For applicants who have not yet received their secondary or high school certificate/diploma
Submit official/notarized/certified/or attested copies of ALL senior secondary/high school records. This includes mark sheets, academic transcripts, final examination results, diplomas, and degree certificates such as Std. X (SSC), Std. XII (HSC), O Levels, A Levels, WAEC, CXC, IB, etc.
For applicants who have attended any post-secondary institution (college/university)
Submit official/notarized/attested/or certified copies of senior secondary/high school records (see above) and ALL post-secondary school (university/college) records. This includes mark sheets, academic transcripts, examination result, diplomas, and degree certificates. Failure to provide ALL academic records may result in denial of admission, admission and scholarship revocation, and/or refusal of transfer credit.
For applicants wishing to receive transfer credit
Students wishing to receive transfer credit must submit official/notarized/attested/or certified academic records as above, with the credit award being done with course descriptions/syllabi in view. When not readily available online, students may be requested to provide official course descriptions showing exact course numbers and names. Student-generated descriptions are not accepted. Course descriptions may be submitted after notice of admission but must be done before registering for classes. Transfer credit is offered at the discretion of the faculty and is not always awarded.
For applicants submitting non-English academic records
Submit word-for-word notarized/certified/or attested English translations in the same format as the official document if the official document is not in English. It is important that everything on the official document is translated. Translations must be done by a bona fide translating agency in the applicant’s country or in the U.S.
English Requirement
Most of our accepted applicants have at least 75 on TOEFL, 6.0 on IELTS, or 90 on Duolingo. If you have taken another English test (iTEP, PTE, etc.), please submit the scores and we would be happy to review them. Students whose score is insufficient may still apply for Conditional Admission.
For Applicants wishing for Conditional Admission
Appearing for some form of English exam is required. Students who do not provide sufficient English test scores prior to registration will be given the University’s English Language Assessment Battery (ELAB) test upon arrival. If the ELAB is passed at a satisfactory level, students may begin academic classes. If not, the student will be required to attend the University’s English Language Institute (ELI) until proficiency is reached.
Provide at least one letter of recommendation in English. These letters may be submitted online or may come in a sealed envelope from professors or employers who can attest to the applicant’s accomplishments and potential for success at the undergraduate level. No special form is required.
Submit an original personal statement/essay (250-500 words) CLEARLY explaining why the particular academic program was chosen, what the degree will do for the applicant’s personal and career development, and how such a degree will help them to achieve future goals and aspirations. Please include professional plans for after the program is completed as well.
Urban planning and management are key municipal functions in the United States and Western Europe. In the rapidly growing developing world, urban expansion has far outstripped the capacity of city governments to cope with the bewildering array of problems this mass movement and spatial reorganization of the population generates. Huge, difficult-to-manage, multi-centered megacities continue to emerge worldwide, along with the proliferation of thousands of other smaller cities. Nevertheless, the attraction of urban life has never been greater. With more than 50 percent of the world’s population living in cities at the turn of the century, the 21st century will be the world’s first truly urban era.
The challenge this urbanized world poses is the substance of the planning profession. Planners are dedicated to developing innovative approaches to managing cities and planning their development. The constructive management of change is at the heart of the profession. Planners often work in local governments and communities, but their concerns are issues that affect the world — land use, social policy, historic preservation, transportation, housing, economic development, policy planning, environmental protection, urban design and international development. Planners are visionaries working for a better future through improvements in the quality of life in one or more of these areas.
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Urban planners develop solutions for many of society’s most pressing problems, providing a variety of services to cities, towns, states, regions and private clients interested in changing their physical, economic or social structures. A planner may generate plans to house the poor, create jobs, design public parks, preserve historic buildings or resolve traffic congestion and environmental problems.
The future is bright in the field of planning. Graduates go on to both private- and public-sector jobs. Opportunities continue to grow, and salaries remain competitive. Additionally, planning graduates are often given significant professional responsibility and challenges quite early in their careers.
Additional career options are listed on the Center for Exploratory Studies website.
