MSc Urban Regeneration and Development

Year of entry: 2027

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

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

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

Sustainable Development Goals

Find out how this course aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including learning which relates to:

  • Goal 1: No poverty

Course options

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

Course overview

Study how cities grow, decline and change with this career-focused course that trains tomorrow’s urban change-makers.

  • Gain expertise, hands-on skills and professional accreditation, providing a solid foundation on which to build your career.
  • Manchester is the ideal place to study how cities change. Its history as the world’s first industrial city, its long experience of urban regeneration, and its present as an ever-developing urban hub make it a living example for your learning.
  • Learn from a Planning department with more than 75 years of experience. Our team will help you develop the knowledge and insight to understand urban development opportunities and challenges. You will also gain the skills to devise practical regeneration solutions.
  • Join a UK top 10 Planning department (Complete University Guide 2027).

Our students. Real experiences. Visit the Students Stories page to hear from our students as they share what it’s really like to study here.

Open days

The University holds regular events throughout the year, including webinars and the annual on-campus Master’s Expo, all of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.

We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.

For more details on how you can meet us, visit out events page: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/meet-us/

Fees

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £12,600
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £26,800

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

International student CAS deposit

Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .

Additional expenses

This course normally includes an overseas field trip as an optional part of the programme.

Please note there is a student contribution towards the cost of the trip depending on the location.

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 know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At The University of Manchester, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.

Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.

To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our courses address.

  • Goal 1: No poverty

    End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Environment, Education and Development
Contact name
PG Taught Admissions
Email
Website
https://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/planning/
School/Faculty overview

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, in any discipline.

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 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 Master's course.

Pre-sessional 6-week course requirement:

IELTS UKVI or Academic 6.0 Overall with 6.0 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 5.5, and no other sub-skill below 6.0

TOEFL iBT 80 Overall with 20 in Writing, 20 in Speaking, and no other sub-skill below 18

TOEFL iBT (6-point scale) 4.5 Overall with 4.5 in Writing, and no other sub-skill below 4.0

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI or Academic 65 Overall with 65 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 59 and no other sub-skill below 65

Pre-sessional 10-week course requirement:

IELTS UKVI or Academic 5.5 Overall with no sub-skill below 5.5

TOEFL iBT 72 Overall with 20 in Speaking and no other sub-skill below 18

TOEFL iBT (6-point scale) 4.0 Overall with no sub-skill below 4.0

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI or Academic 59 overall with no sub-skill 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 Master's 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;
  • copies of English Language Certification, such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Pearson test score report, if available at the time of application;
  • your CV.

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

How your application is considered

Applications forMSc Urban Regeneration and Development 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 31 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 Urban Regeneration and Development offers the knowledge and skills to shape the future of our cities, creating places that are inclusive, sustainable and resilient. You will explore how cities evolve, decline and regenerate, analysing the social, economic, political and environmental forces that drive urban change.

Teaching combines critical understanding of policy and governance with the practical expertise needed to plan and deliver regeneration projects - from breathing new life into former industrial areas to developing thriving, liveable neighbourhoods.

This programme provides a strong balance of academic insight and applied skills, preparing you to address pressing challenges such as housing inequality, economic redevelopment and climate adaptation.

Our graduates progress to influential roles in the UK and internationally, working with local authorities, government agencies, regeneration partnerships, consultancies and major developers to deliver meaningful and lasting change.

Aims

You will:

  • identify urban opportunities and challenges and build the knowledge base to devise appropriate regeneration and development solutions;
  • receive a thorough grounding to prepare students for professional practice in urban development and regeneration;
  • explore international perspectives on urban regeneration and development.

Special features

  • Benefit from expert teaching, including guided one-to-one dissertation supervision.
  • Develop practical skills in project work, and access specialist design and spatial analysis software.
  • Select from a mixture of optional units to develop an area of specialism in urban regeneration and development.
  • This course includes fieldwork in the UK, and an optional overseas visit, to explore real-life urban regeneration and development issues. Recent locations for the optional overseas study unit include Amsterdam, Seattle and Istanbul.
  • Study in Manchester, a city where planning has been taught for more than 50 years, and where a range of urban development and environmental challenges and solutions are evident across the city and its surrounding region.

Teaching and learning

Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. 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 role of SEED

  • changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
  • a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
  • changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
  • changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
  • the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
  • the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
  • where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
  • where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.

We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.

The duty of students

Preparation, attendance and conduct

Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.

Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.

Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.

Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:

  • a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
  • the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Immigration, passport and visa requirements

It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:

  • a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
  • a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.

The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.

Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:

  • a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
  • the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment methods are largely individually based, but also involve some elements of group working.

Overall, you are continuously assessed via a range of methods, including essays and report writing, topic papers and critical reviews, project portfolios, and assessed workshop presentations.

Formative feedback is provided through the courses both orally and in written form to help you develop further key skills.

A 12,000-word dissertation on an approved topic is discussed and chosen at the beginning of the second semester and a suitable supervisor allocated.

Course unit details

A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.

120 of these credits are made up by a mix of mandatory and optional course units, with 60 credits taken in each semester.

The availability of individual course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.

The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a dissertation. Your dissertation will often be linked to a topic covered on one of your chosen course units. You will be assigned a supervisor to guide you as you prepare your dissertation.

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
Urban Theory, Planning Theory and Professional Ethics PLAN60041 15 Mandatory
Land and Development PLAN60102 15 Mandatory
MSc URD Dissertation PLAN60550 60 Mandatory
Urban and Regional Policy PLAN60712 15 Mandatory
Digital Planning - Spatial and Policy Analysis PLAN60761 15 Mandatory
Planning Powers and Procedures PLAN60021 15 Optional
Urban Theory, Planning Theory and Professional Ethics PLAN60041 15 Optional
Professional Placement PLAN60070 15 Optional
Design for Healthy Places PLAN60111 15 Optional
Property Valuation PLAN60331 15 Optional
Real Estate Law in Practice PLAN60342 15 Optional
International Urban Design PLAN60491 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
Strategic Planning, Infrastructure and Housing PLAN60872 15 Optional
Digital Planning - Decision Support Systems PLAN60962 15 Optional
Future Cities PLAN62011 15 Optional
Green Infrastructure: Principles, Policies and Practice 1 PLAN64001 15 Optional
Land Use and Transport Planning PLAN64061 15 Optional
Urban Development Planning in Cities of the South: an international perspective PLAN72061 15 Optional
Best practice case studies in urban development planning in cities in the South PLAN72072 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 24 course units

What our students say

Find out how our students feel about studying at The University of Manchester by visiting our student spotlights page.

Facilities

You can develop your practical skills in our computer suites with specialist design and spatial analysis software.

For more information visit our facilities page.

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

The course prepares you for employment in professional practice in urban development, regeneration or planning in the UK or overseas. The degree will provide you with the academic knowledge and professional skills for employment in the private (consultancy, development industry) and public (local authorities, development agencies) sectors.

More generally, MSc Urban Regeneration and Development graduates 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, development 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.

Employers include AECOM, Arup, Atkins, BP, EDF Energy, the Environment Agency, Jacobs, and Rolls-Royce, among other international consultancy companies and agencies.

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.

View the alumni networks already operating across the globe

Accrediting organisations

  • Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Students wishing to obtain full RTPI accreditation are required to complete to a specific combination of optional course units, in addition to the core course units of the MSc.