At Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, MA/MS in Planning Studies is offered as a master's degree in Urban Planning programme. The programme runs for 16 months, delivered on campus.
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Urban Planning
Duration: 16 months
Delivery: On Campus
We have no tuition fees on record for this programme yet.
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Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Master of Planning Studies is a thesis-based graduate degree offered by the School of Planning within Dalhousie's Faculty of Architecture and Planning, in collaboration with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and delivered full-time and in person from the Halifax campus over a minimum of 16 months. Students carry out independent, original research under the guidance of a supervisor, and applicants are expected to contact a potential thesis supervisor and submit a statement of intent and resume as part of the application process, in addition to meeting standard graduate admission requirements. The program is described as offering flexible study options suited to working professionals building expertise in urban and rural planning. Graduates are prepared for work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, planning consultancies, and international development organizations, in roles such as urban planner, policy analyst, or sustainability coordinator. The program suits students and professionals seeking research-based training in planning theory and practice ahead of these career paths, and inquiries can be directed to the program's graduate coordinator or admissions contact.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.3
Admission Requirements: The Master of Planning Studies page does not itself state a prior-degree type or minimum GPA, deferring to the Faculty of Graduate Studies' general requirements and to School of Planning-specific criteria; applicants must secure a faculty supervisor within the School of Planning before submitting a full application. For English-language proficiency, the School of Planning's own requirements page (linked from the programme page) sets, among other accepted tests: TOEFL iBT 92 overall; IELTS Academic 7 overall; MELAB 85; PTE Academic 65 overall with no communicative skill below 54; CAEL 70 with no band below 60; and CanTest 4.5 with no band below 4.0; a Dalhousie Certificate in English (CCE) grade of A- also satisfies it, subject to exemptions for applicants whose prior degree was taught in English. Required materials include a research statement of intent, a first-authored writing sample, two references (at least one academic), a resume and transcripts; positions are typically contingent on faculty research funding. Admission targets Fall enrolment, with Winter or Summer entry also possible; no specific deadline is stated.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall, Winter or Summer
Application Deadline:Dalhousie's live Dates and Deadlines page still shows the September 2026 entry cycle as of mid-September 2026, not the 2027 cycle. For that cycle, Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science (Medical Sciences) and Bachelor of Social Work close February 15, 2026; the Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) closes March 1, 2026; and the Health Sciences post-diploma option closes June 15, 2026. All other undergraduate programmes are considered on a rolling, space-available basis for both domestic and international applicants, with no separate international closing date published; May 15, 2026 is only the deposit and English-proficiency deadline, not an application deadline. Dalhousie has not yet published September 2027 entry dates. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
