Planning | MPlan at Leeds Beckett University

Course Details

Develop the expertise needed to become an ethical and informed planner and help make a difference to the communities and environments where people live and work. This integrated masters course will allow you to follow both large and small local planning projects from their initial proposal through to their finished sites.

You will use SPSS research software and geographic information system (GIS) software and engage with experts from industry through field trips, live projects and guest lectures - previous speakers have included planning lawyers from international law firm Eversheds and urban designers from Leeds City Council. In your second year you will work with a community group or local council to put together a neighbourhood plan, adding to your technical know-how and strengthening your communication skills.

We will help you understand the challenges planners face today, including the impact of new planning policies and the need for affordable housing. The issues of sustainability and regeneration will be at the heart of your course and we will give you a solid grounding in planning regulations and laws so you can assist in designing the sustainable communities of the future.

Course Benefits

Your course is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Planner and as a student you can enjoy free membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, giving you access to career development advice. We will help you reach the professional standards expected from the Institute by encouraging you to keep a diary of your work, logging why you have made certain decisions and improvements.

Many of our teaching team work in private practice and lead on community projects. Our strong research background in areas such as neighbourhood planning will feed into your learning. You will also meet our graduates who will share their experiences and advise you on how to turn your vision for a town or community into planning policy that will stand up to the scrutiny of development officers and lawyers.

In your final year, you will choose between a dissertation or a major design project, where you can explore topics as diverse as renewable technology and the housing crisis.