Overview

Course overview

  • Join a UK top 10 Planning department (Complete University Guide 2025).
  • Takes an integrated and cross-disciplinary approach to critically examine, understand and address the grand challenges cities and their transport systems face today and in the future.
  • Study a unique programme that transcends the traditional disciplinary boundaries typically encountered in both academic and professional settings.
  • Gain the skills necessary for flexible career options in transport planning, urban planning and development.
  • Manchester serves as a living laboratory, showcasing numerous examples of how transport and urban land use planning intersect.
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Study MSc Transport and Urban Planning at the University of Manchester

Open days

If you’re considering a master’s at Manchester, there are a range of ways you can connect with us to find out more.

  • Taught master's information sessions
  • Taught master's guided campus visits
  • Study fairs in the UK
  • Education fairs overseas

For more information, see our page on meeting us .

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Environment, Education and Development
Contact name
Postgraduate Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0)161 275-2814
Email
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

  • 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.
  • A bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Geography, Engineering, Transport and Logistics Economics, and Public Administration is a desired requirement.

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 Master's course.

Pre-sessional 6-week course requirement:

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

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

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 59.

Pre-sessional 10-week course requirement:

IELTS UKVI or Academic 5.5 Overall with no sub-skill below 59

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

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.

Relevant work experience

  • If you do not have a degree in one of the listed relevant areas, your application may be considered on the basis of your professional experience in the relevant fields, including urban planning, transport planning, and other public policy domains for a minimum of 2 years.
  • A reference must be provided by your employer to evidence that you currently work in an area relevant to the programme. This reference document should be signed, dated and less than six months old at the time you submit your application.

Fees and funding

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £12,600
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £26,300
  • MSc (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £6,300
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,100

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

Additional expenses

An overseas field visit is an optional part of the course.

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

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:

  • copies of English Language Certification, such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report. Applications without an English language qualification may initially be placed on a waiting list;
  • 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.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid delays in processing your application.

How your application is considered

Applications for this course 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 early 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

The MSc Transport and Urban Planning is a unique course that brings together two interconnected disciplines, breaking intellectual discourse and practice boundaries typically encountered in both academic and professional settings. It takes an integrated and cross-disciplinary approach to critically examine, understand and address the grand challenges cities and their transport systems face today and in the future. The programme is research-led and practice-oriented and designed to equip you with knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to make a significant contribution to tackling the global challenge of creating towns and cities with better and fairer accessibility and more equitable and sustainable mobility.

You will be exposed to the latest thinking and debates in sustainable place-making, sustainable transport and mobility and complex systems analysis, and build a solid foundation to effectively function as transport and planning practitioners in various international contexts, for public, private and third sector organisations. With the transdisciplinary view of transport and spatial planning, and the strong global perspective you will develop, you will be able to work in project teams dealing with complex urban systems interventions in different planning and socio-economic contexts, and at multiple scales (neighbourhood, city, regional and global). You will develop the ability to think critically and enact solutions to help create more sustainable, efficient, and liveable urban environments with equitable transport systems.

This course is aimed at candidates interested in interdisciplinary work. Prospective students may come from diverse backgrounds, including transport planning, engineering, urban planning, or geography. The programme is well-suited for graduates aiming to pursue careers in either the transport planning or urban planning sectors, both within the UK and internationally, and across public, private, or civil society organizations.

The course is taught by world-leading researchers, including but not limited to:

  • Ransford Antwi Acheampong (Dr.) : Future transport and mobility with a focus on Urban impacts of new and emerging transport technologies and associated mobility services; Transport integration (policy and technical dimensions); Transport service co-location and mobility hubs planning; Urban forms and transport systems interactions; Transport decarbonization and sustainability.
  • Nuno Pinto (Dr.) : Decision support in urban planning, Urban simulation, Integrated urban and transport planning, Quantitative methods in urban planning, Big data in urban planning, Urban planning and planning policies, Urban design.
  • Helen Zheng (Dr.) : Spatial planning; Geospatial data analytics; Social statistics; Machine Learning; Travel behaviour; Transport Decarbonization; Participatory methods.

As a student on this programme, you will experience the longstanding practice-oriented ethos of teaching and learning across all programmes in the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management (PPEM). The MSc is built on a sequential engagement with theories and concepts, methods and tools, and case studies that will converge towards an integrated, project-based approach to transport and spatial planning. The programme combines structured lectures, seminars, workshops and fieldtrips (daily and residential), and leverage online learning resources to offer as much flexibility as possible for students to self-direct their learning.

Special features

  • Study an accredited degree that prepares you for careers in the fields of transport planning, urban planning and development.
  • Have the flexibility to choose from a carefully selected portfolio of optional course units.
  • Study in Manchester, a city where urban planning has been taught for more than 70 years, and urban development, transport and sustainability issues are on your doorstep.
  • Develop professional skills through project work, and the application of specialist analytical, modelling and simulation tools and techniques.
  • Participate in fieldwork opportunities in the UK and abroad, exploring real-life issues on one-day trips, site visits, and optional overseas residential visits.

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 is largely project-focused to be carried out in groups or individually and combines essays, reports, policy briefs, presentations, and a dissertation. Students will receive continuous formative feedback (in both oral and written forms) from tutors and through practitioners in the fields of transport and urban planning. Assessment will leverage different formats and media (e.g., blogs, video presentations, data and code, visualisation tools) using the available set of tools (e.g., Padlet, Story Maps, course blogs, UoM Videoportal).

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
PLAN60761 15 Mandatory
PLAN60962 15 Mandatory
PLAN62022 15 Mandatory
PLAN62032 15 Mandatory
PLAN62070 60 Mandatory
PLAN64061 15 Mandatory
GEOG70971 15 Optional
PLAN60111 15 Optional
PLAN60832 15 Optional
PLAN60872 15 Optional
PLAN62011 15 Optional
PLAN72072 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 12 course units

Facilities

You can develop your practical skills in a wide range of field study locations, and computer suites with specialist spatial analysis (GIS) and transport modelling software.

The University's Main Library is the largest university library system in the UK apart from the copyright libraries and has a number of different working spaces. It is home to the University Map Collection, which comprises about 100,000 map sheets of every part of the world.

See facilities for more information.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The course prepares you for employment in professional practice in the fields of transport planning and urban planning in the UK or overseas and 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, 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, transport and development consultancies in the UK.

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

Graduate employers include:

  • AECOM;
  • Arup;
  • Atkins;
  • WSP;
  • BP;
  • EDF Energy;
  • The Environment Agency;
  • Jacobs;
  • Rolls-Royce;
  • Transport for Greater Manchester;
  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority;
  • Local Authorities across the UK;
  • several other international consultancy companies and agencies.

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.

Accrediting organisations

This course is approved by the TPP Professional Standards Committee of the CIHT and the Transport Planning Society (TPS) as meeting requirements for the Transport Planning Professional qualification.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.