M.Plan (Master of Planning) Course, Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Scope, Careers Growth

What is M.Plan?

M.Plan is a postgraduate degree done in planning settlement and resources in the urban and rural sectors. This is a two-year programme and is advisable to be pursued through a full-time course. Candidates seeking admission in the aforementioned degree must have done their graduation with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) or Bachelor of Planning (B.Plan).

The M.Plan degree aims to equip candidates with knowledge of spatial planning, resource planning, and development of cities, transport, and rural areas. The M.Plan degree is designed in a manner to enable students to equip themselves with scholarly education and professionalism to take the role of a leader in statutory town planning practice as well as policy development.

What is M.Plan Full Form?

M.Plan stands for Master of Planning and it helps candidates research and know more about how to plan a civilised ecosystem. It deals with the planning and construction of the infrastructures for a balanced ecosystem. To know more about the M.Plan course details like eligibility for admission, process of admission, syllabus, scope, and career opportunities candidates are advised to refer to the article that follows.

M.Plan (Master of Planning) - Highlights

M Plan Course Fees Structure

The Master of Planning fee structure varies across institutions and it mainly depends on the affiliation or governing body of the institution. Government colleges offer scholarships and generally have low fees compared to private colleges. There will be different M.Plan fees for reserved categories and physically disabled students. The average MPlan fees range between Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 7,60,000 depending on the seat (sponsored or self-sponsored) and choice of college.

Why Choose M.Plan?

A Master of Planning or M.Plan. is a combination of civil engineering, interior designing, and architecture courses. Successful graduates of an M.Plan programme find numerous opportunities in infrastructure development projects. They can opt for numerous careers such as Architecture Engineer, Urban Planner, Rural Planner, Landscape Architect, Architect and Interior Designer.

M.Plan Eligibility Criteria

To pursue an M.Plan degree from a recognised university/college/institution candidates are required to fulfil the M Plan eligibility criteria as mentioned below.

• Aspiring candidates must have secured a minimum of 50 per cent marks in their 10+2 or equivalent from a recognised board.
• Those candidates who have a B.E or /B. Tech in Civil/B. Tech in Planning/B. Tech in Architecture Engineering degrees are also eligible.
• Aspiring candidates will also have to qualify for GATE or other state/university-level entrance tests to get admission to the desired college. For this candidates have to follow the entire admission procedure of these particular examinations. Information on the same can be received by students on their official website.

Skills Required for MPlan Degree

To gain success in any field, certain skill sets are beneficial for individuals. These skills help individuals to grasp the course content with ease. Below are some of the MPlan skills helpful to individuals.

M.Plan Application Procedure

The admission process for M.Plan is merit-based. There are also various entrance examinations held at national, state, and university levels for granting admission to M.Plan. Some of the top M.Plan admission exams include GATE, details of which are provided below.

These exams are conducted at the national level, however, as aforementioned some others are also conducted at the state, university, institutional level. For the admission process of their choice of college, candidates must go through the information booklet of the particular college. Below is the MPlan admission procedure followed by most colleges in India.

• Candidates should meet the eligibility criteria first.
• They need to pass the respective entrance exam of the college they want to enrol in.
• Selection is based on the entrance examination scorecard or, in the absence of an entrance examination, directly on the degree marks.
• Candidates who are selected can finalise their seats by paying the course fees.

Top M.Plan Entrance Exams

LPU NEST: Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test (LPU NEST) is a state-level entrance examination conducted by Lovely Professional University for admission to various courses at the university.

GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D. admission at IITs, IISc, and other universities in India.

M.Plan Cut Off

The Master of Planning cutoff is released every year by respective colleges and it differs for each college. Determinants like the difficulty level of the exam, total seat intake, and number of applicants are responsible for the change in the Master of Planning cutoff. In government-funded institutions, reservations also play an important role in determining the cutoff, whereas the reservation factor is not considered for admission to private colleges.

M.Plan Subjects/Syllabus

The MPlan syllabus is determined by the governing body of the colleges and it can be different for each college. However, the M.Plan curriculum is divided into four semesters and is consistent among all the colleges.

M.Plan Specialisations

Candidates can check below for some of the available options of specialisations provided in the Master of Planning degree. These can be opted for by candidates while pursuing an M.Plan degree in their respective colleges. Selection of specialisations from these options should be done based on the inclination and interest of candidates. All of these options of specialisation of Master of Planning are available at most of the colleges and can be chosen by candidates.

Environmental Planning - Environmental planning is the process of facilitating decision-making to carry out land development with consideration given to the natural environment, and social, political, economic, and governance factors. and provides a holistic framework to achieve sustainable outcomes.

Urban and Regional Planning - Urban and regional planning is a notion that encompasses the whole set of social activities. aimed at anticipating, representing, and regulating the development of an urban or a regional area. It thus articulates intellectual activities of study and prospective, social and economic.

City Planning - The goal of planning is to guide the development of a city or town so that it furthers. the welfare of its current and future residents by creating convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive environments.

Housing - Housing, or more generally living spaces, refeRs. to the construction and assigned usage of houses or buildings collectively, to shelter people the planning or provision delivered by an authority, with related meanings.

Transportation Planning - Transportation planning is the process of defining future policies, goals, investments, and designs to prepare for future needs to move people and goods to destinations. The purpose of transportation planning is to guarantee the safety and efficiency of a person or animal's travel from Point A to Point B. The purpose of transportation planning also includes: Identifying multiple options for transportation.

Infrastructure Planning - Infrastructure planning is a combination of multiple disciplines and its major application is for policy making and integrated planning. Its studies are a combination of planning, engineering, sociology, and economics. Usually, engineers, architects, and urban planners can take these courses.

What After M.Plan (Master of Planning)

Candidates have a wide M Planning scope in various career fields in both the government and private sectors. Some of the top job profiles for M.Plan pursued candidates are town planner executive, urban planner, strategic, planning manager, planning engineer, and planning executive.

Such candidates begin with an earning of Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month initially. Furthermore, with upgradation in skills, experience, and qualifications, these candidates can earn up to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum and more. The salary of a candidate who has pursued a Master of Planning major depends on the college where he/she has pursued the course and their qualification.

The perks of a career in M.Plan are as follows:

• Reputation
• High standard of living
• Handsome salary
• Job security (especially in Government sectors)

Apart from the points mentioned above, candidates can also choose a career option abroad where they can earn more than any average person. Also, candidates can opt to pursue higher education in India and abroad for the same.

Careers Opportunities After M.Plan

Master of Planning aspirants have a wide field of career opportunities open to them in various sectors, which can be secured by them after they have the aforementioned degree. Some of these are mentioned below with brief descriptions of the job role and type.

Town Planner Executives - In this job role, candidates will be accountable for managing the development of new areas in cities, towns, and the countryside. You will review existing areas, assist in gaining planning permission for developments, and ensure that developments are assessed for environmental and economic impacts.

Urban Planners - Urban and regional planners meet with public officials, developers, and the public regarding development plans and land use. They also administer government plans or policies affecting land use. Urban Planners gather and analyse data from market research, censuses, and economic and environmental studies.

Strategists - The role of a strategist is to understand and shape the company's strategy and mission. They are also responsible for developing plans, materialising strategy, and analysing business proposals. Strategic research competition to identify threats and opportunities.

Planning Managers - The principal planner, also known as the planning manager, supervises and participates in advanced, highly complex professional planning activities. Depending on the organization, the principal planner often manages and supervises sections or divisions within the larger planning department of an organization.

Planning Engineers - Planning engineers decide and develop the most appropriate economic models and engineering methods for projects. They work in a variety of fields such as civil engineering or construction. Planning engineers are normally onsite during an engineering project to supervise all stages of work and provide solutions.

Planning Executives- A planning executive monitors a department or project's budget, inventory, and production schedule. They also maintain an optimally efficient inventory of production materials. The planning executive creates planning studies and generates reports about new programs, plans, and regulations.

Top Recruiters for MPlan

There are various career options available for candidates after pursuing a Master of Planning degree, both in the private and public sectors. Aspiring candidates must make sure that they complete their degree with good scores or percentile so that they can be hired by top recruiters. Below, we have listed some of the top Master of Planning recruiters in India.

Salary After MPlan Degree

Salary after graduating with a Master of Planning degree is not static and is determined by various factors such as the location of the job, experience, job role, and the employing company. However, the M.Plan salary is expected to be higher if candidates graduate from top engineering colleges in India. The average MPlan salary along with respective job roles are provided in the following table.

Source: Payscale and Ambition Box

Employment Areas

Master of Planning is a promising degree with career opportunities in various industries. There are wide range of job opportunities in the private as well as government sectors. Below, we have listed some of the best MPlan employment areas.

• Urban Planning
• Environmental Planning
• Transportation Planning
• Housing and Community Development
• Consultancy
• Real Estate Development

Top Private MPlan Colleges in India

Master of Planning is offered by many colleges and universities across the country. Several private colleges are ranked high in the list of best MPlan colleges because of their excellent academics and placement records. In the table below, we have compiled the top private M.Plan colleges in India.

Top Government MPlan Colleges in India

Among the list of top M.Plan colleges in India, many government-funded institutions are highly ranked by National Institutional Ranking Framework and other bodies. The facilities provided by these institutions and their academic record is the reason for their ranking. Below, we have provided the list of top government M.Plan colleges in India along with their total fees.

Master of Planning course provides an interdisciplinary education encompassing urban design, policy development, and urban sustainability. Because of its career opportunities in various sectors such as government, private consulting, non-profits, and academia; M.Plan can be a promising degree for interested students.