Skip to main content

Developing confident, highly reflective and respected place managers, capable of strategic thinking and transformative but inclusive place management.

The Institute of Place Management is pleased to announce that its flagship MSc Place Management and Leadership programme is now accepting applicants for a January 2025 start. Please read on for details of our online taster session.

Apply now via mmu.ac.uk

___

Place management is an open and dynamic process, embracing new approaches to place change and governance.  Postgraduate study at IPM is designed for those in place management roles however the course is also suitable for local politicians and local community members leading or contributing to place initiatives.

The programme introduces students to contemporary and critical perspectives about place management and development, giving an opportunity to interact with a support peer group and conduct research relevant to your professional practice.

Below, IPM graduate Steph James discusses her experience studying the MSc programme:


___

Course schedule

Part-time, flexible study

The flexible course, created for working professionals, is studied part-time via online tutorials and with a 2-day residential workshop at Manchester Metropolitan University for each unit studied. 

The course is split into three qualifications, with all students starting the Postgraduate Certificate and having the option to continue to the Postgraduate Diploma and then a Masters qualification. The structure of the course for our 2023 cohort is shown below:

 

Unit Title

Unit description

Residential date

PG Cert.

Place Management and Leadership

The principles of place management from an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder perspective. Understand place leadership and partnership development, and governance within a variety of cultural contexts (read more)

 

Residential dates in Manchester

March 2025

Place Marketing, Branding and Communication

Critically explore place marketing concepts and practices, including the use of social media and the construction of digital place identity, the co-creation of place and place experiences (read more)

 

Residential dates in Manchester

June 2025

PG Dip

Place and Economic Development

Key theories of local and regional economic development, and an examination of place development in a global context. Critique dominant place-making practices and establish principles of effective and inclusive place development (read more)

Sept 2025

Place Research and Data Analysis

How to tackle an academic project inc. research approaches, primary and secondary data collection, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and writing up and presenting research findings (read more)

Jan 2026

MSc

Dissertation

Identify, structure, frame and investigate a complex issue within the context of place management, and produce a substantial written document inc. conclusions (read more)

Mid-2026 to 2027

 

Online taster sessions

If you are considering making an application for a January 2025 start, we will be running some online taster sessions leading up to the application deadline towards the end of September 2024. These sessions will provide you with the information you need to decide whether the course is for you:

 

___

Study with a world-leading Institute and University

The Place Management and Leadership programme is delivered by a team of internationally renowned academics and practitioners, with residential workshops held in Manchester Metropolitan University Business School’s £75 million teaching and research headquarters on the All Saints Campus.

Throughout the online distance learning elements (between each residential workshop) students are supported by the teaching team and a tutor for each unit. In addition, all assessments are designed to be relevant and impactful to your specific role and location.

 

 

___

Career prospects

Two-thirds of over 400 surveyed UK town centre managers have identified that they want additional development opportunties in place management and leadership. This need has also been mirrored in research undertaken in Europe, Australia and the USA. Accordingly, the programme is designed around the professional standards developed by the Institute of Place Management to support those that are already in or wish to move into a strategic role in place management.

Graduates can expect to combine their Place Management qualification with their current qualifications and personal achievements to develop a unique profile that stands out internationally

The course is fully accredited by the Institute of Place Management. Successful completion of the MSc in Place Management and Leadership also enables graduates to apply for Fellow status.

___

Fees

We are in the processing of confirming fees for 2025. We will update the information as soon as we are able too.

If you are interested in studying for the Masters of Science in Place Management and Leadership, are a UK or EU national living in England, then you are likely to be eligible for a Postgraduate Masters Loan.

As part of our agreement with Manchester Metropolitan University, it is a requirement that in order to be enrolled on to the course all students must be members of IPM. Therefore if you are applying to join the programme, you must be a member of the Institute in order to enrol on the programme.  As we are approaching the deadline for applications then we would encourage interested applicant to submit course applications as soon as possible and, if necessary, apply for IPM membership at the same time.

___

Advanced Standing

Your years of work as a place management practitioner can now earn you credits on the MSc in Place Management and Leadership offered by Manchester Metropolitan University. The most experienced practitioners will now be able to complete a Masters in just eighteen months, whilst still working full time.

The Advanced Standing admission route has been agreed upon between the Institute of Place Management and Manchester Metropolitan University. For those considering applying for the MSc in Place Management and Leadership with Advance Standing then you could be eligible for up to 90 credits of the 180 required for a Master's degree if you are a Member or Fellow of the Institute of Place Management. If you are thinking of applying to our course with advanced standing, please get in touch with our course team, who will be able to advise.

Advanced Standing is only available to applicants for the full MSc.

___

Apply and find out more

Apply now via mmu.ac.uk

Join an online taster session - 16th October 24 

Email us to ask us a question about postgraduate study

Back to top