Course Summary
This part-time course provides an opportunity for practitioners and qualified individuals to become professional planners by attending an accredited part-time planning course. Through a modular delivery of lectures, tutorials and seminars over a period of 2.5 years, including the successful completion of a dissertation, students can obtain a highly recognised planning qualification.
The course is presented within the School of Transport Engineering, Environment and Planning in TU Dublin Bolton Street.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Minimum Entry Requirements?
In order to be admitted to the course, applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Have an appropriate honours (2.2 grade or higher) bachelor degree.
• Have five years relevant experience in an area generally related to planning.
• Have an ability to undertake practice during the course that is relevant to planning (see attached note on "Planning Practice Logbook Requirement" for details).
See also: Spatial Planning Practice Logbook
Prospective students are expected to address the above matters in their written application as well as in an interview. Acceptance onto the course is by interview. A Selection Interview Panel is convened, usually in early-June, to decide on course intake for the following September.
Application Details
Commencement Date: September 2025
Fees
Year 1: €3,060
Year 2: €3,060
Year 3: €1,530
€7,650 Total Fee
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Career Progression
The course is accredited by the Irish Planning Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute, the two established and internationally recognised accreditation bodies for spatial planning in Ireland.
Many graduates use their knowledge to supplement their existing professional practice. Equally, many others use the programme to reskill into planning positions within local authorities, agencies, government bodies or private practice. Others still, use the course to develop practice in new and emerging areas of planning, which like any contemporary profession is an evolving field.
Duration
Mode of Study: Part Time
Method of Delivery Blended
Schedule
The course is presented on a part-time basis through a five semester cycle. During each of the first four semesters, over a two year period, lectures will be delivered in a blended format. This will include (i) weekly lectures online and (ii) face to face lectures taking place over 8 full Friday’s and Saturdays per year. Attendance will be required for one additional weekend seminar per semester. During the fifth and final semester, students work primarily on their dissertation.
Total course attendance over the 2½ years will therefore amount to two years of online weekly delivery (usually two evenings per week) and 16 to 18 weekend face to face lectures, tutorials, and weekend seminars with some exam periods. Written examinations will be held at the end of years one and two.