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Learn the essential skills to develop, manage and make places better, through this unique programme.
Developed in partnership with the Institute of Place Management (IPM), this part-time course will give you the practical skills to succeed, and develop into a confident, reflective place leader.
Learn the principles of place management and leadership. You’ll look at the role of modern place marketing and branding in the co-creation of place and place identity. You’ll also refine your leadership skills as you study units on place governance and learn how to build lasting and effective partnerships in a variety of cultural contexts. PgDip and MSc students will also learn about different approaches to local economic development and inclusive place-making, and the research skills and knowledge required to undertake place based data collection and analysis.
Your proven partner in ...
This is a part-time course. All applicants will initially apply for the PgCert, which takes approximately 8 months to complete. Once students have finished and passed their PgCert they will have the option to continue with their studies by transferring onto and completing the PgDip (16 months) or the MSc (2 years).
Prof Cathy Parker MBE“The aim of the qualification is to develop confident, highly reflective and respected place managers, capable of strategic thinking and transformative but inclusive place management.”
Chair of the Institute of Place Management
There’s nowhere else in the world you can earn a qualification like this. That’s because we’re home to the Institute of Place Management, with world-renowned researchers and leading practitioners setting the standard in the field.
This is a flexible course, made for working professionals. It’s not only designed to allow you to apply academic principles to your real-world workplace issues, but its part-time structure also gives you room for your other commitments. In short, it’s an opportunity to take a leading role in the field, providing you with both the formal qualification and the focused skills to excel in senior and strategic roles in place management.
The course is taught via a blended learning approach. Each 30-credit unit is delivered through a 12-week programme of online learning and tutor support, combined with a 2-day in-person student residential. MSc students will complete their study with a 60-credit dissertation in place management and leadership, an independent research project, which ideally will help their place or organisation.
Stackable degree
We deliver three qualifications in Place Management and Leadership: PgCert, PgDip and MSc. All students initially apply for the PgCert, which consists of two core units studied part-time over an 8-month period.
Once the PgCert is complete, you have the option to either graduate or upgrade your qualification to a PgDip by studying two additional units. Including your PgCert this will take approximately 16-months part-time.
Once you’ve finished the PgDip you could then make the choice to upgrade to the full MSc qualification by completing a dissertation project, including your PgDip and PgCert this will take approximately 2-years part-time.
Please note: If you choose to upgrade your qualification you will not receive separate awards, upon graduation you will receive one award for the highest qualification that you reach on this course.
Institute of Place Management
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Business School Impact System (BSIS)
EFMD Quality Improvement System
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
Applications are welcomed from place practitioners with relevant experience. We also invite applications from potential students with degree-equivalent professional qualifications. We will also consider applicants with less practical experience, who hold a relevant UK honours degree – at least a 2:2 – or international equivalent.
International students please see mmu.ac.uk/international
English Language Requirements
We will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here.
IPM Membership
As part of the agreement between the University and the Institute of Place Management, it is a requirement that to be enrolled onto this course all students must be members of the IPM. Therefore if you are applying to join the course, you must be a member of the Institute in order for your application to be accepted.
Find out more about the IPM: placemanagement.org
Get in touch with the IPM about membership: [email protected]
Part-time fee: £1792 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
Part-time fee: £3750 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Students studying the full MSc. are expected to attend four residential workshops in Manchester, which will normally take place over 2 consecutive days. Students will be expected to cover their own travel and accommodation to attend residential workshops.
The cost associated with this activity will depend on where you are travelling to, and where from. The course team can recommend hotels, but it is up to the student where they choose to stay, depending on their budget.
There are no placement costs for this course.
There are no professional costs for this course.
Optional estimate: £400
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Students may also need to print other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
When you finish this course, you’ll have developed a global perspective of place management. As this course has been developed with worldwide professional standards, you’ll be able to develop your career in the UK and internationally.
Working in town and city centre management will be just one of your options. Your valuable place management and leadership skills can also allow you to go into:
As well as taking on more senior and strategic roles within your current organisation, this course can also allow you to move into research and teaching positions. You might also decide to use your skills to become a place management consultant.
TAUGHT BY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND ACTIVE RESEARCHERS
Our courses are taught by a combination of industry professionals and research-active academics. The industry professionals use case studies to demonstrate how you can apply the theory and skills you learn to real life scenarios. The research academics are engaged in projects that contribute to the very latest thinking in their area of expertise.
78% of our business and management research is rated as world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Please contact our course enquiries team.
If you are interested in applying for this course, please get in touch with the Institute of Place Management ([email protected]) before making an application. The Place Management and Leadership course team will discuss what is needed in the application process and you will have the opportunity to hear more about the course’s content and delivery.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.