MSc Global Urban Development and Planning

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
1 year (full-time); 2 years (part-time)
Entry requirements

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y Y N N

Course overview

  • Improve your understanding of global urban development issues, particularly relating to cities of the global South.
  • Develop the conceptual and operational skills to apply solutions for sustainable urban development in specific contexts, by drawing on the expertise of academics and practitioners from development studies, planning, architecture, and business studies.
  • Explore global real-life planning and development issues in-person and supplement your classroom learning with an international fieldtrip.
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Building a Better Future in Uganda: Andrew Amara

Open days

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.

On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development and our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £11,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000
  • MSc (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £5,750
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Additional expenses

Students will take either the International Planning field course or the Development Fieldwork course unit.

All students will be automatically enrolled on the International Planning field course, and the cost of this field course is incorporated into the course fees. Those students who wish to attend the Development Fieldwork course unit will have to express their preference by 1 October and pay the difference in cost by Christmas.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We offer several postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.

In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course.

For more information, see fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database .

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Environment, Education and Development
Contact name
School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 275 2814
Telephone
+ 44 (0) 161 275 2814
Email
Website
https://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/
School/Faculty
See: The School .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

This programme also accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 Week Pre-sessional English Language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Pre-sessional course.

Pre-sessional 6 Week Course Requirement:

IELTS - 6.0 Overall with 6.0 in writing, no more than one subskill at 5.5 and no subskill below 5.5

TOEFL iBT - 80 overall with 20 in writing, and 20 in speaking, with a minimum of 18 in all other subskills

Pearson PTE Academic or Academic UKVI - 65 overall with 65 in writing, no more than one subskill of 59 and no other subskill below 59.

Pre-sessional 10 Week Course Requirement:

IELTS - 5.5 overall with no element below 5.5

TOEFL iBT - 72 overall with 20 in speaking and no other element below 18

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI - 59 overall and no element below 59  

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our  country-specific information page   for guidance on the academic qualifications which may be accepted from your country.

Professional entry qualification

If you do not meet our academic entry qualification criterion, your admission may still be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or substantial relevant professional experience can be provided.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form: 

  • copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English, please provide official translations;

  • your CV;

  • copies of English Language Certification, such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report. 

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.

How your application is considered

Applications for MSc Global Urban Development and Planning are very competitive. Due to the high demand for the programme we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If we are unable to consider you for an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will only be considered for an offer if places become available.

Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.

Please note, the course may reach capacity before the official closing date of 31st of August, so all students are advised to apply as soon as possible. 

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. 

In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

MSc Global Urban Development and Planning will improve your understanding of global urban development issues, particularly relating to cities of the global South.

Cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America struggle with growth, and urban communities in the developing world are increasingly faced with problems relating to poverty, informality and inequality, climate change, insecurity and lack of social cohesion.

The course will also suit development professionals seeking to acquire new expertise in dealing with urban issues, and social development specialists working in the voluntary, private or public sector.

Aims

You will:

  • focus on sustainable and equitable urban development planning in the Global South;
  • participate in cutting-edge conceptual debates in global urban development theory and practice;
  • gain the skills to gather, organise and employ evidence and information from a wide variety of sources.

Special features

  • Benefit from small-group teaching, close staff-student relationships, and guided one-to-one supervision.
  • Develop practical skills in project studios with drawing facilities, model-making workshops, and specialist design and spatial analysis software.
  • This course has normally included fieldwork opportunities in the UK and abroad, exploring real-life issues on one-day trips, site visits, and overseas residential visits. Past locations include Manchester, London, Dusseldorf, San Francisco, Jinja (Uganda) and Istanbul.
  • Have the flexibility to mix discipline units or specialise, and choose from a range of optional course units. Where specialising in planning-focused modules, gain RTPI-accreditation for your specialist study.
  • Study in Manchester, a city where planning has been taught for more than 50 years, and urban development and environmental impacts are on your doorstep.

Teaching and learning

This course has normally included a field trip. Past locations include Dusseldorf, San Francisco, Uganda and Istanbul.

Part-time students

Part-time students complete the course over 24 months.

There are no evening or weekend course units available; you should, therefore, discuss course requirements with the Programme Director and seek approval from your employer.

Timetabling information is usually available from late August.

You can discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Important notice

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority. The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.

The ability of fieldwork and travel to proceed, and whether any changes to proposed fieldwork and travel might be necessary, will remain subject to factors such as the:

  • rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
  • outcome of any risk assessments conducted by the University;
  • educational value and student experience of the fieldwork, if significant changes to the proposed fieldwork would be necessary;
  • availability of appropriate insurance cover;
  • availability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs.

All fieldwork and travel will be subject to a rigorous risk assessment process and the implementation of any protective measures identified by the risk assessment to ensure the health and safety of all our students and staff.

In some circumstances, it may become necessary to make changes to fieldwork or programme related travel. The University will notify you of those changes at the earliest opportunity. If any fieldwork does not go ahead as planned, then the School's focus will be on seeking to offer a suitable alternative and ensure that the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) of the programme are met.

Please note that Countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice. The School cannot guarantee that where visas are required for fieldwork, they will be granted but we will take steps so that if a visa is refused, affected students are not academically disadvantaged.

Coursework and assessment

You will need to pass a total of eight course units totalling 120 credits, and undertake a dissertation of 12,000 to 15,000 words, providing a further 60 credits.

You must also complete four core compulsory course units and four optional course units.

Most courses are assessed by essays, class presentations and examinations or a combination of these (depending on the course units selected).

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Dissertation (MSc GUDP) EVDV60890 60 Mandatory
Critical Issues in Urban Inequality MGDI60531 15 Mandatory
Urban Development Planning in Cities of the South: an international perspective PLAN72061 15 Mandatory
Best practice case studies in urban development planning in cities in the South PLAN72072 15 Mandatory
Poverty and Development MGDI60141 15 Optional
The Politics and Governance of Development MGDI60391 15 Optional
Development Fundamentals MGDI60411 15 Optional
Development Fieldwork MGDI60502 15 Optional
Political Analysis of Development Policy MGDI60522 15 Optional
Climate, Environment and Development MGDI60552 15 Optional
Citizen-Led Development MGDI60561 15 Optional
Development Research MGDI70982 15 Optional
Planning and Managing Development MGDI70992 15 Optional
Planning Powers and Procedures PLAN60021 15 Optional
Urban Theory, Planning Theory and Professional Ethics PLAN60041 15 Optional
Land and Development PLAN60102 15 Optional
Design for Healthy Places PLAN60111 15 Optional
Planning for Environmental Change PLAN60771 15 Optional
Neighbourhood Planning Project PLAN60812 15 Optional
International Fieldtrip PLAN60832 15 Optional
Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities PLAN60852 15 Optional
International Planning: Systems and Frameworks PLAN60861 15 Optional
Infrastructure Planning PLAN60872 15 Optional
Digital Planning - Decision Support Systems PLAN60962 15 Optional
Land Use and Transport Planning PLAN64061 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 25 course units

Facilities

You can develop your practical skills in our project studio, model-making workshop, and computer suites with specialist design and spatial analysis software.

For more information, see  Facilities

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

For more information, email  dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

MSc Global Urban Development and Planning students develop an advanced knowledge and skill base that can be applied to professional activities relating to a variety of urban-related fields.

Past students have gone on to work as consultants for international development cooperation agencies, planners for national and local governments and private companies, and as practitioners in slum upgrading programmes, or international networks and national NGOs in cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Planning, Property and Environmental Management graduates in general are popular with employers, particularly in consultancy, where the ability to analyse and propose policies and implement strategies is vital.

After London, Manchester hosts the largest number of planning and environmental consultancies in the UK.

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in areas including environmental management and consultancy, urban planning and design, real estate development, urban and regional development policy, central and local government, international development, energy and water, non-governmental organisations, and research.

Top employers include AECOM, Arup, Atkins, BP, EDF Energy, the Environment Agency, Jacobs, and Rolls-Royce.

If you decide not to follow a vocational career, your wide knowledge base and transferable skills in problem-solving, strategic thinking, teamwork, creativity and communication fit what most employers are seeking.

Hear from our professional partners on a 'Meet the Professionals' event for Planning, Environmental Management, Real Estate and Urban Design.

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

Global networks

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK. International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country.

It is an opportunity to build professional and social networks.

You can view the alumni networks already operating across the globe, here .

Accrediting organisations

This course is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

After completion of relevant work experience, you may be able in due course to proceed to full RTPI membership.

Students wishing to obtain full RTPI accreditation will need to take, in addition to the core course units of the MSc, a specific combination of relevant core and optional course units.