The Housing and Community Planning MA will provide you with a critical understanding of the contemporary challenges associated with housing and community planning, including their interaction with social, economic, environmental and political issues.
You will develop a range of practical and analytical skills and experience that will enable you to pursue a career related to housing, planning, and the built environment.
Introduction
Studying the Housing and Community Planning MA will give you high-level, expert understanding and experience of housing and community planning practice. You will study housing and planning within the context of social, economic and environmental challenges, and develop a range of skills and techniques, including written, oral and digital forms of presenting and communicating information.
The programme has a strong practical focus, including a field class, project work, and a professional practice module where students are encouraged to apply learning and skills to real-world work-based scenarios through a placement or project.
This programme has specialist accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute, which means that your specialist skills and expertise will be formally recognised by a professional organisation.
Who is this course for?
This programme will appeal to students from a range of backgrounds, including those who have studied cognate social science subjects at undergraduate level, students with professional experience and expertise, and students seeking to study part-time in parallel with their day job.
What you'll learn
You will develop a critical understanding of the contemporary challenges associated with housing and community planning, including social, economic, environmental and political issues
You will learn analytical skills and techniques that enable students to develop appropriate solutions to complex problems
You will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained through this programme to professional practice, and reflect on this application through practice-based work
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Semester one
In your first semester, you will develop an understanding of the history of community-focused planning, learn methods for community involvement, understand the relationship between housing, home and planning through social, economic and political processes at local to international scales, and learn of the conflicts facing planners in trying to deliver sustainable development.
You’ll get the opportunity to engage with cutting edge contemporary research, carry our field studies of spatial planning challenges, and show your understanding of planning theory, practice and policy.
Teaching takes place on campus, in person.
Please see below for semester one modules. Click on the next tab for semester two modules.
Compulsory modules
Spatial Planning Challenges (ENVS411)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
This module provides students with an understanding of the conflicts facing planners in trying to deliver sustainable development. It introduces students to the range of social, economic and environmental issues that face contemporary society. It outlines the role of spatial planning in managing development pressures while protecting the built and natural environment, and it explores different planning responses to address and reconcile these competing interests.
Theory, Power and Ethics (ENVS432)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
The focus of this module is on the institutional perspective on planning across different spatial scales and the different strands of theories that are relevant to the understanding of the role and purposes of planning.
Planning for Housing and Home (ENVS635)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
This module aims to understand the relationship between housing, home and planning through social, economic and political processes at local to international scales. Students will reflect on historical development in housing policy and practice, understand housing’s relationship to and centrality within key societal challenges, and be able to compare and contrasts housing and planning issues at local, regional, national and international scales.
People and Planning (ENVS636)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
This module aims to emphasise the centrality of people and communities to planning and provide a theoretical and practical foundation to the interactions between people and planning. It will include reflections on the historical development of community-focussed planning; analysis of the importance of planning working with and for people; and provide a theoretically-informed toolkit of methods to engage with communities.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Semester two
Modules in semester two will give you the opportunity to explore how theories of housing and community planning are enacted in practice, and get to work with a client to develop an improvement strategy.
You’ll get a good understading of housing, community, and spatial planning through practical assignments working independently and in groups with extgernal organisations. You’ll then develop presentations, posters, and detailed analysis to support your work and show your understanding of housing and community planning theories.
Compulsory modules
Spatial Planning and Design Project (ENVS467)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 2
The module provides an opportunity for students to apply knowledge gained in other aspects of their studies to a plan-making exercise. In this project-based module, students will work with a client on the development of a strategy for the improvement of a selected area. Student will work in groups on a project brief that will allow them to address issues that are both relevant for the local client and reflect relevant planning debates (e.g. on urban sustainability, climate change, etc.)
Housing and Community Planning Professional Experience (ENVS637)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 2
This module provides students with a reflective experience to explore how theories of housing and community planning are enacted in practice. It equips students with the skills to work as housing and community planners, critically analysing work contexts and the structures within which housing and community planning organisations operate. Expert practitioners will explore recent work, supporting a broad understanding of what constitutes housing and community planning practice. Students will reflect on both their own experiences and the experiences of experts.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Final project
Your final semester will start with a workshop session which will the general skills required to produce primary research – research design, literature searching, research methods and more. You will then develop, research and execute an independent piece of research on the topic of your choice.
There will be plenty of chances to check in with an academic member of staff, either online or in-person, to discuss your research project over the course of the semster.
Compulsory modules
Dissertation MCD/MA/MSc Planning (ENVS491)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: summer
The module supports students in the development, researching and execution of an independent piece of research under the supervision of an academic member of staff.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
How you'll learn
You’ll learn through lectures, seminars and tutorials together with practical exercises, such as project work, group work and field visits.
Your learning outcomes will reflect those specified by the Royal Town Planning Institute for specialist accreditation.
Taking a proactive approach to learning, you’ll plan and organise your individual study – and take an active part in class discussions during seminars and tutorials.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through a combination of methods including coursework, reports, examinations, groupwork and presentations.
Essays and reports will allow you to explore parts of the programme in-depth and present coherent arguments, while seminar presentations will develop your skills in presenting and defending arguments orally. You will be encouraged to engage with digital forms of communication and will develop competencies in using these to disseminate information.
You’ll also take part in group projects, demonstrating your ability to work as a team to resolve complex problems; and sit exams, to test your knowledge.
Ongoing and structured feedback and proactive engagement with your lecturers will help you throughout the various assessment methods in your course.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Your experience
At the Department of Geography and Planning, you will learn from world-leading researchers who bring the latest theoretical and practical knowledge from a range of specialisms.
By the end of your master’s, you will have developed the knowledge and skills to become an agent for change on the global stage.
You will have a lot of options after graduating this programme.
Many of you might find work related to the core specialisms – housing and community planning – which may involve working in public, private and third sector organisations, including local authorities, consultancies, charities, and housing associations.
You’ll be especially attractive to employers in the field due to your RTPI accreditation and experience you will gain on your work placement.
Career support from day one to graduation and beyond
Previous students have entered occupations in private sector planning firms or research-based or policy and research roles within third sector organisations.
In addition to specialist knowledge, the programme will give you a broad understanding of planning practice in the UK and internationally which will enable you to take up careers in other areas of planning practice.
The programme will prepare you with a broad range of skills transferable to other occupations and to careers both in the UK and internationally, including written and verbal communication, digital fluency, and research.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year
£12,500
Part-time place, per year
£6,250
International fees
Full-time place, per year
£24,100
Part-time place, per year
£12,050
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about fees and funding.
Additional costs
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. This degree should be in a related subject, such as Planning, Geography, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Economics, or Sociology. However, there are no pre-requisites.
Non-graduates with very extensive professional experience and/or other prior qualifications may also be considered.
International qualifications
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this MA, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
English language qualification
Requirements
IELTS
6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0
TOEFL iBT
88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.
Duolingo English Test
120 overall, with no component below 105
Pearson PTE Academic
61 overall, with no component below 59
LanguageCert Academic
70 overall, with no skill below 65
PSI Skills for English
B2 Pass with Merit in all bands
INDIA Standard XII
National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English.
WAEC
C6 or above
PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH
Do you need to complete a Pre-Sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-Sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Contact us
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
