Master of Planning (MPlan)

MPlan Planning

Make a difference with an integrated Master of Planning, shaping vibrant, liveable, sustainable places for communities to live, work and play.

  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: K401 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Scholarships available
  • Field trips
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £29,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Additional expenses

This course has normally included an overseas field trip in year 4, which 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

We are committed to attracting and supporting the very best students from all backgrounds to study this course.  

You could be eligible for cash bursaries of up to £2,500 to support your studies. 

Find out about our funding opportunities

Course unit details:
EIA Project

Course unit fact file
Unit code PLAN40332
Credit rating 15
Unit level Level 4
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This module will provide you with practical experience of undertaking elements of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for a project based in the Greater Manchester area. It develops practical knowledge and skills in relation to project design and planning and undertaking environmental impact assessment.  Each student is to provide advice to a client organisation that has land holdings in the Greater Manchester area and seeks to take forward medium- to large- scale, mixed-use development of a particular site.

 

 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Environmental Impact Assessment PLAN40321 Co-Requisite Compulsory
To take PLAN40332 EIA Project, students must first have taken the PLAN40321 Environmental Impact Assessment unit

Aims

  1. To provide experience in undertaking the early stages of an EIA to provide advice to a client.
  2. To provide experience in site evaluation, project development and approaches to impact assessment.
  3. To enable students to develop self-learning capabilities and to demonstrate them in small group sessions
  4. To provide experience in writing reports relating to the preliminary stages of EIA.
  5. To gain experience in project management and team work.
  6. To present work, using a variety of means, to an appropriate professional standard.


 

 

Teaching and learning methods

Introductory lectures to each stage, 

Bespoke GIS for EIA session

Workshops with practitioners on assessing various impact types

Weekly drop-in sessions (group)

Initially you will work in small groups to undertake research on the site and gather relevant materials, data, etc., for the group presentation on key site features and potential options for development. Following the group presentation, you will work as individuals, and draw on the presentation and your own further analysis to explore potential impacts and their assessment. 

Knowledge and understanding

Understand some of the practice-based challenges in EIA

Intellectual skills

Demonstrate a capability to solve environmental planning problems in a situation requiring both self-motivation and self-reliance

Practical skills

Present work to a professional standard in bot written and verbal formats

Prepare written reports in detail relating to the EIA process

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Work effectively as a member of a group in producing work

Overcome challenges, both as a member of a team and as an individual through appropriate team management

 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 30%
Report 40%
Oral assessment/presentation 30%

Group presentation (10 minutes) 30% weighting

Group presentation (15 minutes) 30% weighting

Individual Report (1000 words) 40% weighting

Feedback methods

Feedback on submitted work is provided within 15 working days via Turnitin

Recommended reading

Indicative Readling List 

Glasson, J., Therivel, R. and Chadwick, A. (2019) Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, Routledge, Abingdon, 5th edition.

Landscape Institute/Institute of Environmental Assessment (2013) Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment third edition, Routledge, London. Full text available online through University Library.

Morris, P. and Therivel, R. (eds.) (2018) Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment, UCL Press, London, 4th edition

Online resources

Communities and Local Government, UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/planning-system

You should explore issues relating to planning policy, guidance, etc.

Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 No. 571 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/571/contents/made

Department of Transport (nd) Environmental Assessment Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 11 (updated), HMSO, London.

http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/vol11/index.htm

European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/home.htm

European Commission (2001) Guidance on EIA: EIS Review, Directorate General for Environment, EC, Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/eia-guidelines/g-review-full-text.pdf

European Commission (2001) Guidance on EIA: Scoping, Directorate General for Environment, EC, Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/eia-guidelines/g-scoping-full-text.pdf

European Commission (2001) Guidance on EIA: Screening, Directorate General for Environment, EC, Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/eia-guidelines/g-screeni

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Fieldwork 3
Lectures 3
Practical classes & workshops 14
Independent study hours
Independent study 130

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Andrew Snow Unit coordinator

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