Overview

The PhD Program in Urban Planning is an innovative, comprehensive doctoral program that fuses research with critical practice in urban and rural planning. It admits those applicants who meet the academic admissions criteria whose research proposals addressing topics from across the broad range of urban studies and planning. Each of our PhD students has the support of a supervisor to guide them through their projects. The graduates of Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of Chongqing University have been continuously playing a leading role in academic and professional fields both in China and overseas.

Research fields

The Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning welcomes applications to undertake research towards a PhD preferably in the following seven main areas ----Theories of Human Settlements in Mountainous Regions, The History of Urban Development and Heritage Protection, Spatial Development in Urban Regions, Uraban Ecology and Planning Technology, Theory and Method of Community Planning, Policy and Management of Urban Planning. As well as the research, candidates have the opportunity to attend numerous training and personal development courses, including courses of Chinese language and culture. Each of our PhD students will be supported by a supervisor who facilitates your progress along the way. The supervisor will help you to shape your research, guide you in professional development, and support you in delivering your findings to a wider audience. To gain a doctor’s degree, you will complete at least 21 credits from taught courses and produce a thesis for PhD.

Modules

Year 1

Core courses

·    Basic Chinese(64 hours, 4 credits)

·    Ecological Planning & Design: Principles and Application Paradigm(32 hours,2 credits)

·    Elementary Chinese(64 hours, 4 credits)

·    China Panorama (taught in English)(32 hours, 2 credits)

·    Theory of Community Development and Planning(32 hours, 2 credits)

·    Research Methods(32 hours, 2 credits)

·    Advanced Lectures(48 hours, 3 credits)

Elective courses

·    Chinese Contemporary Architecture & Urban Development Criticism(32 hours, 2 credits)

·    Building Technology(32 hours, 2 credits)

·    Theory and Practice of Scenic Area and Protected Area Conservation Planning(32 hours, 2 credits)

Year 2-Year 4

·    Literature Review and Thesis Proposal（1 credit）

·    Academic Activities and Lectures（complete before pre-defense）（1 credit）

·    International Academic Interchange （complete before pre-defense）(1 credit)

·    Dissertation(25 credits)

Duration

4 years full-time

Medium of instruction

English

Entry requirements

Admission will be granted by the admission board taking into account applicants’ academic background, motivation, language skills, and if applicable, professional experience. One of the basic entry requirements for the program is a master degree in a relevant subject (architecture, urban planning or landscape architecture) and a thorough knowledge of English.

English language requirements

Since the courses are taught in English, all applicants must be able to read, follow lectures and express their thoughts in fluent written and spoken English. Applicants whose native language is not English need to provide score report of English language proficiency test (a score above IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL Internet-based 80 or equivalent), or a certificate from former university that the previous degree is taught in English, or a certificate indicating the applicants have studied in an English-speaking country for more than one year.