The programme brings together students of architecture, planning, civil engineering and natural and social sciences. You are equipped with theoretical knowledge and professional tools that position you as critical links, joining multiple perspectives in sustainable planning and design processes relevant in Sweden and worldwide. Coursework includes substantial time spent in studios and on projects that train you in practical skills and give you a deep understanding of planning and design practice.
Throughout the programme, invited lecturers from local/regional authorities, consultancies, and other private actors will give students insights into the contemporary practice of planning and design in Sweden and abroad. In studios and project assignments, you’ll engage with urban development initiatives in the Stockholm region, such as planning for new districts around newly built metro stations, integrating nature-based solutions to address climate change impacts, and transforming Stockholm Royal Seaport into a climate-positive district. The skills and perspectives gained in this programme, prepare graduates to tackle emerging urban sustainability challenges in cities worldwide, from Europe to rapidly urbanising regions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The programme offers three profiles pursued through recommended course combinations, representing different professional competencies in sustainable urban planning and design. You can also broaden your knowledge by making your own combinations of courses. During the programme, students interact across the specialisations in courses and projects that foster a mutual exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Profiles
The Urban Planning and Design profile focuses on spatial and aesthetic development aspects of urban form and public spaces. The Urban and Regional Planning profile addresses strategic development and land use planning across cities and regions, integrating social, economic, and environmental considerations. The Environment and Planning profile centres on sustainability assessments, policy analysis, and integrating environmental science into urban decision-making.
The Urban Planning and Design profile focuses on how urban form, public space and spatial design can support sustainable and resilient urban development. You develop design skills alongside analytical approaches for understanding and shaping urban environments across social, ecological and spatial dimensions.
The profile combines design studios with courses in urban theory, urban economics, research methods and contemporary urban design practice. Through design studios, experimental projects and practice-based research, you explore topics such as urban form, environmental justice, social equity and stakeholder participation.
KTH and the Stockholm region serve as living labs for analysis, experimentation and collaboration connected to ongoing urban development projects in both Nordic and international contexts.
The profile prepares you for roles within urban design, master planning, placemaking urban renewal and research. You work across disciplines and sectors in public authorities, consultancies, NGOs and research environments in Sweden and internationally.
Urban and Regional Planning focuses on urban development and how cities and regions can respond to social, environmental and economic change. The profile combines perspectives from social, technical, natural sciences and humanities to analyse and guide urban and regional transformation.
You explore challenges such as climate change, gentrification and socio-economic restructuring through problem-based learning, analytical methods and project work. The profile addresses planning processes across local, regional and cross-border contexts, where collaboration between public authorities, private companies, NGOs and citizens plays an important role.
Through theoretical, methodological and applied courses, you develop skills in systems thinking and in using bo