Study environment - Urban Ecological Planning (Master's Programme)
Study environment
With student groups made up of many different nationalities, drawing on and learning from experiences and understandings from each other is seen as a resource in the class.
Team work
The study program is intense through its initial fieldwork based course. The students form a «real team» in addressing on-the-ground local issues and opportunities. Working in a team with a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds makes a «fertile» ground of exchange and learning. UEP students have also been joining many other projects, workshops and initiatives, which enabled them not only to gain additional knowledge, but also to expand their academic, professional and social networks.
The Faculty and several other organizations at NTNU offer different funding opportunities for student initiatives. On many occasions, UEP students have been successful in accessing these funds and realizing their ideas. There are also a number of other ongoing projects at NTNU, in Trondheim and elsewhere, in which UEP students actively participated.
Trondheim Climathon
A team of UEP students participated in and won the first prize in Trondheim Climathon in October 2016. Climathon is a 24-hours event in which participants come up with innovative ideas and solutions regarding climate change mitigation. The winning solution proposed by UEP students and the rest of their team was to implement a smart road tool system using anonymous traffic data to detect how much and where people are driving. The winning team received 20,000 NOK, coaching sessions and meetings with Trondheim Municipality to discuss the potential implementation of the proposal.
Live studio
Live Studio is an award winning initiative of the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art, where students of architecture and planning work in collaboration with staff to implement projects of strategic spatial nature. It facilitates direct engagement in projects with clients outside of the educational institution. Every year, students involved in Live Studio implement urban interventions as well as landmark architecture and landscape projects in towns and cities in Norway and abroad. The UEP program has provided the empirical and theoretical grounding for this initiative.
ISOCARP
A number of former and present students and faculty members are affiliated with the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) and participated in the Congresses and the Young Planning Professionals’ (YPP) Workshops, which are held annually in different cities around the world.
NorLARNet
UEP students who have written their thesis about a topic from Latin America have been involved in the activities of the Norwegian Latin America Research Network (NorLARNet). The students presented their research progresses and results at the annual Masters Seminars in Oslo and Bergen.
Workshop in Gdansk, Poland (pdf)
In February 2015, UEP students together with students of the Spatial Management program at the Gdansk University of Technology (Poland) organized a bilateral student workshop called “Waterfronts Re-imagined”. Participants from both universities spent four days in the Tricity region of Poland and another four days in Trondheim to look at and discuss the different ideas of planning in coastal cities and the redevelopment of post-industrial waterfront sites. The workshop consisted of site visits, work in groups and open lectures from students, academic staff and professionals. This student initiative received funding from the Faculty of Architecture and Design Student Council Funds, the UEP Committee Funds and the Gdansk University of Technology.
Architecture in Emergency Conference in Istanbul, Turkey
Two papers written by UEP students were presented at the Architecture in Emergency: Re-thinking the Refugee Crisis conference, which took place in Istanbul, Turkey in November 2016. The papers were titled: “Negotiating Space: Traces of Social integration” and “Is Trondheim accommodative for refugees’ employment?” Both papers resulted from students’ field investigation in Trondheim and particularly in Saupstad-Kolstad, a peripheral neighbourhood with the highest percentage of immigrant residents in the city.
Facilities
As a student at the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts at NTNU, you have access to excellent working conditions with a modern library, computer labs and study rooms.
The city
You will be studying in Trondheim, Norway – a quiet, yet dynamic mid-size city, which offers plenty of opportunities for personal development, recreation, sports and entertainment. The city is focused around the university and the affiliated research institutions and technology companies, which attract students and young professionals from around the world.
Trondheim is also a good urban laboratory due to its cultural richness and diversity in demographics and built form. As an ancient capital of Norway, Trondheim has a large pedestrian-oriented central area where you will find some very well-preserved heritage buildings made of wood and stone. This old center coexists nicely with the recently redeveloped port and shipyard areas, which turned into a vibrant district made up of reused warehouses, modern residential and office buildings and high quality public spaces. Trondheim is also known from its good cycling infrastructure and hiking trails that take you out into the beautiful nature in no time.
Student organizations
The university-affiliated organizations offer affordable student housing options linked to well-equipped gyms, sport facilities and activity rooms. Read more here!
The Architect students' own organization is a good choice when it comes to making new friends, trying new activities, getting to know the city and many other things.
Living and costs:
Practical information - Life and housing in Trondheim