The School of Planning and Architecture had a modest beginning in 1941 as a Department of Architecture of Delhi Polytechnic. It was later affiliated to the University of Delhi and integrated with the School of Town and Country Planning which was established in 1955 by the Government of India to provide facilities for rural, urban and regional planning. On integration, the School was renamed as School of Planning and Architecture in 1959.

Recognizing the specialized nature of the fields in which the School had attained eminence, in 1979, the Government of India, through the then Ministry of Education and Culture, conferred on the School of Planning and Architecture the status of "Deemed to be a University". With this new status, the School has broadened its horizon by introducing new academic and extension programmes and promoting research and consultancy activities.

The School is a specialized University, only one of its kind, which exclusively provides training at various levels, in different aspects of human habitat and environment. The School has taken lead in introducing academic programmes in specialized fields both at Bachelor's and Master's level, some of which are even today not available elsewhere in India. The School, in striving for excellence, has always been in the lead in extending education and research to new frontiers of knowledge. Human habitat and environment being the basic concern of the School, the spectrum of academic programmes is being continuously extended by providing programmes in new fields and emerging areas for which facilities are not available, as yet, anywhere else in the country.

A site of 20 acres has recently been acquired south of JNU for developing a new campus. Another 20 acres of land adjoining this site is expected to be allotted to the School. A development plan for the new campus is being prepared.

Today the School offers the following programmes:

A. UNDER-GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

(i) Bachelor's Programme in Architecture
(ii) Bachelor's Programme in Planning

B. POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

(i) Master's Programme in Architecture with specialization in
(a) Architectural Conservation
(b) Industrial Design
(c) Urban Design
(ii) Master's Programme in Planning with specialization in
(a) Environmental Planning
(b) Housing
(c) Transport Planning
(d) Regional Planning
(e) Urban Planning
(iii) Master's Programme in Building Engineering and Management
(iv) Master's Programme in Landscape Architecture

C. DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES

In 1985, Doctoral Programmes were introduced leading to Ph.D. Degree in the disciplines offered at the School.

For admission to the programmes of the School, there is provision of an annual intake of 90 seats for Bachelor's programmes, 135 seats for Master's Programme and 10 seats for Doctoral Programmes. In addition there is a provision of up to 10% of sanctioned intake for foreign nationals.

To promote research, extension, documentation and dissemination in respective fields, Centres of Research and Advanced Studies have been set up by the School for advanced studies in Architecture, Urban Design, Conservation Studies, Environmental Studies, Housing Studies, Rural Development, Transport Studies, Urban Studies and Innovative Spatial Planning. In addition, there is also the Centre for Analysis and Systems Studies providing for computer education and computer support facilities.

In recognition of the need for extending the education and research facilities to other developing countries in Africa, SAARC and South Asia, and to support and participate in the bilateral cultural programmes being entered into by India with other countries in these regions, the School has recently established the Overseas Research and Development Centre. It is the hope that this centre will enable international interaction with the School and extension of research of the School.

In the School, there is a pronounced emphasis on organized research, both sponsored and non-sponsored, in all the Departments of Studies and Centres of Research. Research activity in the School is carried out through full-time Ph.D. scholars registered for Doctoral Programmes of the School; faculty members pursuing Doctoral Programmes on their own; Sponsored Research Projects undertaken by Centres of Research; International Research Projects supported by the School and Institutional collaborative research endeavors.

The School has a tradition of organizing, from time to time, short-term Courses/ Seminars/ Workshops/ Special Programmes/ Exhibitions on particular areas of interest for the academic 'thrust areas' of the School. They are very popular and well attended by senior/ middle level officers as participants sponsored by Government Departments (Centre & State), Town Planning Organizations, Development Authorities, Housing Boards, Municipal Bodies, Public Undertakings, Private Sector Undertakings and other Institutions.

The graduates of the School are manning senior positions in the various planning and development bodies in the country, A good number of our graduates are abroad in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia working in State Departments, Universities or engaged in private practice.