ObjectivesPlanning has seldom been higher in the public and Government agendas, and the profession is developing from its current primary role of regulating land-use, to a more strategic role of co-ordinating spatial planning to meet the Government's objective of creating and maintaining 'sustainable communities'. In response to this change, and in concert with the ODPM, the RTPI is developing a 'New Vision for Planning'.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements GCSE: Maths, English Tariff points range: 240-280 Specific subjects: None specified Access: Yes
Academic titleBA Town and Country Planning
Course descriptionContents of the BA in Town and Country Planning.
The course covers a wide range of aspects of the built and natural environment in the UK and abroad. Students learn about the issues that shape our world today and in the past. They learn how to respond to the pressures we face for more and different housing, employment, transport and leisure facilities whilst ensuring that the best of what we have in town and country is retained for the future. Students are taught to develop creative and exciting solutions for urban and rural spaces and the skills to communicate them.
The course is very practical with the use of many 'live' projects drawn from a variety of places throughout the UK and abroad. These projects often link to field trips in the first and second years. Although field trips are subsidised by the Faculty, students are required to make a contribution.
The course offers you a variety of electives and includes opportunities for learning a European language. If you wish to pursue this further, you can study for six months in a European university as part of the fourth (MPlan) year of the course.
The fourth year of study which leads to the Master of Planning focuses on the implementation of planning. It prepares you for work, and includes a six week work placement at the end of the course. This is popular with students who gain valuable work experience and move from their placements into jobs. The field trip in this course is overseas. Students may also join an Erasmus exchange with our partner universities in Europe.
"I chose this course because it allowed me to gain a degree in a vocational subject, to complete a fourth year of study whist obtaining valuable work experience, and to understand and experience the wide range of work opportunities available to the qualified town planner." Third year student.
The Faculty's inter-professional approach includes projects where you will work with students from other disciplines within the built environment. This encourages mutual respect and understanding of the professions which you are likely to be working with during your career, and helps you to develop and practise the skills of presentation, negotiation, communication, and delegation.