Master in Urban and Regional Planning MSc / PGDip

The application deadline is 28 August 2026, and tuition is £28,080 (full-time) / £14,040 (part-time).

You will spend most weeks attending lectures and seminars, undertaking group workshops, and working on real-world planning case studies. Practical skills are built through site visits, data analysis labs and, where chosen, a professional placement that lets you apply theory in a planning office. Assessment combines reports, presentations and a 12,000-word dissertation.

The programme runs over three semesters for full-time students – two semesters of taught modules followed by a dissertation semester – and can be spread over two years part-time. In the first semester you complete compulsory modules such as Introduction to Spatial Planning, Sustainable Cities and Urban Property Development. The second semester adds Development Management, Place-making in Practice and a selection of 20-credit options, after which you finish with a dissertation.

• RTPI professional accreditation
• Core modules covering spatial planning, sustainable cities and development management
• Choice of optional 20-credit modules including Green Infrastructure and Health, Professional Placement, Urban Regeneration and Renewal
• Research-led teaching from the School of Geography’s active planning research centre

The University of Birmingham, chartered in 1900, is a large, research-intensive redbrick university located in Edgbaston. It offers a broad spectrum of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has a reputation for multidisciplinary research, substantial campus investment and strong academic staffing. With more than 34,000 students, including a sizeable international community, Birmingham combines historic strengths with modern facilities and a global outlook.

Research and teaching span the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and social sciences, supported by major investments in campus infrastructure and academic appointments. The university promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through flagship fellowships and research initiatives, and many courses provide opportunities for placements, industry engagement and overseas study on its international campuses. Student support services include extensive academic development, career services and wellbeing provision tailored to an international cohort.

Life at Birmingham blends a vibrant campus with access to the city's cultural and professional resources, enabling students to pursue extracurricular activities, volunteering and professional networking. The institution’s global partnerships and growing research profile open doors for international collaborations and career pathways. Prospective international applicants should carefully check entry requirements, funding and application deadlines and contact the university’s international office for guidance on visas, scholarships and arrival planning.