MPlan Planning / Course details

MPlan Master of Planning is a four-year enhanced undergraduate degree which is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The curriculum for the first three years is the same as our BSc Planning and Real Estate, in which you will consider the issues faced by professionals in dealing with the planning, development, and management of all aspects of our built and natural environments.

The fourth year of study is at taught master's level and provides professional training in planning.

However, if you change your mind about your future career, you can choose to exit the MPlan after three years and graduate instead with a BSc Planning and Real Estate degree.

Effective planning, development, and management of our towns, cities and natural environment is crucial in an age when governments and societies all over the world are struggling to deliver sustainable development.

Understanding and engaging with the problems facing the communities and places in which we live, work, and play is at the heart of what we do in the department of Planning and Environmental Management at The University of Manchester.

MPlan Master of Planning satisfies the spatial planning curricula for initial qualification with the RTPI and the RICS Planning and Development pathway.

Manchester is a great place to study planning.

It is a major UK city undergoing rapid urban change, which provides an ideal base for exploring urban development pressures and how these shape economic, social, and environmental futures.

Developing an appreciation of the interaction of people, the economy, and the politics of development are central to this process and your studies in Manchester.

The city is also ideally placed for you to learn about a wide variety of rural environments which have interesting implications for planning and real estate markets, including three spectacular National Parks, areas of intensive farming, and impressive coastlines.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) - meaning you'll be well set up for a professional career in planning or real estate after you graduate.

Local fieldwork

Conduct fieldwork on a local scale, exploring the city of Manchester and its surrounding areas to supplement your studies and assessments.

International fieldwork

This course has normally included a field trip to a European country during your second year, where you can put what you have learnt so far into practice.

Study abroad

Apply to spend one semester studying abroad at one of our exchange partners in Europe, the US, South East Asia, or Australia.

We combine traditional lecture-based teaching with tutorials, seminars and workshop sessions.

Practical subjects, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Photoshop and SketchUp - as well as general computer skills - are taught primarily in university computer suites.

This work is accompanied by group work and the occasional lecture session, giving you an overall hands-on learning experience.

Project-based learning, incorporating studio-based design work, field research and study visits are integral to our MPlan course.

These projects provide an excellent opportunity for you to integrate your knowledge and skills and apply them to real situations - exposing you to professional practice.

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.

We place strong emphasis on coursework and continuous assessment.

Coursework takes a variety of forms - from essays and reports, to posters, oral presentations, team promotions, and project demonstrations (sometimes to practising professionals).

Your dissertation, which takes place in the third year, will draw together the different strands of the course and allow you to study a subject that really interests you.

You will work with an individual supervisor to conceive, plan, execute and write up an independent and novel piece of research.

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

See facilities  for more information.