of Europe's leading educational institutes

Established in 1863, the Politecnico di Milano is ranked as one of the most outstanding European universities in Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design, and in many disciplines it is regarded as a leading research institution worldwide.

The Politecnico di Milano is divided into 16 departments and a network of 9 Schools of Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design spread over 7 campuses over the Lombardy region with a central administration and management. The 9 schools are devoted to education whereas the 16 departments are devoted to research. With over 40,000 students, the Politecnico di Milano is the largest institution in Italy for Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design.

Study in English at Politecnico di Milano

Politecnico di Milano is the first public university in Italy to offer programs taught completely in English at Master of Science and PhD level. Today the drive for internationalization has led the Politecnico di Milano to take part in the European and global network of the major technical universities, while the participation of foreign students in programmes that include its educational offer is ever-increasing.