Possible career paths

After finishing the programme you will be able to apply to positions in different sectors of the planning profession. Examples of starting career from alumni of the Urban and Regional Planning programme

Public sector

• Project leader of area development in small, medium and large municipalities
• Strategic advisor in sustainable mobility systems
• Innovation and research manager at waste, water, energy utility companies
• Policy advisor for spatial development at ministerial or international levels

Private sector

• Project manager of sustainable realestate development
• Strategic advisor in land and realstate investment agencies
• Process coordinator in development agencies
• Policy strategist in architectural firms
• Location strategy consultant

Non-governmental, third and research sector

• PhD researcher in international university institutes
• Researcher in environmental assessment agencies
• Project leader in non-governmental organizations active on urbanization and environmental challenges

Here you can find what a few of our many former students tell of our programme.

Robert Farrell, Senior Planning Consultant

''Having decided I wanted to study urban planning, my home country of Ireland was the obvious choice of location. However, Ireland is not a country renowned for its expertise in urban planning. This is what initially attracted me to studying in the Netherlands, and UvA. The Dutch are recognised as world leaders in planning, with Amsterdam regularly considered one of the world’s most liveable cities. Where better, then, to study urban and regional planning? It was the best decision I have made. The Master's in Urban and Regional Planning challenged me to think about how our cities and societies are structured. It made me realise the enormous influence that planning decisions can have on communities, and pushed me to consider ways in which we can improve people’s lives through good urban design and engagement.''

Stephanie Richards

“My name is Stephanie Richards and coming from the UK to the Netherlands, in particular Amsterdam, is heralded as a planning ideal, every day is like ‘living the case study’. But what I came to realise is that this ideal is fiction; every place suffers from its own successes and challenges, but the process of learning what works, what doesn’t and why, is as valuable an asset. UvA provides the space to develop this realistic, though still always a little ideologically driven, perspective of planning in the real world”.

Amanda Eyer

“Initially, I was attracted to Amsterdam, on the one hand, for its pleasant and diverse scenery, and, on the other, for its bicycle culture. Only later did I realize that the Dutch have a long history in planning; indeed, the Netherlands as a whole is an engineered system. Coming from the seemingly untamed landscapes of Switzerland, this idea strikes me as unique”.

Your diploma is not a farewell

After graduating, you don't have to say goodbye to the University of Amsterdam! We are happy to help you develop your career. You can join the young alumni programme, which will assist you in mapping out your career. And as an alumnus, you can also still use the Student Careers Centre.  

UvA Student Careers Centre

The Student Careers Centre is there to help with your career development. You can contact them to discuss your options, ambitions and doubts at any time during your studies.