Spatial Planning and Design

In the last years of secondary school, I made a list of my favourite subjects and I did some research to see which Bachelor's degree programmes most closely matched these subjects.

This led me to the programme in Human Geography & Urban and Regional Planning, but this was too focused on social aspects for my taste. The degree programme in Civil Engineering, on the other hand, involved too much engineering. When I stumbled on the Bachelor’s degree programme in Spatial Planning and Design I knew that this was the perfect combination I had been looking for. The orientation day confirmed my first impression. I looked into similar programmes at other Dutch universities, but the SPaD curriculum appealed to me most. Groningen is a great city and I’m really happy with my choice of degree programme!

What I like about Spatial Planning and Design is that you work with real-life situations.

In the course unit on Planning & Water we were asked to come up with solutions to reduce the risk of flooding after a heavy rain period in a Groningen district. We visited the area to analyse the situation. We also studied flood risk maps and combined this information with our findings to determine which streets were in need of water management. Many factors play a role in finding a solution to this kind of problem: infrastructure, stakeholders and residents. You have to take all of these into consideration. We presented our plans to members of the municipality of Groningen. Talking to people actually working on cases like these and hearing their feedback can really help to hone your skills.

I applied for five degree programmes at various universities, but in the end I chose Spatial Planning and Design because it is unique in the Netherlands. Groningen is a great city. It is small, but it has everything you need. I love living here.

There are lots of opportunities for doing activities related to your degree programme.

In my first year, I was a member of the ‘first-year committee’ of Faculty association Ibn Battuta. I organized parties and excursions together with nine other first-year students and a member of the board. It’s a great way to meet new people, and I am still close to some of the committee members. I am now a member of the Student Advisory Council, where students get a chance to use their knowledge of urban planning. It’s really interesting to put what you have learned into practice and to meet people who work in the field.

I was a member of the Spatial Planning and Design programme committee (OC), where students and lecturers discuss the quality of lectures and examinations, and I am part of the team that promotes the degree programme during open days. I think getting involved in study-related committees and jobs is a great opportunity to learn more about all the things are going on around the degree programme.