City Planning and Real Estate Development MSc

University of Glasgow

The Masters in City Planning & Real Estate Development will prepare you for working either as a planner or real estate surveyor. You will develop an in-depth appreciation of how different stakeholders in the planning and real estate sectors make decisions about future places. Cities lie at the heart of the many challenges human societies face today, including climate change, infrastructure delivery, affordable housing, and social inequality. These challenges ensure that the professions of city planning and real estate development are in high demand around the world.Why this programmeThis programme is accredited by professional industry bodies, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Dual accreditation will significantly enhance your employment prospects in this field.The philosophy of the programme is to break down the professional barriers between two built environment disciplines that make better place-based decisions when they work together.The skills and knowledge this degree delivers are crucial in our rapidly changing world, particularly in the context of rapid urbanisation and climate change. Our students have excellent employment prospects with alumni working in major international planning consultancies, local and national government, and in the third sector.Teaching on this programme is research-led and you will be taught by lecturers at the forefront of urban research. We maintained our top 10 position in REF2021 (Research Excellence Framework), and in our Urban Studies and Social Policy division, we advance cutting-edge and critical research agendas led by our 3 research & scholarship clusters.These are underpinned by ongoing funded national and international staff projects, and our two substantial research centres, which are a fundamental part of this success: the Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), and the Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC).Our teaching is strongly engaged in policy and practice. Through our research centres and staff networks we have close links to the Scottish Government, local authorities and other agencies who also contribute to teaching. We also have opportunities to network with professional practice at various points in the year.This programme is rooted in place-based learning through tackling complex urban sites across Greater Glasgow. Glasgow as a city is an exciting place to study planning and real estate. It provides a rich lens to understanding how planning and real estate practice engages with urban issues. Glasgow’s economic, social and architectural history provides a fascinating dynamic context to study planning and real estate.You will have the opportunity to participate in an optional field trip to London which will provide you with the insight into the complexities of city planning in a world city. Past trips have included visits to The Shard, King’s Cross, Battersea Power Station and a number of grassroots projects that focus on community development.Career prospectsThis unique programme brings together two disciplines to help you form a rounded picture of the sector and enable you to take the next step forward in your career.Career opportunities and pathwaysThis jointly accredited programme offers a quicker pathway to becoming a chartered town planner, chartered surveyor, or both. Our students have excellent employment prospects, with alumni working in major international planning consultancies such as ARUP, WSP and JLL. Graduates have also gone on to work in local and national government institutions such as Glasgow City Council, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, and the Scottish Government. Career paths also exist in the third sector with graduates going on to work in community development organisations such as Sustrans, a UK-based cycling, walking and wheeling charity.