Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Planning (M.Plan) at the Institute of Architecture and Planning (IAP), Nirma University, Ahmedabad, is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking needed to address complex challenges of urban and regional development. Launched from the academic year 2026-27, the programme offers specializations in Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Housing and Real Estate, and Infrastructure Planning. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 2,80,500, making the total tuition for the 2-year programme Rs. 5,61,000. The total intake is 40 seats. The programme is approved by the Council of Architecture (CoA) and is offered in full-time on-campus mode. It is popular among graduates from diverse backgrounds including Architecture, Civil Engineering, Planning, Economics, Sociology, and Geography, given its interdisciplinary nature and strong industry connect.

Admissions for M.Plan 2026-27 are open. Based on the 2025-26 schedule, applications are expected to open in April 2026, with the last date tentatively in May 2026. The interview and group discussion are typically held in June, with the semester commencing in July 2026. Candidates are advised to check the official website for the exact 2026-27 dates.

Key Points

The M.Plan programme was newly launched from 2025-26 and is approved by the Council of Architecture (CoA), New Delhi.
Offers four specializations: Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Housing and Real Estate, and Infrastructure Planning.
All admitted students receive a stipend of Rs. 8,000 per month against research/consultancy/assistanceship (8 hours per week).
The programme is interdisciplinary, accepting graduates from Architecture, B.Plan, Civil Engineering, Economics, Sociology, and Geography.
The Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, is ranked 17th in Architecture by NIRF 2024.
The programme includes international student exchange/field studio programs with partner universities in France, Germany, USA, and others.
Studio work on live projects and industry connect with government and private sector experts are integral to the curriculum.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Ranking
FAQs

Nirma M.Plan Fees

The M.Plan programme at Nirma University has an annual tuition fee of Rs. 2,80,500 for the All India category, making the total tuition for the 2-year programme Rs. 5,61,000. NRI/NRI Sponsored candidates are charged US$ 5,500 per annum. Notably, all admitted students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000 against assistanceship, which partially offsets the fee outgo. The fee structure is straightforward with no separate hostel fee mentioned as mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	All India Category	NRI/NRI Sponsored Category
Annual Tuition Fee	Rs. 2,80,500	US$ 5,500
Total Tuition Fee (2 Years)	Rs. 5,61,000	US$ 11,000
Monthly Stipend (for all students)	Rs. 8,000/month	Rs. 8,000/month

All admitted M.Plan students receive a stipend of Rs. 8,000 per month against research/consultancy/assistanceship of 8 hours per week.
NRI Sponsored candidates must submit a sponsorship affidavit and documentary evidence of the sponsor's NRI status.
Fee structure shown is for 2025-26; 2026-27 fees may be subject to revision.
Check the official website for updated fees.
The institute has a fee refund policy; details available at the official admission page.

Nirma M.Plan Admission 2026

Nirma University's M.Plan admissions are conducted annually through a personal interview process. For 2025-26, applications opened on April 7, 2025, with the last date on May 25, 2025, and the interview held on June 14, 2025. For 2026-27, similar dates are expected. The selection is based on a personal interview by a committee of experts appointed by the Director, IAPNU. There is no entrance exam requirement; merit is assessed through the interview and academic background.

Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026-27)	Actual Date (2025-26)
Application Opens	April 2026 (Tentative)	April 7, 2025
Last Date to Apply	May 2026 (Tentative)	May 25, 2025
Interview and Group Discussion	June 2026 (Tentative)	June 14, 2025
Declaration of Result	June 2026 (Tentative)	June 20, 2025
Commencement of Semester	July 2026 (Tentative)	July 21, 2025

Interview centres are at Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, Vijayawada, and Pune. Dates are tentative and subject to change.

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Exam Date	Result Date	Relevance
GATE 2026	Feb 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026	March 19, 2026	Optional; may strengthen application profile

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

A Bachelor's degree in Planning, Civil Engineering, or Architecture from any recognised university/institution in India or abroad with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate.
OR a Master's degree in Economics, Sociology, or Geography from any recognised university/institution in India or abroad with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate.
OR other qualifications or experience as accepted by the ITPI Council from time to time.

Admission Process:

Apply online at admissions-ia.nirmauni.ac.in.
Submit required documents including qualifying exam marksheets, degree certificate, and migration certificate.
Eligible candidates are called for a personal interview and group discussion at designated centres (Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, Vijayawada, Pune).
Selection is based on the personal interview conducted by a committee of experts appointed by the Director, IAPNU.
Results are declared within a week of the interview; successful candidates must complete fee payment to confirm admission.

Nirma M.Plan Scholarships 2026

Nirma University offers scholarships to meritorious students under merit-based and merit-cum-means-based categories. Additionally, all M.Plan students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000 as part of the programme structure. The university also extends financial support up to 100% of tuition fee to meritorious students in the form of scholarships.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Financial Support	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
Monthly Stipend (Programme Feature)	All admitted M.Plan students	Rs. 8,000 per month (against 8 hrs/week assistanceship)
Merit-based Scholarship	Based on academic merit	Partial to full tuition fee waiver (details vary by year)
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	Based on merit and financial need	As per university norms

The monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000 is a programme feature and is available to all admitted students, not just merit scholars.
Scholarship details are updated annually; candidates should check the official Nirma University website for the current year's notification.
NRI/NRI Sponsored candidates may not be eligible for merit-based scholarships.

Nirma M.Plan Placement 2026

The Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, has an active placement cell that facilitates campus placements for its graduates. While placement data is primarily available for B.Arch graduates, the M.Plan programme (launched in 2025-26) is expected to leverage the same strong industry network. Planners from IAPNU find opportunities in government bodies, urban development authorities, smart city projects, consultancy firms, NGOs, and research institutions. The institute's strong industry connect and live project-based curriculum significantly enhance employability.

Placement Statistics

Placement Metric	B.Arch (2023-24)
Highest Package	Rs. 6.7 LPA
Average Package	Rs. 4.17 LPA
Number of Offers	20+
Number of Recruiters	10+

M.Plan-specific placement data is not yet available as the programme was launched in 2025-26.
The above data is for B.Arch graduates of IAPNU and is indicative of the institute's placement ecosystem.

Nirma University Ahmedabad M.Plan Ranking

NIRF Ranking

#29 out of 40 in India 2025

#2nd in Ahmedabad

#2 in Gujarat

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Nirma M.Plan FAQs

Ques. Is the M.Plan programme at Nirma University a new programme? When was it launched?

Ans. Yes, the M.Plan programme at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, was newly launched from the academic year 2025-26. It is approved by the Council of Architecture (CoA), New Delhi, and is affiliated with the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI).

Ques. Do M.Plan students at Nirma University receive any stipend or financial support?

Ans. Yes, all admitted M.Plan students receive a stipend of Rs. 8,000 per month against research/consultancy/assistanceship of 8 hours per week. This is a programme feature and is available to all students, not just merit scholars.

Ques. Is there an entrance exam for M.Plan admission at Nirma University?

Ans. No, there is no mandatory entrance exam for M.Plan admission at Nirma University. Selection is based on a personal interview and group discussion conducted by a committee of experts. However, a strong academic background and relevant work experience can strengthen your application.

Ques. What specializations are available in the M.Plan programme at Nirma University?

Ans. The M.Plan programme offers four specializations: Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Housing and Real Estate, and Infrastructure Planning. Students can choose their specialization based on their interests and career goals.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing M.Plan from Nirma University?

Ans. M.Plan graduates can work in government bodies (urban development authorities, municipal corporations, smart city missions), private consultancy firms (master planning, transport planning, infrastructure), NGOs/INGOs (water, sanitation, ecology, livelihoods), research institutions, and academia. India has a significant shortage of planning professionals, making this a high-demand career path.

Ques. Can a student from a non-architecture background apply for M.Plan at Nirma University?

Ans. Yes, the M.Plan programme is interdisciplinary. Graduates from Civil Engineering, Economics, Sociology, and Geography (with a Master's degree) are also eligible to apply, in addition to Architecture and B.Plan graduates. This makes it one of the few planning programmes in India with such broad eligibility.