Murie has been an Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham since his retirement in 2008 having been Professor of Urban and Regional Studies since 1995. He is a former Director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies and Head of the School of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham.
He was previously Professor of Planning and Housing at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He has participated in research and publication on urban and regional studies in the UK and Europe but the principal focus of his work is on housing provision and housing policy. This includes work on privatisation of housing, public and social rented housing. His most recent publications have addressed issues about the changing relationship between housing policy and the welfare state. He is currently a joint PhD supervisor of Steve Forrest and is working with Professor David Mullins on a second edition of Housing Policy in the UK.