Testimonials
''After my Master’s I am looking forward to inspire more people to think about planning as a future oriented field of work.''
With a drive to contribute to a sustainable living environment I chose the Master’s Spatial Planning. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science it seemed a nice combination between abstract policy making and specific translation to how sustainability transitions are actually implemented. In this programme I learned how all sorts of challenges are related to claims on land. What I really liked was that active connection with current planning debates and practical examples. I discovered that planners not just manage interests from different actors in the present, but are always planning for the future. Planners actively shape the living environment for generation to come. After my Master’s I am looking forward to inspire more people to think about planning as a future oriented field of work.
''If you really want to successfully complete this programme, it is relatively easy to persevere if you have a genuine interest in the subjects taught.''
I found that I was primarily interested in more broad and complex spatial planning issues during the Bachelor’s programme I followed.
My background is a little different to that of most people studying Spatial Planning since I have a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Avans University of Applied Sciences. This meant that, after some consideration, I had to do a Pre-Master’s. To be honest, the Pre-Master’s took some effort. If you really want to successfully complete this programme, I think it is relatively easy to persevere if you have a genuine interest in the subjects taught.
The most enjoyable aspect was definitely working together with your peers on writing a research paper on subjects that interested us. These group projects provided the opportunity to dive into a subject that really inspired you and your team. Furthermore, the feeling that you were following this programme together was a good feeling. Studying in the library with short breaks for coffee, lunch, dinner or a walk outside really made the study days better. Looking back, I really enjoyed this. Making progress and at the same time enjoying the day meant that, on the whole, the Master’s programme was pleasant. Additionally, the relatively small group of students following this Master’s and some great lecturers allowed for interesting discussions and in general a truly enriching and enjoyable programme.
''I chose the Master’s programme in Spatial Planning because it is that part of geography that is visible in your daily life.''
When I was younger I did not really know what I wanted to be. But that changed when I started playing games like the Sims and Sim City, where you had to create and manage your surroundings. I think that is where my passion for spatial management was born. In the second year of high school, we had an assignment in geography class where we had to re-develop a brownfield in our municipality. I got to use my spatial planning skills in practice, and I really liked it. The teachers obviously did as well; our plan was judged the best one of all!
I chose the Master’s programme in Spatial Planning because it is that part of geography that is visible in your daily life. My lecturers in my first year told me that once you study spatial planning, you will no longer be able sit in a train and just look out of the window. You will always be thinking about why the things you see are how they are, how they could be improved and who should be involved in that.
What I really like is that the things you learn are truly visible in your daily life. For example, I enjoy the feeling of walking or cycling through Utrecht and thinking about all the concepts we have learnt and really seeing and grasping them with your own eyes. What I really like about this is that as a planner you can really make a difference in people’s lives.
''I got to see how things are being dealt with in a different cultural context.''
Having done my Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography abroad, the Master’s programme in Spatial Planning in Utrecht was a great opportunity for me to discover a new point of view on spatial planning. I got to see how things are being dealt with in a different cultural context. It gave me a great insight into current planning debates in the Netherlands. And it showed me once again how diverse this discipline can be as it is very place and issues dependent – the way these issues are handled varies a lot.
The fact that people in our year were a mix of Dutch and international students often made discussions in class more interesting. Everyone could contribute aspects from their different backgrounds. I enjoyed the variety of assessments in the courses, which covered way more than standard exams. This gave everyone the opportunity to focus on the topics they found most interesting.
While always considering theoretical backgrounds, I liked the fact that classes usually had a real life-reference. This made the content more relevant and interesting. Combining my thesis with an internship at the Municipality of Utrecht also made the connection between theory and practice clear. It gave me the opportunity to have a look behind the scenes of the city I live in.
Even though a one-year Master’s might seem incredibly short, the professors and guest lecturers were very encouraging and offered a lot of support, which now makes us feel able and ready to start working life and enter the labour market.