PLANET Europe - Two-year Masters Programme 2016

Publish Date: Sep 16, 2016

PLANET Europe

  • is for students who would like to better understand the influences of the European Union and international policies and trends on spatial development, the environment and the economy
  • is for students who would like to address large-scale spatial challenges such as climate change or transnational river management in their future careers
  • is a joint Masters Programme of Radboud University Nijmegen, Blekinge Institute of Technology and Cardiff University that prepares graduates for a career in spatial and environmental planning or regional economic development, with a focus on Europe
  • allows a specialisation on either European spatial planning and sustainable development (Nijmegen-Cardiff track) or on European spatial planning and regional economic development (Nijmegen-Karlskrona track)
  • leads to an internationally-recognised double degree (MSc) from leading European planning schools

 Why PLANET Europe?

The influence of EU policies and actions on spatial and environmental planning in the EU member states is ever increasing. European regions are more and more interlinked, and cooperation across national borders is now a routine aspect of the work of spatial and environmental planners. There are considerable differences in how planning is conducted across Europe, and planners are increasingly required to communicate across cultural and institutional boundaries. This European dimension of planning requires a new generation of spatial and environmental planners, who can respond to as well as influence EU and international policy, are sensitive to cultural and institutional differences across Europe, and are capable to cooperate with spatial planners in other European countries.

PLANET Europe is the first integrated European Masters programme that offers a comprehensive education in the rich and dynamic area of European spatial planning. PLANET Europe gives students from all over the world the opportunity to acquire important skills and knowledge in European spatial planning, while at the same time benefiting from Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity.

Curriculum

The PLANET Europe programme consists of four semesters (2 years of full-time study), and offers a varied and exciting curriculum which combines academic study and research with some professional experience.

Depending on your interest, you choose a specialisation on either European spatial planning and sustainable development or on European spatial planning and regional economic development. 

Admission and selection

The application period for the 2016-2018 cohort based on the scholarships has closed. Information about the application for 2017-2019 will be communicated from the 1st of October on original Website.

If you have any question on the whole procedure, please look at the Frequently Asked Questions section or contact us via information@planet-europe.eu. The admission requirements, requirements for language tests, the application procedure and the admission decision will be published on the Radboud website. Moreover, remember to collect all the necessary documents before you actually start applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL

Is this programme for European students only?
The PLANET Europe Master Programme is open to students from all over the world who are interested in European Spatial Planning, Sustainable Development and/or Regional Economic Development.

Where are Cardiff, Karlskrona and Nijmegen located?
See the map of Europe on the left below of each page for the location of the universities. For information on the cities and the universities, go to About us.

What is Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus?
Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education that aims to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through cooperation with Third-Countries. Among other things, Erasmus Mundus, offers support for high-quality joint masters courses offered by a consortium of European higher education institutions. This supports gives the PLANET Europe consortium the opportunity to offer scholarships to talented students from within and outside the EU. So, Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus is not the same as Eramus Student Mobility. 

APPLICATION

Can I submit my application by e-mail?
No, you are requested to send in your documentation in hard copy by regular post and to fill in and submit the digital application via this website. Applications sent in by e-mail will not be processed.

I am a student from China. Should I obtain a Nuffic certificate?
Yes, students from China need to obtain a Nuffic certificate before their application can be processed. Look at this website for more information.

Which address should I include in the application form?
Although we will mainly communicate via e-mail with applications for our programme, we need to have a postal address for corresponding the results of the application procedure. So please do not include the address of a temporary place of residence in your apllication which is not valid anymore in a few months time.

What are legally certified copies?
A ‘legally certified copy’ is the term used to describe the formal or legal process of certification of original or photocopied documents. In most countries the certificating process is generally reserved to be completed by a legally qualified professional or other recognised public official or department.

What is a legally certified translation?
The application form asks for legally certified translations into English of your diplomas and transcripts. These are translation made by an officially recognized 'sworn translator'.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Is this Master programme only for students with a background in a spatially relevant social science?
PLANET Europe is a social science programme. Hence, we specifically invite students with a background in spatially oriented social science disciplines. However, educational background is only one of the criteria we look at in the selection process. Other criteria, like work experience, motivation and grades are also taken into account. 

If I have a bachelor degree in a social science which is not spatially oriented, do I still qualify for this Master programme?
The application process provides various opportunities for social scientists to show their interest in some of the spatial issues which are at the heart of the PLANET Europe programme (e.g. in the motivation letter or CV). 

I don't have my diploma yet. Can I still apply?
Please include in your application package a legally certified copy of the most up to date transcript of records of your courses (and legally certified translations in English when these documents are in another language than English) and if possible a (legally certified copy of a) official statement from your  university (supervisor/professor/dean/etc.) that it is highly likely that you will finish your current studies before the start of the programme. We will then still consider your request for admission. 


I have obtained more than one degree. Where should I list the other programmes I have studied?
If you have studied more than just one Masters degree, or more than one Bachelor's degree, try to list them on the application form. Your CV is the place where you can expand on your background. Please add legally certified copies of the diplomas and transcripts from all your programmes, so that we can see what your background is. The digital application form provides space at the end to add additional documents. 

The application form has some questions in relation to Secondary School. In the educational system of my country we do not use that term. What does Secondary School stand for?
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place. It follows elementary or primary education, and is followed by university (tertiary) education. There are many different types of secondary school, and the terminology used varies around the world, but for this application process we would like to ask you to fill in your education prior to your university education.

The application form asks for a description of my thesis. Does it refer to the thesis I wrote during my Bachelor's degree or the one I plan to write at the end of the PLANET Europe programme?
We would like to know what your interest and focus was during your previous education. The application form asks for the thesis you wrote during your Bachelor degree or for your previous Masters degree. 

The application form asks for relevant courses in spatially oriented social sciences. Should I list those courses which were not part of my bachelor degree?
No, please list all courses you followed, both within and in addition to your main educational training, which you consider to be relevant background for the PLANET Europe programme.

FINANCIAL

What are the costs of the programme?
Go to the Tuition fee & Finance section for more information on the actual costs for the programme.

RELEVANT BACKGROUND

The application form asks for experiences in spatially oriented social sciences. What can I include in that section?
In that section you can, if applicable, include job and life experience relevant for the PLANET Europe programme, as well as relevant extra-curricular activities (e.g. board memberships; voluntary work).

LANGUAGE

What is the language used in the PLANET Europe Masters programme?
The programme is delivered entirely in English. All lectures and reading materials are in English. Likewise all assignments and exams need to be handed in in English.

I have studied in English all my life, do I still need a TOEFL?
If your first language is English, you will not be required to provide an English language test score. English is regarded to be your first language if you have completed your secondary school education in Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas: Barbados, Belize, Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Ireland; Jamaica; Malta; New Zealand; Singapore; South Africa; St Kitts and Nevis: St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; the United Kingdom or the United States of America. If English was the language in which you gained your qualifications but it was not undertaken in one of the above-mentioned countries, a TOEFL/IELTS or Cambridge score is still required. The language requirements for admission to the programme are listed here. 

 
The website says I need a 6.5 on my TOEFL. My overall score was 6.0. Can I still apply?
No, 6.0 is below 6.5 and you are not eligible to start the programme.

Can I send my TOEFL results directly to you?
No, you need to ask TOEFL to send the results directly to us, by using the institutional code of the Radboud University, 3387. If you do this, please also include a copy of the results or a printout of your score to the documents you send to us yourself. That way, we will not have to contact you if the TOEFL results arrive later than your file does.

LETTERS

Is there a format for the motivation letter/ recommendation letter/ CV?
We expect our students to be able to write a good motivation letter and a CV in a suitable format. Because we would like to give you and your referees the possibility to express your thoughts as clearly as possible, we have decided to leave the format up to you. Please note that the motivation letter should not exceed 2 pages.
 
Should the letters of recommendation be sent directly to the university?
No, please have them sent to your own address and add them to your application documents. Due to the large amount of incoming mail, we do not want to risk that the letters get lost in the post if they arrive separately at the university.

Can I ask anybody to write a letter of recommendation?
A letter of recommendation should be written by someone who is able to assess your qualities, characteristics, and capabilities in terms of your ability to perform well in the PLANET Europe Master programme. You need to provide three references - with accompanying letters of motivation - of which at least one is related to your most recent relevant educational background. 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Where can I find information about scholarships?
Information about scholarships can be found at Scholarships. When you fill out the application form, you can indicate whether you are applying for an Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

How many Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available?
For the 2016-2018 cohort, PLANET Europe awarded a total of 7 Partner Country and 1 Programme Country student scholarships plus maximum 4 scholarship for students from Specific Regions around the World. Please note that these figures are only indicative since the numbers of scholarships can vary per year. 

DIPLOMAS

What are the final degrees awarded for the PLANET Europe programme?
Information on the diplomas can be found here. 

No rights may be derived from the PLANET Europe programme information published or to be published on this website.

Further Official Information

Link to Original

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Disciplines

Development Studies

Economics

Environmental Studies

Study Levels

Master’s

Opportunity Types

Scholarships

Eligible Countries

International