Overview

Designed for graduates with ambitions in urban or environmental planning, this Planning programme offered by The University of Manchester equips you with the essential knowledge and practical skills to make a meaningful impact: whether you're aiming to work in the public sector, private consultancy, or beyond.

Accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the course sets you on the path to becoming a chartered planning and development professional; a respected and influential role in shaping the built and natural environment.

You’ll develop a robust understanding of planning procedures, urban theory, and spatial analysis, while gaining insight into the real-world processes that drive development. From site assessments and design principles to planning applications, project implementation, and post-completion review, you’ll follow the full lifecycle of planning projects as they unfold.

Whether you want to reimagine underused urban spaces, promote sustainable growth, or lead major infrastructure developments, MSc Planning will give you the tools to deliver thoughtful, effective, and forward-thinking planning solutions in a rapidly changing world.

Career opportunities

The course prepares you for employment in professional practice in 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, MSc Planning 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 and environmental consultancies in the UK.

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

Graduate employers include:

• AECOM;

• Arup;

• Atkins;

• BP;

• EDF Energy;

• The Environment Agency;

• Jacobs;

• Rolls-Royce;

• several other international consultancy companies and agencies.