MPlan Planning with Professional Placement

The curriculum of Years 1, 2and 4 are the same as our BSc (Hons) 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.

In your third year, you will normally embark on a paid work placement with an organisation in the UK working in the field of planning or real estate. Excitingly, you could be enhancing your employability by working for a private consultancy delivering large-scale developments or in local government helping to create more liveable communities. You also have the option to switch onto the one-year professional placement before the end of your first year of your study.

The fifth year of study is at taught master's level and provides professional training in planning, serving as a fast-track to your future career. You always have the option to switch between the degree programmes with the final ‘integrated Masters' year so you can transfer on or off the five-year programme at any point during your studies.

Effective planning, development and management of our cities, towns 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 opportunities and challenges 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, Property and Environmental Management at The University of Manchester.

The integrated Master of Planning with Professional Placement satisfies the spatial planning curricula for the RTPI and is therefore the fastest route to Licentiate Membership. The degree is also dual accredited, as it is recognised by the RICS Planning and Development and Commercial Real Estate and Valuation pathways.

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 significant implications, including three spectacular National Parks, areas of intensive farming and impressive coastlines.

This course is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on the 'Planning and Development' and ‘Commercial Property and Valuation' pathways - meaning you'll be ideally placed for a professional career in planning or real estate after you graduate.

International fieldwork

This course normally includes a field trip to a European country during your second year, where you can put what you have learnt so far into practice. You will also have the option to attend a field visit abroad in your fifth and final year.

Local fieldwork

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

Study abroad

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

Year in practice

Normally spend 12 months working within the dynamic world of planning, urban design or real estate development, putting into practice the skills you learn on the degree and helping you to gain your professional accreditation.

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 takes a variety of forms - from essays and reports, to posters, oral presentations and project demonstrations (sometimes to practising professionals). We also incorporate lots of opportunities for feedback on non-assessed work so that you can be confident about your progress.

Your dissertation, which takes place in the fourth 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 digital planning skills in our computer suites with specialist design and spatial analysis software.

See facilities  for more information.

Our MPlan graduates are sought by a wide range of employers. A popular graduate route is employment in planning, real estate or multi-sectoral consultancies, where students work to meet client needs on a wide range of areas from:

• developing planning applications for large-scale developments;
• designing and delivering large-scale infrastructure projects;
• providing advice or developing policies on placemaking;
• sustainable development or urban design.

Many students help to deliver bespoke projects or analyse, propose or develop policies or implement strategies as part of their day-to-day work.

Additionally, many of our graduates go on to work in the public sector, including national and local government, implementing and shaping policies in a wide range of different planning and development sectors.

Some of our graduates also gain employment in the third sector, including working for national and international organisations working in planning and development, sustainable development or international development.

After London, Manchester hosts the largest number of planning and environmental consultancies in the UK.

Top employers of our graduates include local governments, UK Government departments, AECOM, ARUP, Atkins, Avison Young, Saville, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald, WSP.

If you decide not to follow a career in the planning, development or real estate sector, your wide knowledge base and transferable skills in problem-solving, strategic thinking, teamwork, creativity, and communication fit what most employers are seeking.

For more information, see careers and employability .

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 .