The highly selective and individualized PhD program in Urban and Regional Planning and Design prioritizes full-time students in admissions. Applicants should submit a complete application through the university system by the deadline, as late applications are not accepted. Before applying, familiarize yourself with faculty research and contact potential dissertation advisors based on shared interests. Admissions and funding decisions are made by a committee, not individual faculty members. We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Maryland’s PhD program!
Learn more about the PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design.
Visit the graduate school website for General Requirements, Program-Specific Requirements, and Application Deadlines.
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the PhD program will be expected to have completed a master's degree in a related field including (but not exclusively) urban planning, architecture, historic preservation, or landscape architecture. Students are expected to enter the PhD program with two semesters of graduate level quantitative research methods. These courses can be taken after entrance to the program and prior to their advanced methods course.
Application Requirements
Apply for the PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design degree through the graduate application website. Use the code "URPD" when prompted.
Application Fee:
- A non-refundable $75 fee per program is required, payable online for submission.
- To find out if you are eligible for an application fee waiver, please visit the Graduate School website.
Transcripts:
- Attach unofficial transcripts from all institutions, including University of Maryland. Official transcripts must be sent directly if admitted.
Letters of Recommendation:
- Three letters of recommendation are required from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic and research capabilities. Letters from professors who have taught the applicant in relevant subjects are recommended, while letters from practitioners and supervisors at work are also acceptable.
Statement of Purpose:
Per the Graduate School, the purpose of the Statement of Purpose is to get to know you as an individual and as a potential graduate student. The admissions committee is interested in your academic, professional, and personal background and goals. In your essay, please address the following points as appropriate:
- Your preparation and motivation for graduate study, including the academic, work, and/or research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program and motivation or passion for graduate study.
- Your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.
- Your fit with the graduate program at Maryland, including how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of the graduate program at UMD. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own.
The PhD program recommends a 1000-2000 word statement which addresses these points.
Resume or curriculum vitae (CV):
- A comprehensive CV should be submitted, highlighting academic achievements, relevant work experience, publications, conference presentations, and other scholarly activities.
Writing Samples
- Applicants should provide up to two writing samples (e.g., research paper, article, thesis chapter) that demonstrate their ability to engage with scholarly literature and present coherent arguments.
- Applicants may upload an optional third writing sample. The committee, however, is not required to review this upload.
- No external links will be reviewed.
Deadline
The Fall 2025 deadline for application to the PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design is January 10, 20245.
If students would like to apply for the Flagship Fellowship or the President's Fellowship, a complete application must be submitted by December 8, 2024.
Tuition and Fees
For current tuition, fees and other expenses for degrees, please visit the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website.
Students who have not yet passed their comprehensive exams and advanced to candidacy pay the standard rate for graduate tuition and fees. PhD students who have advanced to candidacy pay flat rates for 899 level candidacy courses and fees