The first year in Germany
The SPRING program at TU Dortmund University is, according to the main stages of planning theory, divided into three stages namely: Analysis, Planning and Implementation. Teaching takes place in various forms such as lectures, seminars, subject-related exercises and workshops with its reference document: The SPRING Region Profile. Module examinations take place as either oral or written exams, workshop reports, assignments or research papers. The table below indicates the six modules and its respective courses (including the credit points - CP) as well the type of examination and a brief module description for intake 2026 and later.
Module Content
Courses
- Planning and Infrastructure Theories and Concepts (2 CP)
- Governance & Decision Making (2 CP)
Module Exam
Poster and Defense. Active oral and written participation in the lecture seminars is a requirement for the module exam (3 CP)
Module Description
This module contains two courses introducing theories and concepts of spatial planning from a broad perspective. In particular, they will also deal with bridging the divide between theory and practice.
Courses
- Master Project (10 CP)
Module Exam
Final report incl. defense; course exercise: Exposé (2 CP)
Module Description
The module refers to current research areas of the department. Students learn in a cooperative way to handle complex spatial problems by scientific means within a given time frame, to highlight possible solutions. It focuses on the theoretical-analytical and conceptual side of planning, taking up current issues of spatial research and spatial planning.
Courses
- Seminar I (4 CP)
- Seminar II (4 CP)
- Seminar III (4 CP)
- Seminar IV (4 CP)
- Seminar V (4 CP)
Module Exam
Academic Paper (graded, 4 CP)
Module Description
This module includes topics of urban and regional planning across the globe with a focus on the global South derived from thematic areas like Climate Change, Spatial Data Management, Infrastructure, Land Management.
Courses
- Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning in Germany: Systems, Strategies, and Digital Tools (2 CP)
- Excursion Berlin or Elsewhere (2 CP)
- Comparative Approaches for Planners (2CP)
Module Exam
Module exam (graded, 3CP)
Module Description
This module contains a lecture providing an introduction to urban and regional planning and to urban and city-regional transformation processes in Germany, an excursion to Berlin or another location, and an exercise focusing on comparative approaches for planning research.
Courses
- Gender and Participation in Planning (2 CP)
- Spatial Data Analysis (2 CP)
- Academic Paper Design (2 CP)
- Presentation & Group Facilitation Skills (2 CP)
Module Exam
4 Partial Exams (graded)
Module Description
Methods of data generation, analysis, and interpretation in the context of spatial planning, participation techniques and the role of gender, academic writing and paper design and group facilitation and presentation techniques.
SPRING Contact
TU Dortmund University
Department of Spatial Planning
SPRING
August-Schmidt-Straße 10
44227 Dortmund
Germany
Visiting hours
E-Mail
General: spring@tu-dortmund.de
Application: application.spring@tu-dortmund.de
Instagram: spring_tu.dortmund
LinkedIn: MSc SPRING
Phone: +49 231 755-6075