Urban and Regional Planning Master of Science - MSc (UG)

Launch your planning career with a professionally-focused course combining spatial planning theory and real-world application. You'll develop critical skills in areas including policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and urban design. The course will prepare you for roles in planning, urban design, and regeneration.

Course description\
Our MSc prepares you to launch a successful career in planning, equipping you with the research, design, and policy skills valued by employers across the public, private, and third sectors. 

You’ll explore the forces shaping cities and rural areas, learn how research informs policy and practice, and apply your knowledge to real-world planning challenges, with opportunities to specialise through optional modules. The course combines rigorous academic learning with practical, hands-on experience, giving you a deep understanding of the factors that shape cities, towns, and rural areas across the UK, Europe, and the rapidly urbanising Global South.

We cover the full spectrum of planning practice, from understanding urban design principles and the development process to engaging with policy, governance, and public administration. Modules such as Planning and the Development Process, Urban Design: Principles and Processes, and Plan Making provide a blend of theoretical grounding and applied skills, enabling you to analyse, design, and evaluate real-world planning projects. Optional modules allow you to tailor your learning to your own career goals, whether that’s in urban regeneration, housing, or sustainability.

With a strong emphasis on employable skills, including research, policy analysis, project management, stakeholder engagement, and professional communication, the programme prepares graduates for careers in the public, private, and third sectors. Our close links with industry provide opportunities for placements, networking, and real-world experience, giving you a competitive edge in entering the planning profession.

Graduates of the MSc Urban and Regional Planning programme are fully prepared for careers in the public, private, and third sectors. The course's strong emphasis on practical experience, coupled with its accreditation by the RTPI and RICS, ensures that you will have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a wide range of career opportunities in town planning, urban design, environmental management, heritage and conservation management, real estate and regeneration in the public and private sectors.

Accreditation\
This MSc conversion programme is recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as an accredited qualification, allowing those who complete the programme to progress via the licentiate pathway towards chartered membership of the RTPI. By completing an accredited programme you will benefit from full eligibility to become a chartered planning professional – opening up a wide range of future career opportunities.

This MSc is also accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), on the ‘Planning & Development’ pathway. This provides a breadth of knowledge and industry-wide recognition of your qualification.

Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information.