| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The Master of Planning (MPlan) is a dual-accredited, four-year program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to influence the development and conservation of their environment. The program incorporates a year in planning practice, providing valuable work experience and putting students on the path to Chartered Town Planner status. Graduates are highly sought-after in the planning sector, pursuing careers in town planning, environmental planning, urban design, policy, and research.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
The Master of Planning (MPlan) is a dual-accredited, four-year program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to influence the development and conservation of their environment. The program incorporates a year in planning practice, providing valuable work experience and putting students on the path to Chartered Town Planner status.
Objectives:
- To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the planning process, including its historical, social, economic, and political contexts.
- To develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling them to analyze and address complex planning challenges.
- To equip students with the practical skills needed to be successful planning professionals, including communication, research, and project management.
- To foster a sense of social responsibility and ethical awareness, empowering students to use their planning skills to create a more just and sustainable world.
Program Description:
The MPlan program provides a rigorous and comprehensive education in urban planning, covering topics such as design awareness, environmental sustainability, housing policy, and planning processes. Students develop a deep understanding of the forces that shape cities and communities, acquiring the skills and knowledge needed to plan for a better future. The program incorporates a unique feature: a year in planning practice. This paid placement allows students to gain invaluable experience working in the field, applying their knowledge and skills to real-world projects. The year in practice also provides students with the opportunity to network with professionals and build valuable connections within the planning sector.
Unique Features:
- Dual accreditation: The MPlan is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), meeting the educational requirements for chartered membership in both organizations.
- Year in planning practice: This unique feature provides students with invaluable work experience and puts them on the path to becoming chartered town planners.
- Newcastle as a 'living laboratory': The city of Newcastle provides a rich and diverse environment for students to learn and experience planning in action.
- Focus on research and innovation: The program is informed by cutting-edge research, ensuring students are exposed to the latest developments in the field.
- International field trip: Students have the opportunity to experience planning approaches in a different country, broadening their perspectives and global understanding.
Outline:
Stage 1:
- Modules:
- Planning Processes
- Design Awareness and Communication
- Economics of Development I
- Environment and Sustainability
- Social Worlds
- Understanding Place: Methods and Perspectives
- Shaping Towns and Cities
- Planning for a Better World
- Focus: Building a firm foundation in urban planning, emphasizing design, sustainability, and understanding the forces that shape cities and societies.
- Assessment: A combination of essays, exams, coursework, and group projects.
Stage 2:
- Modules:
- Researching Local Economies
- Research Skills
- Focus:
- Professional development and skills
- Research methods
- Opportunity to tailor the program to individual interests
- Potential semester abroad opportunity
- Assessment: Coursework and optional exams.
Stage 3:
- Modules:
- Strategies into Action: Planning
- Development Management
- Planning Theory and Politics
- Dissertation
- Optional Modules (e.g., Chinese Cultural History and Urban Development, Disasters, Monsters and Mess, Strategies Into Action: Urban Design)
- Focus:
- Advanced professional modules in planning
- Dissertation on a planning topic of choice
- Development of high-level research and presentation skills
- Assessment:
- Combination of essays, exams, coursework, and dissertation.
Stage 4:
- Modules:
- Optional Modules (e.g., Economics of Development, Conservation and the City, Engagement with environment, landscape and planning, Consultancy Project, Linked Research Project, Green Infrastructure, Landscape Planning & Nature Based Solutions, Green Infrastructure, Landscape Planning and Nature Based Solutions (Project), Conservation and the City Project, Regenerating Places, Regenerating Places Project, Reflexive Practitioner (MPlan version), Valuation and Appraisal for Planning, Urban Policy: Origins and Alternatives, Environmental Assessment, Critical and Applied Perspectives on Heritage Practice, Mapping, Data and Measurement)
- Focus:
- Advanced professional modules in planning specializing in either Planning and Regeneration or Environmental Planning
- Live projects with external organizations
- Practitioner workshop sessions
- Assessment:
- Combination of essays, exams, coursework, and project work.
Assessment:
Assessment methods in the MPlan program vary depending on the specific module and stage of study. Some of the common assessment methods include:
- Essays: Students demonstrate their understanding of theoretical concepts and critical thinking skills through written essays.
- Exams: Used to assess knowledge and understanding of key concepts and theories.
- Coursework: Includes a variety of formats, such as case studies, reports, presentations, and group projects, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Dissertation: A substantial piece of independent research on a planning topic of choice, demonstrating research skills and in-depth knowledge of the chosen subject.
- Project work: Involves collaboration with external organizations on live projects, providing students with practical experience and demonstrating their ability to apply planning principles in a professional setting.
Teaching:
The MPlan program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures: Providing students with an overview of key concepts and theories.
- Seminars: Engaging students in active discussion and critical thinking.
- Tutorials: Offering personalized support and guidance.
- Field trips: Experiencing planning in action through visits to relevant sites and organizations.
- Project work: Engaging students in collaborative projects that apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
- Guest lectures: Experts from the field sharing their insights and experiences.
Careers:
Graduates of the MPlan program are highly sought-after in the planning sector. They pursue careers in a variety of roles, including:
- Town planner: Working for local authorities, private consultancies, or government agencies, developing and implementing plans for the development of towns and cities.
- Environmental planner: Focusing on the environmental aspects of planning, ensuring that development is sustainable and protects the natural environment.
- Urban designer: Shaping the physical form of cities and towns, creating attractive and functional spaces for people to live, work, and play.
- Policy officer: Working for government agencies or NGOs, developing and implementing policies that guide the development of towns and cities.
- Researcher: Contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of planning through academic research or consultancy work.
Other:
- The MPlan program is based at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, which enjoys a world-renowned reputation for its expertise in urban planning.
- Students have access to a dedicated planning studio with computing facilities and social space.
- The program boasts strong links to industry, leading to placement opportunities in a range of planning environments.
- Graduates of the MPlan program have a strong track record of success in the job market, with many going on to achieve chartered town planner status.
