Course description

MSc Global Urban Development and Planning will improve your understanding of global urban development issues, particularly relating to cities of the global South.

Cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America struggle with growth, and urban communities in the developing world are increasingly faced with problems relating to poverty, informality and inequality, climate change, insecurity and lack of social cohesion.

The course will also suit development professionals seeking to acquire new expertise in dealing with urban issues, and social development specialists working in the voluntary, private or public sector.

Aims

You will:

• focus on sustainable and equitable urban development planning in the global South;
• participate in cutting-edge conceptual debates in global urban development theory and practice;
• gain the skills to gather, organise and employ evidence and information from a wide variety of sources.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the course over 24 months. There are no evening or weekend course units available; you should, therefore, discuss course requirements with the Programme Director and seek approval from your employer. Timetabling information is usually available from late August. You can discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Coursework and assessment

You will be required to pass a total of eight course units totalling 120 credits of postgraduate study, and undertake a dissertation of 12,000 -15,000 words which provides a further 60 credits.

You must also complete four core course units compulsory for all students, and four optional course units.

Most courses are assessed by essays, class presentations and examinations or a combination of these (depending on the course units selected).

Career opportunities

MSc Global Urban Development and Planning students develop an advanced knowledge and skill base that can be applied to professional activities relating to a variety of urban-related fields.

Past students have gone on to work as consultants for international development cooperation agencies, planners for national and local governments and private companies, and as practitioners in slum upgrading programmes, or international networks and national NGOs in cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Planning and Environmental Management graduates in general are popular with employers, particularly in consultancy, where the ability to analyse and propose policies and implement strategies is vital. After London, Manchester hosts the largest number of planning and environmental consultancies in the UK.

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in areas including environmental management and consultancy, urban planning and design, real estate development, urban and regional development policy, central and local government, international development, energy and water, non-governmental organisations, and research.