M Plan Syllabus, Colleges, Jobs, Scope, Salary 2023

Q: Is M Plan a tough course?

It totally depends upon the candidates capacity and interest. If the candidate has some skills in development or knowledge of planning policies, then this Master's degree course will be easier and helpful in future endeavors.

Arunima Sethi

Content Curator

Masters of Planning is a two-year postgraduate course which studies Planning and Structuring of any fundamental ecosystem for living purpose. It is designed with the planning of some of the most sophisticated structures for humans and animals.

This course has specialization in courses like Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning, Housing, City Planning and Infrastructure Planning.

Top M Plan Colleges	Cut-off for M Plan	M Plan Jobs

Candidates who wish to pursue the course must hold a Bachelor’s degree Planning or equivalent from a recognized university.

Admission to the course is offered either on the basis of the score obtained by a candidate in an entrance exam or on merit basis. Students who qualify the written entrance test are further required to appear for a group discussion and a personal interview round.

Some of the top colleges offering M Plan course are given below:

Name of the College	Admission Process	Average Annual Fees	Average Annual Salary
Anna University, Chennai	TANCET	INR 60,000	INR 3,75,000
IIEST, Shibpur	Merit-Based	INR 81,500	INR 3,00,000
NIT Calicut	Entrance-Based	INR 82,405	INR 4,52,000
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam	AUCET	INR 75,000	INR 4,85,000
LPU, Jalandhar	LPUNEST	INR 1,09,200	INR 4,00,000

The average M Plan tuition fee charged by colleges and universities in India ranges between INR 1,00,000 and 3,00,000 per year.

Table of Content

M Plan Course Highlights
M Plan: What is it about?

2.1 Why Study?

M Plan Admission Process

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

3.2 Entrance Exams

3.3 How to Get Admission in a Good M Plan College?

M Plan course Top Colleges

4.1 College Comparison

Distance Learning
M Plan Syllabus
Course Comparison
M Plan Job Profiles

8.1 Future Scope

FAQs

Some of the major career prospects for such postgraduates are Planning Manager, Planning consultant, Town Planner, Planning Engineer, Government/ Defence forces, Design Engineer, Building Surveyor, Project Manager, Urban Designer, Urban Planner etcMaster of Planning degree holders can easily expect an average salary of INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000 per annum. The salary is proportional to the experience earned in the field. The salary offered increases with an increase in the experience earned in the respective field.

The course offers diverse career opportunities. Apart from seeking jobs, students can also choose to pursue much higher education in their respective field. They can opt for higher degrees like PhD Planning, MBA or PGDM. It makes them eligible for the positions of lecturer and professors in colleges and universities.

M Plan Course Highlights

The course highlights of M Plan program is provided in the table given below :

Course Level	Post Graduation
Full-Form	Master of Planning
Specializations	Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning, Housing, City Planning and Infrastructure Planning.
Duration	2 Years
Examination Type	Semester
Eligibility Criteria	Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Planning or equivalent from a recognized university.
Admission process	Merit/ Entrance-Based
Average Annual Fees	INR 1,00,000 - 3,00,000
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,00,000 - 7,00,000
Job Positions	Planning Manager, Planning consultant, Town Planner, Planning Engineer, Government/ Defence forces, Design Engineer, Building Surveyor, Project Manager, Urban Designer, Urban Planner etc.
Top Recruiters	Tata Consultancy Engineers, REPL, IMK Architects etc.

M Plan: What is it about?

Read the points given below to know what Master’s in Planning is all about:

This is a unique course which equip students with the knowledge and skills in Spatial Planning, Resources Planning and Development of Cities, Rural Areas, Transport etc.
This is a two-year course which has specialization in courses like Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning, Housing, City planning and Infrastructure Planning.
The aim of this course is to impart knowledge and skills for Urban and Regional/ Environmental/ Transportation Planning.
M Plan Syllabus includes seminars, lectures, workshops, training, practical lab work or studio work.

Why Should You Study M Plan?

There are many benefits of pursuing an M Plan course. The main benefits of pursuing this program are as follows:

Students studying planning will allow them to develop specialist knowledge in town and regional planning, providing you with a range of professional skills such as design and placemaking, knowledge of planning processes, law, and housing policy, finance, and policy development.
Planning graduates go on to postgraduate study to further their planning knowledge or to specialize in a particular area such as marine planning and management, planning and management, or environmental assessment and management. Postgraduate study is essential if the candidate wants to secure chartered membership from RTPI.
Planning does provide benefits that facilitate progress even when faced with uncertainty and a constantly changing environment in an organization. Resources are always scarce in organizations, and managers need to make sure the resources they have are used efficiently.
It helps managers determine where resources are most needed so they can be allocated where they will provide the most benefit.
M Plan provides a basis for higher studies and opportunities for advanced academic exploration and research through M.Phil, PhD courses.
The course is particularly job-oriented. After completion of this course, students have various options to pursue a career in a wide array of fields in both the public and private sectors.
The average M Plan salary in India ranges from INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000 per annum currently.

What is the M Plan Admission Process?

Admission to the course is usually based on the score obtained by a candidate in an entrance exam. Some of the major all India entrance exams conducted for this purpose are GATE, TANCET, etc. Some colleges also offer admission on merit basis. The various steps involved in the admission process are given below.

Merit-based selection

Submit the application to the colleges or universities you are interested in for admission.
Perform well in the undergraduate examinations as the scores obtained in these form the basis of the entire admission process.
In due course of time, colleges release their cutoff lists. Check if you are eligible for admission into the desired course.
If eligible, visit the college and submit all the required documents.

Entrance based selection

The guide to apply for entrance exam based admission is as follows.

Registration: Registration dates are announced days before by the institute. An account needs to be created with basic details like email-id, phone number, etc.
Fill up details: Fill up the application form with all necessary details with care. Care must be taken to ensure all details are accurate and correct.
Submit documents: Scan and upload all required documents like mark sheets. Documents need to be uploaded in a specific format only, as specified by the institute’s application portal.
Application fee: A minimal application fee is to be paid online during the submission of the application form. Payment can be done by all online payment modes.
Download admit card: Admit cards are released once all applicants are judged for eligibility. The admit card must be downloaded and printed out to be used on the day of the examination.
Examination: Prepare for the exam as per the syllabus and past papers. Appear for the examination on the date announced.
GD & PI: Successful candidates are then called for GD & PI rounds.
Results: Based on candidates performance in the entrance exam of GD & PI rounds, results will be announced.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for Admission to M Plan course?

The minimum eligibility criteria for students who want to pursue an M Plan from Indian universities are given below :

Candidates must have passed intermediate with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized board.
Candidates having B. Tech/ BE in Civil/ Planning/Architecture Engineering degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks can also apply for the Masters of Planning course.

Which are the popular M Plan Entrance Exams?

There are many national and state-level entrance exams to appear for admission to the M Plan program.

Some of the top entrance exams conducted in order to shortlist students for admission into this course are given below.

GATE: GATE is a national level entrance exam conducted every year for admission into various postgraduate programs offered by the most prestigious institutes of India like IITs, NITs etc. Other than admission to M.Tech, M Plan programs, GATE Scores are used by various PSUs for the recruitment of eligible candidates at various positions.

GATE Pattern & Syllabus	GATE Practice Papers	GATE Cutoff

TANCET: TANCET is conducted annually by Anna university. The exam is conducted in order to shortlist students for providing admission into various postgraduate degree programs.

TANCET Pattern & Syllabus	TANCET Practice Papers	TANCET Application and Registration

AUCET- Andhra University Common Entrance Test is conducted by Andhra University for the admission into PG courses in the Arts, Science, Engineering. The test is conducted in the online as well as offline mode. The test consists of 100 multiple choice questions.

AUCET Pattern & Syllabus	AUCET Practice Papers

The dates of application and examination for the above-mentioned examinations are mentioned in the table below.

Entrance Exam	Application Period	Exam Date (Tentative)	Entrance Mode
GATE	October 7, 2022	February 4, 5, 11 and 12, 2023	Online
AUCET	To be announced	To be announced	Offline
TANCET	January 2023	February 26, 2023	Offline

How to prepare for M Plan entrance exams?

Candidates are advised to follow the below mentioned points to score well in the entrance examination: .

As entrance examinations vary from one university to another, it is recommended that students prepare for a list of target universities and their relevant admission tests.
Knowledge of the relevant entrance examination and their respective patterns and syllabus will enable the candidate to prepare for the entrance exam more solemnly.
Aspirants must have a good knowledge and a thorough understanding of the concepts related to Architecture and Planning.
The students must have a clear idea of the concepts and syllabus of the relevant entrance tests.
Following the rules and regulations of the relevant examinations is another important point that the candidates have to keep in mind while attempting the entrance tests. Not paying heed to the guidelines can result in disqualification or such other unappreciative circumstances.

How to Get Admission in a Good M Plan College?

Students can get a confirmed seat in a good college if they have a sound academic record in post graduation and also on the basis of your performance in various national or state level entrance tests. The greater the score, the better will be the chances of getting admission in the top colleges across India.

Check the full list of Top M Plan Colleges in India.

To succeed in the tough competition of cracking the entrance exams, students must have a proper understanding of the pattern, syllabus and the concepts related to the discipline.
Many universities across India grant admission to students based on their merit or marks obtained in the graduation level. So the students must have a high aggregate score at the graduation level.
Some universities prefer considering both the marks of graduation aggregate and entrance exam score for an ultimate merit list. Hence, it is highly recommended that the students get high marks in both these examinations to gain a top position in these merit lists.
Keep track of all the important events pertaining to admission so that you will never miss any deadline. Also, keep a track of eligibility criteria, course cut-off, application procedure, application fee and all the updates in newspapers, official websites etc.
Students are advised to practice as many papers and questions as they can in order to enhance your time management skills.

Which are the Top Colleges for Studying M Plan course?

Several universities/ colleges across India offer M Plan programs. Some of the top universities among them are given below in a tabulated form along with their respective location, average annual fee and NIRF ranking :

Name of the College	Admission Process	Average Annual Fees	Average Annual Salary
Anna University, Chennai	TANCET	INR 60,000	INR 3,75,000
IIEST, Shibpur	Merit-Based	INR 81,500	INR 3,00,000
NIT Calicut	Entrance-Based	INR 82,405	INR 4,52,000
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam	AUCET	INR 75,000	INR 4,85,000
LPU, Jalandhar	LPUNEST	INR 1,09,200	INR 4,00,000
HITS, Chennai	Entrance-Based	INR 95,000	INR 3,42,000
Amity University, Gurgaon	Merit-Based	INR 1,40,000	INR 5,21,000
Manipal University, Jaipur	Merit-Based	INR 1,69,000	INR 5,78,000
SAP, Chennai	Merit-Based	INR 44,685	INR 6,25,000

Source: College Websites

College Comparison for M Plan

The comparison of the top three Indian universities/ colleges offering M Plan course is given below in a tabular form along with their average annual fees, and average placement package offered:

Parameters	Anna University, Chennai	IIEST, Shibpur	NIT, Calicut
Overview	Anna University has 13 constituent colleges, 3 Regional Campuses and a total of 593 affiliated colleges. This deemed university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs under various specializations.	IIEST Shibpur is the second oldest engineering college in India. This institute offers 45 courses in the fields of Engineering, Management, Science, and Architecture.	NIT Calicut offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level programs in Engineering, Science, Humanities and 11 other departments.
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree in Planning from a recognized university	Bachelor’s degree in Planning from a recognized university	Bachelor’s degree in Planning from a recognized university
Admission Process	Entrance-Based	Merit-Based	Entrance-Based
Average Annual Fees	INR 60,000	INR 81,500	INR 82,405
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,75,000	INR 3,00,000	INR 4,52,000
Top Job Positions	Planner, Project Manager, Planning Advisor/Consultants, Planning Manager etc.	Planner, Project Manager, Planning Advisor/Consultants, Planning Manager etc.	Planner, Project Manager, Planning Advisor/Consultants, Planning Manager etc.

Source: College Websites

M Plan Distance Learning

Students who are unable to pursue a Master in Planning course in regular mode can also pursue the same through Distance Learning. Before taking admission, Students must check for the validity of the course and the college in distance or correspondence mode.

In order to be eligible for this course through correspondence mode students must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Planning or equivalent from a recognized university.
The minimum duration required to complete this course from distance mode is 2 year and the maximum duration of the same is 5 years.
Admission to M Plan course through correspondence mode will be done based on the candidate's merit in the Bachelor’s degree examination.
The average fee for the course ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 35,000 annually.

What are the Subjects Covered in M Plan Syllabus?

Masters of Planning is aimed at imparting knowledge and skills for Urban and Regional/ Environmental/ Transportation Planning. This course delivers methods for this course including seminars, lectures, workshops, training, practical lab work or studio work. During the semester vacations, the students are encouraged to take up office training or research projects which form an integral part of the course by the college/Institute.

However, In the last semester, the students also have to submit a research project along with a thesis and this forms the syllabus for the last semester.

The following are the subjects that form a part of the M Plan Course:

Name of Subject	Topics	Description
Planning History and Theory	Planning History Evolution of City Building Theories of City Development and Planning Theories	This course is to study the evolution of cities and the history of planning throughout the ages.
The socio-Economic basis for Planning	Elements of Micro and Macro Economics Community and Settlements Development Economics and Lessons from Indian Experiences	This course is on the understanding of socio-economic issues in Urban and Regional Areas around the corner.
Planning Techniques	Survey Techniques and Mapping Analytical Methods Demographic Methods Planning Standards	This focuses on the database of physical examples and helps learn the ways to plan and design a project.
Infrastructure and Transport Planning	Role of Infrastructure in Development Planning and Management of Water, Sanitation, and StormWater Transport Infrastructure Planning, Management, and Design	This helps students to understand the importance and role of transport in Urban and Rural planning.
Housing Environments and Planning	Social and Economic Dimensions Housing and the City Housing Environments	It introduces the concept of Housing and its planning concepts
Basic Planning Techniques	Remote Sensing GIS Applications Demography Statistical Applications	With the help of democratic data and application of remote sensing, It is aimed at planning techniques
City and Metropolitan Planning	Urban Growth and System of Cities City – Region Linkages Metro and Mega Cities: Problems and Issues Human Settlement Planning, Urban Development Policies, and Programmes	This course goes into the study of the growth of metro and urban cities and the problems emerging within them.
Infrastructure Planning	Water Supply and Sanitation Solid Waste Disposal and Management Fire and Electrification, and Social Infrastructure Traffic and Transportation	Here, the focus is on infrastructure and its importance in the urban and regional development of the city.
Advanced Planning Techniques	Survey Techniques GIS Mapping Research Design and implementation	It studies analytical planning techniques.
Urban Development and Management	Land and Real Estate Development Urban Development Management Information System and Urban Reforms	This focuses the study of managing various facets of Urban development
Urban Governance	Legislations pertaining to Urban Governance Institutions and Organizations Urban Local Governance and Participatory Processes	It is a study of the role of government and private sector in urban and regional planning
Environment, Development and Disaster Management	Disaster Mitigation and Management Environmental Management Policies and Legislation Pertaining to Environment and Disaster Management	It helps students to study the relationship between disaster management techniques, environment, and development
Energy, Climate change and Urban Development	Energy Generation and Consumption Energy Planning and Management, and Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change Plans, Policies, and Strategies	In this course, the students learn about the relationship between Climate Change and Development
District Planning and Rural Development	District Planning Rural Development	The student studies district planning with the integration of Rural development.
Poverty and Development	Understanding Poverty Measures of Poverty Indicators of Poverty Rural and Urban Poverty	This course studies the relationship between Poverty and Development
Public Transport Planning	Public Transport Performance and Economic Aspects Public Transport Network Planning and Scheduling Bus Stops, Terminals, and Depot Infrastructure	It introduces students to public transport systems
Urban Transport Planning	Urban Transport Trends and Policies Urban Transport and Land Use Transport Planning Surveys and Studies Transport Demand Modelling	It studies the planning of urban transport

M Arch vs M Plan

M Arch and M Plan are both post-graduate degree courses of a comprehensive nature. But there are subtle differences between the academic curriculum of these two-degree courses.

Also check top M Arch Colleges in India.

A comparison between the two courses is given below in a tabulated form for better understanding along with their respective fee and expected salaries :

Parameters	M Plan	M Arch
Overview	It is offered to help the candidates design, formulate, and execute plans for sustainable urban, environmental, and technological development.	It is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.
Type of Degree	Post-graduate	Post-graduate
Duration	2 years	2 years
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree in Planning or equivalent from a recognized university.	Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or equivalent from a recognized university.
Admission Process	Merit/ Entrance-Based	Merit/ Entrance-Based
Average Fees	INR 1,00,000 to 3,00,000	INR 70,000 to INR 3,00,000
Average Salary	INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000	INR 2,00,000 to 6,00,000
Job Profiles	Planner, Project Manager, Planning Advisor/Consultants, Planning Manager etc.	Design Architect, Project Architect, Architect, Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Assistant Professor, Project Manager, Sr. Associate Architect, Senior Project Architect, Urban Planner etc.

Source: College Websites

What are the Career Options and Job Profiles Available After Completing M Plan?

Ample job opportunities and career prospects are available for the students who have completed the Masters of Planning course.
Being a planning postgraduate you can work in various sectors like Planning, Government Industries, Urban and Rural areas, Environmental, Transportation etc.

Some of the popular jobs available to M Plan degree holders along with the corresponding salaries are provided in the table given below:

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Annual Salary
Town Planner	The job of a Town Planner is to comprehensively plan the physical and social development of a town, city including the construction of facilities	INR 4,00,000
Urban Planner	An Urban Planner’s job is related to the use of land, protection and use of the environment, public welfare, and the design of the urban environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure keeping in mind the different aspects of urban living such as transportation, communications, and distribution of resources required.	INR 3,65,000
Transport Planner	A Transport planner is involved in the process of defining future policies, goals, decisions, investments, and designs to prepare for the future needs to move people and goods to destinations.	INR 4,50,000
Planning Engineer	A Planning Engineer plays a vital role in Project Coordination, Planning & Scheduling, Estimating, Cost Management Functions and monitors Project execution plans against baseline meeting Cost, Time, Quality, and HSE objectives	INR 3,24,000

Source: College Websites

What is the Future Scope After Completing a M Plan Course?

Students who have completed their post-graduation in Planning have numerous career options. The future scopes for students of M Plan course are given below:

Higher Education: Students can opt for higher education and research opportunities after completing their M Plan course. The higher education options they can pursue are:.

PhD: Students can also enroll in PhD programs in the discipline as per the area of interest. Along with an in-depth research and studies on the subject, this provides massive scope for further employment with higher pay-scales.
Competitive Exams:Students, after completing their post-graduation in Sanskrit, can appear in different competitive examinations for government jobs.
Junior Research Fellowship:Students can also appear for NTA-UGC NET-JRF that will grant them eligibility for employment as Assistant Professor in Indian colleges and universities, and also open up research avenues in top universities.

So, on completion of a M Planning course students will be able to choose a career as per their skills and area of interest. You can go for higher education or you can also opt for a decent job. It all depends on you whether you want to do the job after completing this course or you wish to do research for the betterment of the world.

FAQs

Some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to M Plan course are as follows:

Ques. Why should I choose M Plan over M Arch ?

Ans. Both the courses are postgraduate courses but choosing Planning over architecture will give the candidate a professional study experience in the field of planning and development.

Ques. What if the candidate is from the non-architecture field and wants to enroll for Planning. Can he apply for this course?

Ans. Yes, Students pursuing B. Tech/ BE in Civil/ Planning/Architecture Engineering degree can appear for the GATE exam and apply for M. Plan.

Ques. Which IITs offer an M Plan course? And How can I apply for the same?

Ans. Some of the top IITs that offer M Planning course include IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay.

Ques. What is the scope of a Master in Planning program with a specialization in environmental planning in India?

Ans. School of Planning and Architecture is one of the best planning colleges in India and its programs are very popular amongst the students. Given the background of the college and its courses, the candidate gets to be in a position to gain immensely in the years ahead. In terms of placements and prospects, it all depends on how you leverage the goodwill of the institution and the candidate.

Ques. What are the opportunities after doing specialization in M Plan?

Ans. It is an upcoming field with growing opportunities for the planner in India. Many of the government institutions are looking for planners to help them in handling the prestigious proposals like smart cities, for amrut etc. A planner that is well equipped to prepare EIA reports and handle environmental issues in large scale projects. Candidates can also get connected to NGOs like CSE, ICLEI, IRade etc. for research and awareness on environmental planning subjects.

Ques. Is M Plan a tough course?

Ans. It totally depends upon the candidate’s capacity and interest. If the candidate has some skills in development or knowledge of planning policies, then this Master's degree course will be easier and helpful in future endeavors.

Ques. Is pursuing a M Planning worth doing?

Ans. It depends on what the students want to do. In planning, a Master’s degree is considered to be sufficient for professional practice, meaning preparing to work as a planner in industry, MNC or organization.

Ques. What is the average course fee to pursue an MPlan program in Indian Colleges/ Universities?

Ans. The average course fee to pursue this program usually ranges from INR 1,00,000 to 3,00,000.

Ques. What are the core subjects included in the Mplan course?

Ans. The core subjects included in the MPlan course are Planning History and Theory, Socio-Economic Basis for Planning, Planning Techniques, Infrastructure and Transport Planning, Housing Environments and Planning, City and Metropolitan Planning etc.

Ques. What are the specializations offered in MPlan course?

Ans. The various specializations included in the M Plan program are Environmental Planning, Housing, Regional Planning, Transport Planning, Urban Planning etc.