Program Overview

Introduction to the Town and Regional Planning MPlan Programme

The Town and Regional Planning MPlan programme is designed for those who wish to pursue a professional career in urban, regional, and environmental planning. The MPlan offers two pathways with distinct specialisms in transforming cities and regions and spatial planning for environmental change.

About the Course

The course content is focused on approaches to planning for the urban environment in a rapidly changing world. An interdisciplinary approach to study provides learning opportunities that draw upon the expertise of academics in Planning as well as academics in the Departments of Geography, Sociology, and Architecture.

Work Experience Opportunities

You will have the opportunity to work with real practitioners as we work with local and international experts on projects and field trips. You are also encouraged to undertake internships or placements with planning agencies throughout your programme.

A Flexible Approach

The Town and Regional Planning MPlan programme has been developed alongside our other planning programmes, allowing you to transfer between programmes within the first two years should your interests or career aspirations change.

Course Structure

The programme is a four-year integrated master's degree that includes a combination of compulsory and optional modules. The course is designed to provide a broad overview of planning issues and the circumstances in which they arise, as well as specialized training in geographic information systems, mapping, and urban design.

Year One

Your first year of study introduces you to planning issues and the circumstances in which they arise. You will take the following compulsory modules:

• COMMUNITY PLANNING (ENVS102)
• CONTEMPORARY TOWN PLANNING (ENVS152)
• ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION (ENVS157)
• TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING: AN INTRODUCTION (ENVS110)
• UNDERSTANDING PLACE (ENVS105)
• URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS (ENVS155) You will also select two optional modules from a range of choices, including:
  • CONTEXT 1.1: HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE (ARCH171)
  • HUMAN GEOGRAPHY THROUGH MERSEYSIDE (ENVS162)
  • LIVING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (ENVS119)
  • NEW HORIZONS IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (ENVS116)
  • RESEARCH FRONTIERS IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (ENVS161)
  • GLOBAL CHALLENGES: DEVELOPMENT, INEQUALITY, ALTERNATIVES (ENVS144)

Year Two

Year two is when you develop your specialism for either transforming cities and regions or spatial planning for environmental change. You will take the following compulsory modules:

• CITIES AND REGIONS (ENVS230)
• PLANNING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (ENVS218)
• RURAL PLANNING (ENVS289)
• GIS FOR PLANNERS (ENVS279)
• PEOPLE AND PLACE (ENVS205)
• STRATEGIC PLAN MAKING (ENVS210)
• URBAN MORPHOLOGY AND PLACE-MAKING (ENVS256) You will also select one optional module from a range of choices.

Year Three

In your third year of study, you will select your specialist pathway, either transforming cities and regions or spatial planning for environmental change. You will take three compulsory modules:

• PLANNING AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT (ENVS369)
• PLANNING LAW AND GOVERNANCE (ENVS348)
• INTERNATIONAL PLANNING STUDIES (ENVS378) You will also select optional modules from a range of choices, including:
  • URBAN DESIGN STUDIES (ENVS312)
  • POLITICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT (ENVS325)
  • GEOGRAPHIC DATA SCIENCE (ENVS363)
  • BUILDING BETTER WORLDS (ENVS387)
  • CONTEMPORARY POPULATION DYNAMICS (ENVS311)
  • GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (ENVS345)
  • SOCIAL AND SPATIAL INEQUALITIES (ENVS357)
  • URBAN DESIGN PROJECT (ENVS359)
  • CLIMATE CHANGE - A CRITICAL REVIEW (ENVS389)
  • ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES, PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS (ENVS329)
  • URBAN AND REGIONAL REGENERATION (ENVS336)
  • ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT PROJECT (ENVS360)
  • URBAN AND REGIONAL REGENERATION PROJECT (ENVS384)

Year Four

Year four focuses on professional planning practice and includes a major project in the module spatial planning in action; coverage of planning theory and ethical questions in planning practice. You will take the following compulsory modules:

• MPLAN DISSERTATION (ENVS494)
• PLANNING IN PRACTICE (ENVS426)
• SPATIAL PLANNING AND DESIGN PROJECT (ENVS467)
• THEORY, POWER AND ETHICS (ENVS432)
• PLANNING PRACTICE PLACEMENT (ENVS448)

Teaching and Assessment

Planning education has an important vocational focus, and in Liverpool, we consider a real-world connection to be extremely important. Our students gain a broad understanding of planning, from the ways in which towns and cities have evolved and are being reshaped to meet the challenges of the 21st century to the effects of planning on the environment and planning's role in urban regeneration.

Course Options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course:

• Global opportunities: University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.
• Year in China: Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.
• Year abroad: Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
• Semester abroad: Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
• Summer abroad: Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
• Year in industry: Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.
• Language study: Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree.

Your Experience

All of our programmes benefit from the expertise of our academic staff who are leading global discussions in spatial planning, planning economics, marine planning, and environmental assessment and management. This means you will benefit from research-led teaching, bringing the latest planning theory and practice into the classroom.

Careers and Employability

Our Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) accredited programmes ensure that you are fully qualified to enter this dynamic profession on graduation. Career paths taken by our recent graduates include:

• Planning and environmental consultants
• Transport planning and urban regeneration
• Economic development
• Environmental management
• GIS and data science specialists
• Social housing

Fees and Funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider:

• Tuition fees:
  • UK fees: £9,790 per year
  • International fees: £27,000 per year
• Additional costs: We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee.
• Scholarships and bursaries: We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.

Entry Requirements

The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course:

• A levels: ABB
• T levels: Considered in a relevant subject
• GCSE: 4/C in English and 4/C in Mathematics
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: D*DD in a relevant diploma
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall with no score less than 4
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3
• Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher: Not accepted without Advanced Highers at grades ABB
• Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced: B in the Welsh Baccalaureate plus AB at A level
• Access: Pass Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject with 45 Level 3 credits with 33 at Distinction and 12 at Merit
• International qualifications: Select your country or region to view specific entry requirements

English Language Requirements

You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you're from a majority English speaking country. We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.