Program Overview

Graduate Studies Office Oifig na Staidéar Iarchéime

Postgraduate courses

Planning & Sustainable Development

Course Fact File

• Code: MPLPSD
• Duration: 2 Years
• Teaching Mode: Full-time
• Qualifications: MPlan
• NFQ Level: Level 9
• Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Applications are still being taken for waitlist places.
• Non-EU Closing Date: Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
• Start Date: 8 September 2025

Course Outline

Our Master’s in Planning and Sustainable Development (MPlan) programme is offered by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences (CACSSS) at University College Cork (UCC). This is an internationally-recognised, professionally-accredited master’s course in spatial planning and development for cities, regions, towns, rural areas, and neighbourhoods.

As chartered professionals, MPlan graduates tackle real-world sustainability and environmental challenges in public, private and community settings throughout the world.

The MPlan is a comprehensive, two-year course compatible with European standards and with international professional training models for planning. Our graduates come from many different disciplines, so our course offers a rich learning environment for people to fine-tune their areas of interest into a practical, ethical and effective field of action with relevance in the contemporary world.

The degree, which has a strong theoretical and ethical foundation, develops a wide range of skills and abilities leading to a strong capacity for making real-world, imaginative and balanced proposals and recommendations about the future of places.

On graduation, you will be able to make a genuine and enduring contribution to society. The course content and learning progression of the MPlan has been designed around the professional accreditation requirements of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Irish Planning Institute (IPI).

Course Content

This is a full-time taught programme running for 24 months over two academic years from the date of first registration. You will take a total of 120 credits over two academic years as follows:

• Year 1 (60 credits total)
  • PD6105 Housing, Social Change and Community Needs (5 credits)
  • PD6106 Infrastructure and Transport in Land Use Planning (5 credits)
  • PD6110 Foundations in Planning and Sustainable Development (5 credits)
  • PD6111 Contemporary Concepts in Planning Theory (5 credits)
  • PD6112 Drawing, Communication and Observation Skills (5 credits)
  • PD6113 Information and Engagement Skills in Planning (5 credits)
  • PD6114 Planning Processes, Administration and Participation (5 credits)
  • PD6116 Urban and Metropolitan Spatial Planning (5 credits)
  • PD6117 Regional, National and Transnational Planning (5 credits)
  • PD6118 Principles of Urban Design and Place-making (5 credits)
  • PD6205 Planning and Management of Natural Resources (5 credits)
  • LW6101 Introduction to Planning Law (5 credits)
• Year 2 (60 credits total)
  • PD6120 Landscape Character, Context and Change (5 credits)
  • PD6122 Planning and Design for Built Heritage (5 credits)
  • PD6206 Property, Sustainable Growth and Enterprise (5 credits)
  • PD6207 Spatial Planning and Landscape for Rural Environments (5 credits)
  • PD6208 Applied Discourses in Planning and Sustainable Development (5 credits)
  • PD6209 International Planning Systems and Approaches (5 credits)
  • PD6211 Plan-making and Forward Planning Skills (5 credits)
  • PD6212 Planning Skills in Development Management and Assessment (5 credits)
  • PD6213 Research Methods and Proposals in Planning (5 credits)
  • PD6215 Planning Dissertation/Research Project (15 credits)

Course Practicalities

This programme is taken on a full-time basis over 2 years across two 12-week teaching terms. Lectures will be scheduled on four to five days per week and there will also be afternoon studio sessions or tutorials each week, all supported by individual study/reading time. There will be mandatory residential and day field trips, both within and outside Ireland in both years, and students will be asked to contribute towards the cost of these.

Assessment

MPlan modules are assessed almost entirely through coursework: essays, designs, field journals, tutorials, team projects, written reflection, individual presentations and research projects/dissertations. Around 25% of the modules also have a short written examination at the end of the relevant teaching period, making up 30-40% of the marks available for the module.

Why Choose This Course

The MPlan at UCC is known for the high quality of its graduates and its broad-based approach to learning. With a core teaching team of experienced professional planners, the course sits at the meeting point between the rigour of academic thought and the effectiveness of real-world practice.

Our MPlan has an international focus (with two study visits outside of Ireland) and a disciplinary ethos that straddles the physical sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. This makes our programme especially interesting for English-speaking graduates from North America, Asia, and the global South who are interested in furthering their education in a progressive European university.

Requirements

To apply for this course you need to have a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or higher in arts, social science, architecture, engineering, science, commerce, or law (or equivalent). In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, candidates who have a primary degree other than an honour, and who demonstrate a high level of relevant work experience, may also be eligible for entry to the course under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Selection will be based on academic achievement, a written expression of interest, an interview and any relevant work experience.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

Skills and Careers Information

As the programme is a professional masters and fully accredited by the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the most usual employment for graduates is in the planning industry. Traditionally conducted within the public sector at all levels of government, planning is now carried out in a wide variety of professional environments across the public and private sectors and across the housing, transportation, environment, retail, energy, heritage sectors.

The accreditation from the RTPI is internationally recognised and many of our graduates have found work across the globe. Students graduate with a range of skills which include creative problem solving, environmental evaluation, analytical and research skills, policy development, physical planning, community engagement, teamwork and design techniques and appreciation. This applied skill set is particularly attractive to the public sector, businesses and third sector employment situations.

Occupations associated with an MPlan degree

• Planning
  • Working in central/regional/local government preparing spatial plans, managing development, protecting our heritage and countryside, working with communities and delivering regeneration;
  • Working in a planning/design consultancy, preparing development proposals, advising clients and assessing environmental impacts;
  • Working for yourself in your own planning consultancy.
• Other environmentally based occupations
  • Working with the third sector, promoting sustainability and regeneration, supporting essential development in the third world and campaigning to raise awareness of the importance of jobs, communities and places;
  • Working in transport, housing, recycling, property development, energy, community development and economic development.
• Research and further studies
  • Working for a PhD, teaching and academic research;
  • Carrying out environmental and property research.