MPlan Planning / Course details

Year of entry: 2023

Course description

Photo of Rachael

In the second year, there's an optional course unit to take on a work placement.

I split my time between a private consultancy called Southern Planning Practice and a local authority called Eastleigh Borough Council. I loved looking into planning applications and deducing what decision I would give before planners would reveal what was actually recommended.

Rachael Morris / MPRE Master of Planning with Real Estate student

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.

Special features

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Portugal field trip

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.

Teaching and learning

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.

Coursework and assessment

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.

Course content for year 1

Year 1 is a broad introduction to the fundamentals of planning.

Course units for year 1

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
Designing Sustainable Futures PLAN10031 20 Mandatory
Introduction to Planning and Development PLAN10041 20 Mandatory
Applied Project PLAN10092 20 Mandatory
Introduction to Real Estate PLAN10201 20 Mandatory
Introduction to Urban and Environmental Economics PLAN10352 20 Mandatory
Rural Planning PLAN10362 10 Optional
Principles of Real Estate Law PLAN10622 10 Optional
Place-making PLAN10632 10 Optional

Course content for year 2

In Year 2, you will begin to specialise.

This course has normally included a field trip to a European country during your second year and you can also apply to spend one semester studying abroad at one of our exchange partners in Europe, the US, South East Asia and Australia.

Course units for year 2

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
Sustainable Development Project PLAN20072 20 Mandatory
Applied Research for Planning and Real Estate PLAN20172 20 Mandatory
Plan Making & the Development Process PLAN20181 20 Mandatory
Policy for Cities and Regions PLAN20381 10 Mandatory
Valuation & Appraisal PLAN21012 20 Mandatory
Data Analytics for Planning & Real Estate PLAN26041 10 Mandatory
Professional Placement PLAN20090 20 Optional
Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment PLAN20521 20 Optional

Course content for year 3

In Year 3, you will develop your planning specialism further. 

You will focus on career development and applying the planning concepts and skills to real-world situations. 

You will also undertake a dissertation on a topic of your choice to put your knowledge into practice. 

Course units for year 3

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 (UG) PLAN30000 40 Mandatory
Planning & Property Law PLAN30072 20 Mandatory
Urban Theory, Planning Ethics PLAN30081 20 Mandatory
Housing, Planning & Development PLAN30512 20 Mandatory
Real Estate Investment & Finance PLAN36011 20 Optional
Future Cities PLAN36021 20 Optional

Course content for year 4

In Year 4, you will continue developing your specialism and professional-related studies in spatial planning, environment, urban design, real estate, urban regeneration, or international planning.

The option of a placement is very popular, which may involve working in a public or private sector planning office.

Course units for year 4

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
Land and Development PLAN40662 15 Mandatory
Digital Planning - Spatial and Policy Analysis PLAN40761 15 Mandatory
Environmental Impact Assessment PLAN40321 15 Optional
EIA Project PLAN40332 15 Optional
Planning for Environmental Change PLAN40391 15 Optional
Professional Practice and Placement PLAN40470 15 Optional
International Fieldwork PLAN40712 15 Optional
Urban Development Planning in Cities of the South: an international perspective PLAN40771 15 Optional
Neighbourhood Planning PLAN40812 15 Optional
Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities PLAN40852 15 Optional
International Planning: Systems and Framework PLAN40861 15 Optional
Best Practice Case Studies in Urban Development Planning PLAN40972 15 Optional
Real Estate Law in Practice PLAN41002 15 Optional
International Urban Design PLAN41081 15 Optional
Real Estate Investment and Finance PLAN41191 15 Optional
Infrastructure Planning PLAN42002 15 Optional
Design for Healthy Places PLAN44011 15 Optional
Future Cities PLAN44021 15 Optional
Digital Planning: Decision Support Systems PLAN44032 15 Optional
Advanced Real Estate Finance PLAN44042 15 Optional
Real Estate Modelling PLAN44052 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 21 course units for year 4

Facilities

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.

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 .