Urban and Regional Planning draws on knowledge from a number of subject areas. Students are admitted from a variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, as well as engineering, architecture, and the natural sciences. Persons who have been working in planning are encouraged to apply. Candidates with either four-year bachelor or honours degrees may be admitted with full graduate student status. To be considered for admission, applicants should have a minimum of B+ average, with preference for those with an A-average or better in the final two years of undergraduate study.
Students are expected to have numeracy skills and be able to solve basic math problems using algebra and geometry.
Prospective students whose native language is not English are required to take an English language proficiency test.
Online application
To submit an online application:
- - Click on "New User? Create Account", to set up your User ID and password. Enter the information requested, including a working email address, and a password that you can remember, and then click "Create Account". An email containing your User ID will be sent automatically to the email address you entered. You need this User ID and your password to continue the online application.
- Complete and Submit the Application- You can now enter your User ID and password under "Returning User Log in". On the next screen, hit the "click here to apply" button. This will begin your application.
- Complete all the screens as they are presented to you, remembering to click Save and continue before you move on to the next set of questions. When you have completed all the sections, you can submit your application. At this point, you are asked to pay the non-refundable application fee (currently $110 CAD) online. Remember, you must be able to pay the fee online with a Visa or Mastercard number in order to complete your application online.
Please note that the application fee of $110 CAD is non-refundable.
Deadlines
- Application Deadline for ALL applicants, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, landed immigrants, and international applicants:
- March 1 for admission consideration with grants and financial awards.
- After March 1, applications MAY be considered on a rolling basis if there are spots still available.
- Notification of Acceptance:
- For complete applications received by March 1: April 1
- For applications received after March 1: 6 weeks or longer
- Formal Acceptance by Applicant on SGS portal:
- As indicated in the notice of acceptance from the SURP Admissions Coordinator.
- Payment of Acceptance Deposit
- In order to secure an offer of admission to our program, a student must pay a $500 acceptance deposit within four weeks of accepting the offer of admission. The Graduate Programs Coordinator will inform accepted students of the exact due date for the acceptance deposit and how to make the payment.
Documentation
You are responsible for ensuring that all required documentation is received by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. All hard copy documentation must be submitted in duplicate and on appropriate forms where provided. Your application must be complete before a decision regarding acceptance will be made.
Acceptance
All applicants will be notified in writing by the Registrar of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs of the conditions of the acceptance. Our School will also send a letter giving a deadline by which you must accept or decline the offer. Official letters of acceptance are only valid for the academic year indicated therein.
Application Fee
There is a non-refundable application fee of $110.00 CAN for each application to a program. Those applying online must pay the application fee using a MasterCard or Visa credit card. Those applying with a paper application must submit with that paper application a certified cheque or money order of $110.00 CAN, payable to 成人大片.
Transcripts
A complete application must include official, up-to-date transcripts for all current and previous study the applicant has listed in the Academic Background section of the application.
Acceptable methods for submitting transcripts:
Transcripts can be uploaded to the online application, as PDF files. The transcripts must be scanned (black and white recommended) and saved as a PDF file, and uploaded successfully. Complete instructions are available to applicants on the Transcript Upload section of the online application.
If a transcript or transcripts cannot be successfully uploaded to the online application, applicants are responsible for ensuring that an official transcript or transcripts of all current and previous university-level studies are sent to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs by all universities previously attended. All hard copy transcripts received as part of an application for admission must be received in sealed envelopes.
Final transcripts: Hard copy original official transcript showing degree completion and conferral, will be required from all applicants who accept an offer of admission to graduate studies at 成人大片. These final transcripts are to be sent directly from the issuing institutions to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in sealed envelopes.
Transcripts sent from the issuing university should be sent to:
School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
成人大片
Gordon Hall Room 425
74 Union Street
Kingston, Ontario
Canada K7L 3N6
Other transcript notes:
Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript.
Photocopied transcripts or those printed from a university website are not permitted.
Degree and graduation certificates must be included if the transcript does not indicate the type of degree and date granted.
Transcripts are to be sent directly from the issuing institutions to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in sealed envelopes.
All hard copy transcripts received as part of an application for admission must be received in sealed envelopes.
Transcripts submitted with applications become the property of 成人大片, are subject to verification, are not available for copying and will not be returned to the applicant.
Official transcripts are NOT REQUIRED for any study of any kind carried out at 成人大片, Kingston, Ontario. The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will access the student record directly for applicants who have attended or are currently attending 成人大片.
Letters of recommendation
Two current academic recommendations are required. If you have been out of university for longer than 4 years, then one or more professional recommendations may be acceptable at the discretion of the SURP Admissions Coordinator. However, all effort should be made to include academic recommendations. Applicants applying online will have the option to have their referee submit the letter of recommendation to 成人大片 electronically. Photocopied or stale-dated letters are unacceptable.
Other documentation
A "statement of interest" is required. State your interest in the field of urban and regional planning, e.g. is there a specific topic you propose to study and how do you propose to address your topic in your program at Queen's?
English Language Proficiency Test Scores
If English is not a native language, prospective students must meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements in writing, speaking, reading, and listening. Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs before your application is complete. Please see Frequently Asked Questions #1 or #2 below for the School of Urban and Regional Planning's minimum ELP score requirements.
Applications for international applicants close March 1 for September admission but we recommend completing it by January 31 because immigration procedures are lengthy. Only one or two international students may be admitted. While the School of Urban and Regional Planning gladly accepts applications from international students for a limited number of places, the University can offer only a very limited amount of financial assistance. The annual cost of living in Kingston and studying at Queens for an international student in the MPL program is about $53,134. When applying, please be aware that you will have to raise most of this amount yourself. If you are an international applicant, please review the information provided on the SGSPA International Students section, which outlines additional steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
A four-year undergraduate degree with a B+ average or better in the final two years. Two letters of reference.
If English is not a native language, prospective students must meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) (scroll to Step 3B: Provide English Language Test Results) requirements in writing, speaking, reading, and listening.
The School of Urban and Regional Planning requires the following minimum scores for the ELP tests that are accepted by the SGSPA at Queen鈥檚 University:
- : 600
- : The minimum overall score is 100, made up of the minimum scores in each component test as follows:
Writing test: 25/30
Applicants must have the minimum score in each test, as well as the minimum overall score.
Speaking test: 25/30
Reading test: 25/30
Listening test: 25/30 - : 7.0 academic module overall band score and a 7.0 for each test band (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
- : 65
- : 70 (minimum overall score).
The program is delivered in English. Therefore, it is required that you demonstrate a strong command of the English language (written and verbal). If your undergraduate degree was not completed in the English language, then an English Language Proficiency test is required to demonstrate language proficiency.
The School of Urban and Regional Planning requires the following minimum scores for the ELP tests that are accepted by the SGSPA at Queen鈥檚 University:
- : 600
- : The minimum overall score is 100, made up of the minimum scores in each component test as follows:
Writing test: 25/30
Applicants must have the minimum score in each test, as well as the minimum overall score.
Speaking test: 25/30
Reading test: 25/30
Listening test: 25/30 - : 7.0 academic module overall band score and a 7.0 for each test band (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
- : 65
- : 70 (minimum overall score).
Two (2) years.
Meeting the minimum requirements is enough to warrant consideration of your file, but does not guarantee admission. Over half of this year's class held first class degrees.
The School of Urban and Regional Planning admits only 35 students per year.
Each year we receive hundreds of informal enquiries and over 100 completed applications for 35 places.
Queen's uses a 'rolling' admission process which ensures that applications are reviewed as soon as they are complete. But, candidates are encouraged to apply before March 1st.
This will take you to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website. Scroll down to "Step 2: Compile the Documentation" and you will see full details about how to submit your transcripts.
Yes.
Averaging a 3.3 on a 4.3 scale, 77% or 'B+' or better, in your final two (2) years (see also FAQ #31).
Yes.
We do not make a conditional offer of admission to candidates with a three-year degree. A four-year (honours) degree is required upon admission to the MPL program.
Yes. We have no fixed pre-requisites. The majority of our students come from the social sciences and humanities.
The vast majority of our students have never completed a planning course before enrolling in the program.
When your application file is complete, it will be examined by the Admissions Coordinator.
Notification of Acceptance:
For complete applications received by March 1: April 1
For applications received after March 1: 6 weeks or longer.
The M.PL. program is a rigorous professional education with extensive group work and many out-of-classroom activities, so combining the program with a full-time job is not possible. All of our students are full-time and reside in Kingston during the fall and winter terms. Some students who have completed their coursework and accepted a full-time professional job are granted part-time status after their fifth term to complete their Master's thesis or report.
An interview is not part of our admissions process. But we encourage prospective candidates to visit the school if you are in Central Canada, to meet our faculty, staff and students. The fall Open House is a good time to visit, but we welcome visits throughout the year. Please contact Kristina Fennell, Graduate Programs Coordinator, in advance to ensure that your visit goes smoothly.
No, the course is only offered by classes at the university.
The programme is an intense, 5 term professional education, similar to an MBA or MPA. In addition to 12 hours classes and labs per week, the students have numerous group projects, site visits, field trips, public lectures, etc.
Our students tell us that they are engaged about sixty hours per week during the busy times; this experience cannot be combined with a full-time job.
To facilitate this experience, the school provides the students with 24 hour, 7 day access to shared private offices, with desks, bookshelves and high-speed internet connections.
A typical programme is five terms: two terms of classes (September- April); one term of paid internship (summer); two terms of classes and report/thesis (September- April). Some students extend their report-thesis into the following summer, sometimes with a second paid internship.
We try our best to provide funding to most incoming students for their first year of study. Our funding packages typically consist of a combination of Queen's Graduate Award or Fellowship, and/or external scholarships or awards (such as SSHRC or Ontario Graduate Scholarships). Funding amounts vary from year to year. Exact funding amount, and related terms and conditions, are communicated to successful applicants in their individual offer of admission.
We encourage all applicants with average GPA of A- or higher to apply for funding support from the following sources:
Ontario Graduate Scholarship from Ontario Student Assistance Program; and .
You tick the box "Wish to be considered for Financial Aid" in the on-line application. We do the rest. The larger Queen's awards competitions results are announced in April or early May. There is usually a second round of internal awards in late May, after the results of the big provincial /national competitions.
University wide graduate scholarships bring $10-$15,000 per year. First class students are automatically entered into these competitions in March.
The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs also has many bursaries for financial need, and special tuition bursaries for international students.
We are proud that Queen's distributes the highest proportion of its operating budget to student aid in Canada.
Many of our students also qualify for the , which provides part time jobs in the school or on campus (maximum 100 hours per term.
The MPL program does not offer TA jobs. MPL students are considered for TA positions in the Department of Geography and Planning after PhD and research MA/MSc students. But you may also write the head of the Queen's Department in your undergraduate field to enquire about opportunities. SURP students have TA'd Geography, Environmental Studies, Women's Studies and Civil Engineering courses recently, but the jobs are often mainly reserved for Graduate Students in research streams in these departments.
A TA job is a large commitment for a student in an intense, course-based professional Master's degree like an MBA, an M.PL. or an MPA.
The planning profession wants our graduating students to be numerate, and we assume a facility with basic high school mathematics. One undergraduate methods course is a good idea, but not a prerequisite. Our core analytic methods course is pitched at the introductory level, so if students already have two undergraduate methods courses, they are usually exempted.
We accept people from the liberal arts and social sciences all the time. A keen interest in the environment and human settlements seems to be the main pre-requisite for success.
International students can accept volunteer (unpaid) positions relating to their planning education with off-campus agencies. International students can also accept paid on-campus employment relating to their planning education, subject to some conditions. Other international students take courses and do fieldwork for their reports and theses in the summer.
We cannot offer full financial support. We can offer very little financial support to international students.
No. Students select research topics at the end of first year, on issues of mutual interest with faculty. Unlike other graduate programs, admission does not depend upon the availability and research funding from an individual faculty supervisor arranged in advance. There is no need for prospective students to contact individual faculty members about research topics, and we find that student research interests often evolve during the first year.
Supervisors are matched late in the first year, based upon the final topic of the students report or thesis proposal and the availability and research skills of the particular faculty members. Most students preparing a thesis or Master's research report find a research supervisor from among the regular or adjunct faculty of the School.
Yes, a deposit is required to secure your place with us. The amount and deadline for receipt of the deposit is indicated in the student's offer of admission. The acceptance deposit will be applied to your tuition fees. In the event of subsequent withdrawal, the acceptance deposit is not refundable.
We look at academic records two ways:
- The average mark / GPA from student's entire academic record over their undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) career.
- The average mark / GPA from student's last two years of study before applying (last 20 term-length courses if part-time).
We use whichever record is better for considering the academic standing of an applicant. For mid-career students with relevant experience, we may consider a smaller number of recent courses.
Unfortunately, our graduate professional degree is only offered for full-time study. The MPL is an intensive two-year graduate degree that requires a lot of teamwork, group projects and faculty-student collaboration that occurs outside the classroom. All of our graduate students come to Kingston from other parts of Canada (and internationally), take accommodation within a few minutes walking distance of campus, and immerse themselves in the degree program for two years. We provide students with offices on the same floor as the faculty, school classrooms, labs and administrative facilities, so SURP is a high-contact educational experience.
We have found that our model does not match the needs or schedule of those with other jobs, especially in another city. The students say that the program absorbs about 60 hours a week, without any travel time.
For mid-career staff interested in upgrading their planning background on a part-time basis, we recommend the from the Queen's School of Policy Studies. The PMPA is a part-time mid-career program that allows students to take some SURP courses as options.
A recent overview of working in the profession is
For a .
If you are in central Canada, please consider visiting our school for its open house during the Fall term. Contact Kristina Fennel, Graduate Programs Coordinator, for an invitation.