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Ph.D (Planning) is a Doctorate degree programme that deals with the planning of towns, cities, villages, districts or any other entity. This is a 3-4 years full time course offering a focus on the advanced skill necessary for the conduct of research in different areas of planning. Through planning concepts, students learn about land-use planning, environmental planning, transportation planning, economic development planning, sustainable development etc They are also equipped with skills in research methodologies to identify planning issues, formulate research problems, review literatures and identify concepts and theories for further development into hypothesis, collect data, analyze data and draw policy conclusion.
The acceptable entrance exams for admission to Ph.D (Planning) programs at the national-level are UGC NET in Geography or Management, CSIR UGC NET in Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Science, ICSSR National Eligibility Test, State level Eligibility Test-SLET, Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. Both Joint Admission in Master of Arts (JAM) in Geography and direct admissions based on marks obtained in the post graduation examinations. This apart a number of institutes also have their own entrance tests as well. Most of these tests, besides subject knowledge, aim at ascertaining the ability of the candidate in written communication and simple arithmetic.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy (Planning) |
| Duration | Typically 3-5 years (full-time) |
| Course Level | Doctoral Level |
| Eligibility | Master's degree in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, or a closely related field with a good academic record (often minimum GPA requirement) |
| Top Colleges (India) | Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), School of Planning and Architecture (SPA Delhi), Anna University, University of Delhi |
| Entrance Exams (India) | UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) in subjects like Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Public Administration, relevant GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) paper (e.g., Civil Engineering) |
1. Academic qualifications: to be eligible for the award, a candidate should have completed a master’s degree in a relevant field and should have earned good grades, normally a minimum GPA of 3.0-3.5 is acceptable in most instances.
2. Complete prerequisite tests such as GRE with adequate scores and qualifications – for instance, obtaining GRE verbal, quantitative, and writing scores above the fiftieth percentile is essential.
3. Look up for PhD research and find out the potential supervisors – the general idea is to match the area of study and research activities with what faculty is doing to be able to get in.
4. Approach professors or employers for recommendation – recommendation letters from academic or employer reference indicating your strengths are critical.
5. State of purpose, explaining research aims: writing a convincing 1-2 page abstract describing motivations for the research, goals, preparation, and fit can enhance application.
6. Develop documents for applying for a job – emphasizing academic performance – formatting, writing, publishing, delivering, and presenting remain important as one applies for a job.
| Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Planning Theory & History | Evolution of Planning Thought Planning Paradigms (Comprehensive Planning, Sustainable Development, etc.) Urban Design Principles Planning Legislation & Policy Analysis Ethical Considerations in Planning |
| Research Methods for Planning | Quantitative & Qualitative Research Methods in Planning Data Collection & Analysis Techniques (GIS, Spatial Statistics) Social Impact Assessment Research Design & Proposal Writing Scientific Writing & Communication Skills |
| Urban & Regional Planning | Urbanization & Metropolitan Development Land Use Planning & Zoning Transportation Planning & Infrastructure Development Housing & Community Development Regional Development Strategies |
| Environmental Planning & Sustainability | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Environmental Policy & Regulations Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Strategies Sustainable Cities & Communities Ecological Planning & Conservation |
| Economic Development & Planning | Economic Base Analysis & Regional Economic Development Economic Impact Assessment of Planning Projects Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Urban Development Fiscal Planning & Local Government Finance Community Development & Empowerment |
| Social Planning & Equity | Social Justice & Equity in Planning Community Participation & Engagement Social Impact Assessment of Planning Decisions Planning for Vulnerable Populations Social & Physical Infrastructure Development |
| Advanced Topics (Electives) | Topics may vary depending on program & faculty expertise. Examples include: Historic Preservation Planning, Disaster Management Planning, Transportation Planning & Modelling, Smart Cities & Technology, Planning for Public Health, etc. |
| Specialization | Job Title | Average Salary (LPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Planning | Urban Planner | 7-10 |
| Regional Planning | Regional Development Specialist | 6-8 |
| Environmental Planning | Environmental Consultant | 5-9 |
| Transportation Planning | Transportation Engineer | 6-10 |
| Infrastructure Planning | Infrastructure Development Specialist | 6-9 |
