School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
MSc Planning
Do you want to pursue a professional career in planning? Our fully accredited postgraduate pathway has been designed to offer a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the formulation and delivery of spatial planning policy across the built and natural environments. You will be prepared to develop or enhance a career as a chartered town planner in a rapidly changing world. Choose to take this programme either full-time over one year or part-time over two years.
Meet the lecturers
Register now and join our virtual drop-in session to speak with our postgraduate programme leaders. Find out more about course content, placements, industry links, and more.
- 22 February 2023, 13:00-14:00 (UK time)
- 24 May 2023, 13:00-14:00 (UK time)
The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2022
We are extremely proud of our outstanding results in the latest Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2022. The MSc Planning degree received 100% overall satisfaction for course quality, 96% satisfaction for teaching and learning on the course, and 97% for the assessment and feedback. These results place our master’s degree significantly above the sector benchmark. 100% of students responding to the survey agreed that staff are good at explaining things, enthusiastic about what they teach, that the course is intellectually stimulating, has enhanced their academic ability, and that the learning materials are useful.
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022*
The University of Plymouth has been named among the top 5% of universities globally in 2022 for its contribution to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals*, in particular, work on marine issues and on climate change. In the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, sustainability is at the heart of our research and teaching. From sustainable cities, affordable and clean energy, to climate policy, biodiversity, and natural hazards, our academic staff work with partners locally and overseas to help understand, communicate and solve fundamental and pressing sustainability challenges.
Careers in spatial planning
MSc Planning is a springboard to a diverse range of careers in the planning sector, including the public sector (such as local authorities, national parks, the Environment Agency and Natural England); the private sector (such as planning consultancies) and the third sector (such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the National Trust). Our graduates have secured professional positions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Planning Inspectorate, Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council, Arup, Lichfields, Savills and WSP amongst others.