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M.Plan

M.Plan

Most of the cities in India are facing similar issues that range from sustainability challenges, demand for housing, congestion and pressing need of infrastructure. The growth of cities is leading to urban sprawl, extremely high density, physical and social, poor infrastructure, traffic congestion, and pollution.

This interdisciplinary program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking needed to address the complex challenges of urban and regional development. With a strong focus on inclusive growth, climate-responsive strategies, and sustainable planning practices, the curriculum blends theoretical foundations with hands-on, studio-based learning and real-world industry engagement.

The program at IAPNU offers the student to choice to pursue specialization in the field of his/her choice: Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Housing and Real Estate or Infrastructure Planning.

Program Intent Program Objectives Program Highlights Career Prospects

The intention of M.Plan at IAPNU is in line with the institute’s commitment towards society and environment, students from diverse backgrounds will collaborate to critically assess and analyze the challenges, plan and implement solutions for urban development and transformation. Post graduates from the program will be equipped with the knowledge of planning and interdisciplinary processes to solve societal and environmental needs.

Nirma University, as a research-oriented institute, fosters a culture of academic excellence, inquiry and research aptitude without compromising on societal and environmental values and ethics.

The program will create professionals in field of Planning with objectives as follows:

  1. To equip students to address critical urban issues like sprawl, high density, poor infrastructure, traffic congestion, pollution, energy management at various scales;
  2. To develop strategies for resilient urban planning and solutions that make our cities resilient and increase the quality of life;
  3. To foster inclusive urban development and bridge gap between services access ensuring equitable access to resources and integrate informal economies.
  4. To embrace innovation and technological advancement including renewable energy, smart grid, GIS and other technologies for creative adaptive, resilient urban systems
  5. To pioneer future urban concepts and encourage exploration of emerging city planning paradigms to respond to evolving urban needs.

The key program highlights are as follows:

  1. Connect with experts from industry and government through training and project work
  2. Teaching/Research stipend of Rs 8000/- per month.
  3. Studio work on live projects.
  4. International student exchange/Field studio program.
  5. Campus placement.

The Master of Planning (M.Plan) course is increasingly preferred over other master’s courses due to several compelling reasons:

  1. Interdisciplinary Admissions: Unlike other master’s courses, this program opens doors to graduates from diverse fields such as Architecture, Planning (B.Plan), Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and Civil Engineering. This inclusivity broadens the applicant pool and enriches the program’s interdisciplinary approach.
  2. High Employability: Planners have significant job opportunities in both government and private sectors. The demand for planning professionals in urban development projects, smart city initiatives, and infrastructure development ensures better absorption into the workforce compared to specialized architecture courses.
  3. Urgent Need for Planners in India: According to estimates, India requires approximately 200–300 planning professionals per city in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, and 15–20 professionals per city in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities.
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