Address
35/30, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07. View mapIntake 2025
Application closing date is 30th June 2025
Payment Options
Payment Option 1
Please pay at any branch of the People’s Bank Island-wide using the usual deposit slip. Fill in the slip using the following information and your personal information. Please keep a photocopy/scanned copy of the slip with you before providing it to the university.
Account Number: 318135100004
Account Name:
Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo
Payment Option 2
Please follow the instructions given below.
Those who are unable to pay the application fee to the Bank, they can pay the application fee using the online payment (Pay Online) method of the University of Colombo.
- Please select “Application Fee – Faculty of Graduate Studies” for the Fee Type
- Select Visa or Master
- Enter your Name, NIC (National Identity Card Number) or Passport Number and LKR 4000/=(Local Students)/ 40 USD (Foreign Students) as the Amount.
- Type the account number 318135100004 for Payment Reference. Then click the verify button
- Submit your information.
- Check and confirm your details.
- Enter your card details and proceed .
You should submit the online payment confirmation receipt instead of payment slip in addition to the requested documents as mentioned in the advertisement.
Introduction
Urbanization presents growing challenges in sustainability, housing, transportation, and equity. Effective urban planning is vital to addressing these issues and improving quality of life, particularly in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). The field draws on diverse disciplines including geography, architecture, economics, and sociology and plays a crucial role in shaping sustainable, inclusive communities.
There is an increasing demand for skilled urban planners who can navigate these complexities, making urban and regional planning a critical area of higher education. To address the gap in such programs, especially in LMICs, the University of Colombo’s Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) offers an ideal platform. With strong social science expertise, FGS can attract graduates not only from architecture and engineering, but also from economics, sociology, and geography, enriching the interdisciplinary nature of the program.
The Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (MSc in URP) programme will target several groups of learning partners including fresh graduates in any disciplinary area (e.g., Social Sciences, Arts, Technology, Information Systems, Management, Economics, Geography, Engineering, Architecture, and Pure, applied, or Bio Sciences), currently employed town planners, civil engineers, or architects, and any other public or private sector employees related to the area of Urban and Regional Planning.
The primary objective of the program is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the complexities of urban and regional development. Key learning outcomes include:
- Understanding theories and concepts of regional development and planning.
- Analyzing economic factors shaping development processes.
- Evaluating the impact of policies and planning interventions.
- Developing practical skills in areas such as GIS, data analysis, and research methodologies.
- Fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills.
Semester I
MSURP 6101 – Regional Development and Planning
MSURP 6102 – Economy of Sri Lanka and Development Planning
MSURP 6103 – Human Settlements Planning in Sri Lanka
MSURP 6104 – Urban Planning Theory
Semester II
MSURP 6201 – Environmental Issues and Disaster Management
MSURP 6202 – Urban Planning Laws and Governance
MSURP 6203 – Migration and Development Issues
MSURP 6204 – Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing
Semester III
MSURP 6301 – Computer Applications in Data Analysis
MSURP 6302 – Settlement Planning Studio (group project)
MSURP 6303 – Urban Planning Studio (individual project)
MSURP 6304 – Research Methodology
Semester IV
MSURP 6401 – Seminar on Research
MSURP 6402 – Dissertation
Exemption for MRDP Degree awardees
The candidates those who have completed the Master of Regional Development and Planning (MRDP) programme offered by the FGS will get exemptions for the following courses:
MSURP 6101 – Regional Development and Planning
MSURP 6102 – Economy of Sri Lanka and Development Planning
MSURP 6201 – Environmental Issues and Disaster Management
MSURP 6204 – Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing
MSURP 6301 – Computer Applications in Data Analysis
MSURP 6304 – Research Methodology
The MSc in URP program is structured over two academic years, consisting of four semesters. The curriculum includes a mix of core courses, studio projects, research methodology training, and a dissertation. The program progresses from foundational knowledge in the first year to more specialized and research-oriented work in the second year.
By-law of MSc (U&RP)
Duration: Two years
Weekend Programme
SLQF level: 10
Number of Credits: 60
Medium of Instructions: English
- A Bachelor’s degree (SLQF Level 6) from a recognized University/Institution in the relevant field of study; or
- Any other Bachelor’s degree (SLQF Level 6), with prior learning/work experience in the relevant field of study; or
- A professional qualification (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in SLQF Level 6 or above) in the relevant field of study from a recognized professional body acceptable to the Faculty Board of the FGS and Senate of the University of Colombo with prior learning/ work experience in the field of study; or
- Completion of NVQ level 7 with relevant work experience in the relevant field of study as determined by the Faculty Board of the FGS and Senate of the University of Colombo;
And - A good knowledge of the English language and satisfactory performance at a selection test and /or selection interview.
- A person who wishes to apply for the FGS programmes shall forward the application to the Senior Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Graduate Studies, No.35/30, Pro. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07.
- Applications can be downloaded from (fgs.cmb.ac.lk) the faculty website.
- The students will be selected through an interview.
- The next intake will be announced via the website, at the time of calling for applications.
- (Local students can pay the programme fee in two installments.)
| Local Students | Foreign Students | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Installment (on Registration) | Second Installment (before 1st year semester 2 Examination) | Total programme fee for local students | Total programme fee for foreign students | ||
| Application Fee | Rs. 4,000/= | Rs. 4,000/= | 40 USD | ||
| Programme Fee | Registration Fee | Rs. 5,000/= | – | Rs. 5,000/= | 65 USD |
| Course Fee | Rs. 138,500/= | Rs. 160,000/= | Rs. 298,500/= | 3,980 USD | |
| Library Fee | Rs. 1,500/= | – | Rs. 1,500/= | 20 USD | |
| Examination Fee | Rs. 20,000/= | – | Rs. 20,000/= | 250 USD | |
| Total Fee (Excluding Refundable Library Deposit & Application Fee) |
Rs. 165,000/= | Rs. 160,000/= | Rs. 325,000/= | 4,315 USD | |
| Refundable Library Deposit | Rs. 5,000/= | ||||
- Senior Professor K. Amirthalingam
- Professor A. Sarveswaran
- Professor R. Senathiraja
- Dr. Ananda Y. Karunarathne
- Dr K. Locana Gunaratna
- Dr. Sampath Wahala
- Dr. Dilina Herath
- Dr Senaka Dharmatilleke
- Dr U.T.G. Perera
- Mr. K. A. Vimalenthirarajah
- Mr. B.M.J. Piyal Silva
- Mr. Hemantha Jayasundara
- Mrs. Devsriyani Jayasundara
- Mr. Veranjan Kurukulasuriya
Course Coordinator
Senior Professor K. Amirthalingam
PhD, University of Colombo
Email: amir@econ.cmb.ac.lk
Course Assistant
Ms. Kavindi Madurawala
Email: mscurp@fgs.cmb.ac.lk
Phone: (+94) 11 205 56 56
