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Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Master of Planning course at University of Manchester.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
A,B,B
ABB Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive. Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels. Typical Contextual Offer: BBC Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive. Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Most popular A-levels studied
See who's studying at University of Manchester. These students are taking Master of Planning or another course from the same subject area.
| Subject | Grade |
|---|---|
| Business Studies | A* |
| Geography | A |
| Economics | B |
| Sociology | A |
| Biology | C |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: K401
Here's what University of Manchester says about its Master of Planning course.
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, including three spectacular National Parks, areas of intensive farming and impressive coastlines.
Source: University of Manchester
Course details
Qualification
Master of Planning - MPlan
Department
School of Environment, Education and Development
Location
Main Site | Manchester
Duration
4 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Planning
Start date
21 September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
University of Manchester student reviews
Showing 200 reviews
1st year student
2 years ago
Five stars: Excellent
1st year student
2 years ago
Five stars: Excellent
1st year student
2 years ago
Three stars: Good
1st year student
2 years ago
Five stars: Excellent
1st year student
2 years ago
Four stars: Great
1st year student
2 years ago
Three stars: Good
National Student Survey (NSS) scores at University of Manchester
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from University of Manchester students who took the Master of Planning course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
81%
low
Teaching on my course
81%
low
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
77%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
92%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
76%
low
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
78%
med
Learning opportunities
80%
med
Learning opportunities
80%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
84%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
89%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
82%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
82%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
65%
low
Assessment and feedback
78%
med
Assessment and feedback
78%
med
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
87%
med
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
75%
low
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
73%
med
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
87%
med
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
69%
low
Academic support
87%
low
Academic support
87%
low
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
89%
low
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
84%
low
Organisation and management
88%
med
Organisation and management
88%
med
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
95%
high
How well organised is your course?
82%
med
Learning resources
85%
med
Learning resources
85%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
87%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
85%
low
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
85%
med
Student voice
84%
med
Student voice
84%
med
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
74%
med
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
89%
med
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
86%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
69%
low
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
92%
med
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
80%
med
Student information
See who's studying at University of Manchester. These students are taking Master of Planning or another course from the same subject area.
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
Facts and figures about University of Manchester graduates who took Master of Planning - or another course in the same subject area.
Graduate statistics
95%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
95%
In work, study or other activity
100%
Say it fits with future plans
65%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
60%
Architecture and construction professionals
10%
Managers, directors and senior officials
10%
Media Professionals
10%
Welfare and housing associate professionals
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from University of Manchester graduates who took Master of Planning - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£31.9k
Third year after graduation
£40.2k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Master of Planning.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about University of Manchester on The Student Room.
University of Manchester open days
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