Human Geography and Planning

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

						
							Do you want to know where to build what types of houses to solve the housing crisis? Do you wonder why climate change has different consequences in different regions?


					
open_in_newstudy website

locatieGroningen
diplomaBSc 
typeregulier, 180 EC
start1 september
taalvolledig English
opleidingsduur3 jaar voltijd
accreditatiesNVAO
croho-code50974
numerus fixusnee
honoursnee
Do you dare to ask critical questions about how different places develop to help remake a better world? Then Human Geography & Planning is the right choice for you!
During this programme, you learn to investigate society in its geographic context. You will learn to explain how and why cities and regions develop differently, and how this relates to where and when these developments take place. For example, why do some regions benefit more from globalisation than others? Or, what are the consequences of population decline for people living in shrinking regions? And, how can you work together with different organisations to plan and build suitable residential areas?
You will learn to answer such questions and use this knowledge to create new ideas and develop the places that we live in today and in the future. The programme covers a wide variety of topics, including urban development, globalisation and labour markets, migration, and urban and regional planning. Geographers and planners combine these topics with a spatial perspective to make the world we live in a better place; making places better together.
During the first year you learn academic skills and are introduced to various themes of human geography & planning. During the second year, you deepen your knowledge about spatial developments and improve your skills to answer spatial questions. In the third year, you can specialise by following extra faculty courses, broaden your view by taking a minor or doing an internship, or widen your horizon by studying abroad. Finally, you will finish your studies by writing a bachelor’s thesis where you combine your knowledge and skills to become a human geographer or planner ready to make a positive contribution to the world around you.
Open day
Interested in learning more? Sign up for the Bachelor's Open Day on Friday 2 February or Saturday 13 April, or sign up to attend a Student for a Day.


					

Waarom aan de University of Groningen?

If you want to study Human Geography & Planning, Groningen is the perfect choice. The strength of the programme lies in its combination of five fields: Economic Geography, Real Estate Studies, Population Studies, Cultural Geography and Planning. There is an open atmosphere and it is easy to contact other students and lecturers.

Studieprogramma

opbouw
1e jaar
2e jaar
3e jaar

opbouwFor more information about the courses in this programme, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/bachelor/
Confused about the differences between our Bachelors? See an overview here: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/related/bachelor-programme-differences
You can also contact our Student Ambassadors for more information: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/student-ambassadors/student-ambassadors-fss

1e jaar

	1	2	3	4
	periode
Urbanism and Planning (SP)	10 EC
Reflecting on Human Geography and Spatial Planning	5 EC
Economic Geography		10 EC
Statistics 1		5 EC
Introduction to Academic Research			5 EC
Population Geographies			10 EC
Geographic Information Systems				10 EC
Rural Geography				5 EC

2e jaar

	1	2	3	4
	periode
Introduction to Qualitative Research	5 EC
Migration and Development	10 EC
Restricted Elective: Healthy Ageing, Geographies of the United States, Population and Development or Real Estate Principles		5 EC
People, Place and Culture		10 EC
Physical Geography			5 EC
Governance Dynamics (SP)			5 EC
Statistics 2			5 EC
Applied Statistical Research Methods				5 EC
Landscapes				5 EC
Philosophy of Social Science				5 EC

3e jaar

	1	3	4
	periode
Minor or Optional Modules	30 EC
Planning Dynamics		5 EC
Geography, Planning and the European Union		5 EC
Bachelor's Project		15 EC
Fieldwork Abroad			5 EC

taal van onderwijs	100% en
avondonderwijs	n.v.t.
afstandsonderwijs	n.v.t.

onderwijsvormen

computer exercise, excursion, group assignment, individual assignment, lecture, literature study, research project, oral presentation, practicum, self study, tutorial

study guidance

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences takes a small-scale approach and we help our students to learn how to work independently. You will be assigned to a mentor group together with other first-year students whom you will get to know very well. A mentor is a senior student who can teach you all the ins and outs of our faculty. The Faculty has three study advisors, who can think along when you experience difficulties when studying, personal issues or when in need of more information about your studies.

You will be able to use our Career Services during your programme. For more information: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/career-services/

study abroad

Studying abroad is not the same as the field work course in the third year, fieldwork abroad is mandatory. Every year dozens students of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences go on exchange with a foreign university to take electives and/or write their thesis. The faculty has exchange arrangements with universities in Europe, New-Zealand and the USA.

bindend studieadvies

minimaal 45 EC in de eerste 12 maanden

You will be offered study advice after the first year of study. You can expect a positive result if you have earned more than 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative result, you will not be allowed to continue with your degree programme.

You will receive preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you stand. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system.
N.B. Some degree programmes use a tutoring system; please check with your study advisor.

Toelating en kosten

startmomenten

1 september 2025

aanmelding deadline : 1 mei 2025
wettelijk tarief : € 2601 (€1301 in het eerste jaar)
instellingstarief : € 11800
niet-EU/EER studenten : € 13500

1 september 2026

aanmelding deadline : 1 mei 2026
collegegeld nog niet bekend

toelaatbare profielen

VWO N&T	toelaatbaar
VWO N&G	toelaatbaar
VWO E&M	toelaatbaar
VWO C&M	aangevuld met aangevuld met wiskunde C
hbo-p	Access with an HBO-propedeuse is only possible when you have English on a VWO level. It is also strongly advised that you check the Knowledge Minimum for Maths below. Please contact the study advisors (study.advice.fss@rug.nl) if you need more information

toelatingseisen

basiskennis
There is no maths requirement for Human Geography and Planning, however, within the programme we expect our students to have a maths level comparable to the Dutch VWO Maths A, B or C. Maths is essential for several courses, most evident for Statistics, which occupies a large place in the Bachelor's degree. You could check your level of maths by doing one of the tests listed on this page: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/entry-requirements/bachelor-entry-requirements/accepted-certificates-to-lift-a-deficiency

taaltoets
Students without English on a VWO level have to take a language test:

IELTS International English Language Testing System (Academic version) 6.0, with a minimum score of 6.0 on each section
TOEFL: minimum overall score 80 (reading: 18, listening: 18, speaking: 20, writing: 21)
Cambridge English C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency

See the international tab if you have an international degree.

A prospective student can always apply for an exemption from the English language test. The student needs to explain, and if required show proof of, why an exemption would be justified. It is up to the Admission Board to decide whether an exemption will be granted or not.

De stad

studievereniging

Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta is the Faculty Association of Spatial Sciences
Becoming a member of Ibn Battuta means you can join the social drinks, foreign trips, lectures and all other activities organized by the Association. At these events you come into contact with students from all years, which is a great way to make friends that can last a lifetime! Ibn Battuta also organizes informative and career-focused activities. Our informative activities, such as lectures, In-Housedays and the Career Day will help you to orient on your future.

Keuzehulp

Kijk ook eens naar ..

Kom je er echt niet uit? Zoek hulp bij een studiekeuzeadviseur in jouw buurt.

opleiding	gelijkenis met Human Geography and Planning
Spatial Planning and Design		bekijk
Kunstmatige Intelligentie		bekijk
International Business		bekijk
Sterrenkunde		bekijk

Na de studie

Beroepsperspectief / arbeidsmarkt

Graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Human Geography & Planning often decide to pursue a Master's degree in a related field. Our Master's degrees grant you access to careers in business, government and research.

Suitable jobs can be found in the world of local planning and government agencies, academic and non-academic research institutes, international organizations (or NGOs), advisory/consultancy agencies and elsewhere. For example, we have alumni working for housing associations where they investigate which types of housing should be built in new residential areas given the prospected residents.

During the programme at the University of Groningen we offer support for your career preparation.

More information about the FSS Career Services.

aansluitende masteropleidingen

instelling	opleiding	instroomeisen
University of Groningen	Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology research	geen aanvullende eisen
University of Groningen	CPE Track Health Systems and Prevention research	geen aanvullende eisen
University of Groningen	CPE Track Lifecourse Health Development research	geen aanvullende eisen
University of Groningen	Economic Geography	geen aanvullende eisen
University of Groningen	Sustainable Rural Futures	geen aanvullende eisen
University of Groningen	Educatie in de Mens- en Maatschappijwetenschappen - Aardrijkskunde educational	geen aanvullende eisen
Radboud University Nijmegen	Environment and Society studies	+ aanv. eisen
University of Groningen	Euroculture (EM)	geen aanvullende eisen
University of Groningen	Europese Studies	geen aanvullende eisen
Delft University of Technology	Geomatics	+ aanv. eisen
University of Groningen	Heritage and Religion	+ aanv. eisen
University of Groningen	History of Architecture and Town planning	geen aanvullende eisen
Radboud University Nijmegen	Human geography dual	+ aanv. eisen
Delft University of Technology	Industrial Ecology	+ basiskennis
University of Groningen	International Humanitarian Action (120 EC)	geen aanvullende eisen
	Master Design Driven Innovation part-time	+ toelatingsgesprek
	Serious Gaming part-time	+ toelatingsgesprek
Radboud University Nijmegen	Spatial Planning	+ aanv. eisen
Utrecht University	Urban and Economic Geography	+ aanv. eisen

bron: doorstroommatrix.nl

Potentiële beroepen

advisor spatial planning at a consultancy firm

high school geography teacher

project manager at a local government agency

bron: StudieData

Contact

Saskia Enuma, Reinier Schoep, Nienke Harteveld

Study Advisors Faculty of Spatial Sciences

E: study.advice.fss@rug.nl

Meer informatie?
Bezoek de website van deze opleiding.