City Planning MPlan

22 Months On Campus Masters Program

University College London

Program Overview

The City Planning MPlan at UCL is a 22-month, full-time master’s that combines theory and practice to help you shape sustainable, inclusive, and well-designed urban environments. It’s ideal for students from architecture, engineering, real estate, or any background with a passion for planning and city-making.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You’ll build a strong foundation in city planning, exploring urban design, spatial planning, and the social, economic, and political factors that shape cities. Studio projects and practical exercises help you apply theory to real-world planning challenges.

Year 2
You’ll deepen your knowledge through comparative planning systems, planning law, and advanced studio projects. The year culminates in a dissertation or major project, giving you the chance to develop an original solution to a real urban problem, with optional work placement or international experience.

Focus Areas

Urban design, spatial planning, sustainability, planning law, strategic studio practice, research, and comparative planning systems.

Learning Outcomes

Think critically across scales, design integrated planning solutions, navigate planning frameworks and law, conduct independent research, and tackle real-world urban challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), giving professional recognition in the UK and internationally.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning is globally recognized, ranked #1 in the world for Built Environment. Most graduates enter professional planning roles or further study within a year of graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the City Planning MPlan, you’ll gain hands-on experience that goes far beyond lectures. You’ll work on real planning projects in studios, collaborate with peers on group assignments, and explore cities first-hand through field trips. The program also connects you with planning professionals and cutting-edge research tools, giving you the practical skills needed to succeed in the field.

Some key experiential opportunities include:

Field trips and site visits: Engage with planning challenges across London and during a residential field trip.
Work placements or study abroad: Optional professional placements or international experiences in your second year.
Studio-based learning: Small team projects in Plan Making Studios to design masterplans and tackle redevelopment sites.
Research & dissertation: Year-long projects supported by workshops on research methods, GIS, surveys, and planning ethics.
Digital tools & analysis: Access to spatial analysis and GIS modelling through the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA).
Networking & professional engagement:* Seminars, workshops, and talks by urban practitioners to link theory with real-world practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the City Planning MPlan are well-prepared to make an impact in cities and communities — most find work or continue their studies within a year of finishing. Common roles include strategic planners, policy advisors, urban consultants, and development analysts.

UCL helps you make this transition through:

Dedicated career support: Personalized guidance from UCL Careers and Bartlett’s planning team, including masterclasses, alumni panels, career fairs, and one-on-one mentoring.
Strong employment outcomes: A high proportion of graduates go into planning roles in public authorities, consultancies, NGOs, academia, and international agencies.
Industry partnerships: Alumni have built careers at organizations like the Greater London Authority, Buro Happold, Atkins, Stantec, and other consultancies and municipalities.
Accreditation value: The degree is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), offering professional recognition and credibility.
Global reach: Graduates work in many countries worldwide, giving your skills international portability and demand.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the MPlan, you could pursue a PhD in urban planning or related built-environment fields. Alternatively, you might specialize further with postgraduate diplomas or master’s programs in areas like spatial planning, transport planning, infrastructure, or real estate — building on the strong practical and theoretical foundation you’ve gained.

Additional Information & Requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

IELTS: 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component, TOEFL iBT: overall 96 (with reading and writing more than 24, speaking and listening more than 22)

For USA: Bachelor's degree with a final CGPA of 3.3/4.0

For India: Bachelors degree with at least a 2:1/ 60%/ equivalent GPA

You can safely apply without worrying about ATAS clearance

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