About this course
Introduction
Planning is concerned with managing and shaping change across the built and natural environment. As a Planner you can begin to have a real impact on places and peoples' lives by helping to deliver positive change across our towns, cities and neighbourhoods. By getting to know a place, its history, its challenges and its community, you can begin to develop exciting plans and visions for how future change can be approached and managed. As a Planner, you can take a leading role in helping these ideas become a reality by helping to unlock the potential for sustainable development and investment, and by ensuring that projects, whatever their scale, are capable of achieving wide-ranging benefit.
By becoming a Planner you will be able to develop a varied and highly rewarding career that provides wide-ranging opportunities across the public, private and voluntary sectors; every project, place or community you will need to interact with will be different.
Wide-ranging challenges
Key responsibilities for the profession today include the need to:
- respond to population and household change by providing sufficient homes at the right place and at the right time.
- provide these homes in neighbourhoods that are safe, sustainable and suitably inclusive.
- manage our town and city centres to ensure they are attractive and vibrant, with a range of accessible facilities being provided.
- deliver necessary infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, railway lines or wind farms.
- create streets and spaces that are accessible, attractive and well-managed.
- ensure new developments are well designed and respond to current and future needs.
- conserve and enhance our historic environments.
- provide for jobs, business growth and regeneration, particularly in those areas suffering from decline and deprivation.
- encourage more active and sustainable forms of transport, such as walking and cycling.
- protect and provide a living and working countryside.
From the global to the local
Planning is now seen as a critical force in helping to adapt and mitigate the world's environments to the effects of climate change; as a Planner you will help to drive this environmental challenge by helping to ensure that we live in places that are sustainable, resilient and energy efficient. You will also learn, through the department's collaboration with the World Health Organisation, about how planning can make a real difference to the health and well-being of society.
There is an opportunity for you to work at a variety of geographical scales from the global to the local. Internationally, urbanisation continues to generate some wide-ranging challenges, particularly given its scale in certain areas of the world. For instance, in India, some 250 million people are expected to become urbanised by 2030. Planners have an important role to play in this urbanisation process, not only in helping to steer growth away from marginal or environmentally sensitive areas, but by ensuring that the communities of the future respond to the lessons of the past. Maintaining water supply, providing for local food production, promoting community cohesion and ensuring that key services and facilities are provided exist as key goals.
At the other end of the spectrum, you are likely to become involved with hotly contested local debates over a particular site or building. This could be a former factory site, a vacant public house or a current area of open space. As a key mediator and decision maker you will need to listen, appraise the arguments and apply the skills and experiences you will develop by assisting with the delivery of a sustainable, high quality and financially viable project.
Our department
The Department of Planning and Architecture normally attracts over 200 new students onto its various RTPI-accredited planning courses each year: this intake is the largest of any of the accredited schools in the UK. However, despite its size, the department is also student orientated, friendly and supportive towards your needs. From day one you will have the benefit of a personal tutor who will oversee your development during your time with us. Members of staff have a diverse range of interests and backgrounds; collectively we have fantastic links to practice and academia across the country and beyond.
The department has a strong research base, with a number of research centres being accommodated. These include the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments, the Centre for Transport and Society, the Cities Research Centre and the World Health Organisation Healthy Cities Collaborating Centre. Members of staff from each of these centres are actively involved with the delivery of the programme and regularly attend conferences and produce articles for publication. Information about current research projects can be found via the department's website.
Professional opportunities
Our programme responds to this context by offering a stimulating, enjoyable and high quality experience. It is a popular choice for students who have taken geography, biology, sociology, economics or history, but the diversity of the profession provides wide-ranging opportunities whatever your interest or background. The programme is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute and is delivered by an enthusiastic team of academics and practitioners. Not only are we passionate about planning, we are also committed to delivering a rewarding and memorable student experience.
Structure
Content
A wide-ranging syllabus
The programme is intended to give you a solid grounding in planning, with an effective blend of both theory and practice. The course covers a wide range of subject areas and draws from both UK and international case studies. You will learn about the historical issues and changes that have shaped our world, consider the circumstances, challenges and opportunities of the world today, and will look ahead to consider the type of environments we might be living or working in at some point in the future. An important strand throughout the programme focuses on the development of healthy sustainable communities, an area of expertise within the department.
You will also learn about the key priorities we are facing today, including the pressures we face for more housing, employment, transport and leisure facilities, and the ways in which these can be provided through effective planning. You will be exposed to some of the difficult decisions that Planners are expected to take, and the type of factors that need to be in place to ensure successful implementation. You will develop an appreciation of how the development process works, and the type of political and institutional settings you are likely to be operating within. You will understand the importance of involving the community in shaping plans and projects and will be encouraged to think about the ways in which this involvement can be achieved.
"This course really appealed to me. While on the one hand it built upon my interest in geography, and my desire to learn about different types of people and place, it also added a new dimension. Rather than just hearing about the challenge or the problem, I have begun to think about possible solutions which, one day, will hopefully make a difference. In summary, studying planning at UWE has been a great experience for me".
Second year planning student
Developing key skills and attributes
You will discover new ways of analysing an area which will help you to appreciate the nature and character of places, together with the challenges and opportunities that are present. This will be invaluable in bringing forward creative and exciting solutions for change. Other key skills we will focus on include creative thinking, project management, negotiation and advocacy, and verbal and written communication. You will be asked to work with GIS and digital mapping and will be provided with on-going support to help you develop professional looking reports, presentations or portfolios. We will also develop your confidence, your ability to lead teams, and create a general enthusiasm towards lifelong learning.
Study time
If you successfully complete three years of full-time time study, and want to leave, then you will be eligible for the BA(Hons) degree in Town and Country Planning. However, in order to satisfy the educational requirements of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) for becoming a Corporate and Chartered Planner, you must undertake further study and a period of work experience. This additional study can be achieved in a variety of ways although the majority of students have tended to complete the final year of the programme to obtain the final Master of Planning award (which comprises modules assessed at Masters level).
Assessment
Assessment is achieved through a balance of coursework and examinations. Examinations are held in either January or May and include written exams, in-class tests or assessed presentations. Coursework is varied and will involve you writing essays or reports, undertaking surveys or design work, or producing some kind of team based project. You are actively encouraged to do 'formative work' to prepare for these assessments; this does not count towards your final marks but the feedback received should help you enhance your final mark. Support is available for students who need it.
The department is committed to a teaching and learning strategy that emphasises active rather than passive learning. This means that you will encounter a wide range of innovative classroom and in-field based learning contexts involving lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars, and IT-based learning.
Throughout the programme you will be able to participate in a number of interactive studios where the emphasis will be on learning by doing. These modules are characterised by having some exciting and contemporary project briefs that will encourage you to think and innovate. Some of these will involve you working with real-life problems, communities or leading practitioners, often in multidisciplinary contexts. There is an opportunity to undertake a piece of personal research, to work collaboratively with other students from across the department, and to undertake a six week work placement that we arrange for you at the end of Year 3. This is a useful tool for enhancing your CV and for opening up some varied work opportunities.
"Throughout the course there are invaluable opportunities to apply current and emerging planning theories and concepts to 'live' sites. Whether its strategic planning or site specific development proposals, students can contrast and compare their output to that of professional practice".
Fourth year planning student
Special Features
Professional accreditation
When considering a planning course it is important to look for professional accreditation. Further postgraduate study is required to fulfill the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI) educational requirements for professional membership. Our three year degree, when taken together with the optional fourth year (MPlan), is fully accredited and is formally recognised by the institute as a spatial planning degree.
The department has excellent links with the RTPI, and provides an input into the shaping and making of policy and initiatives across the institute. Similar links also exist with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Architects Registration Board and the Royal Geographical Society.
An excellent student experience
A key goal for us is to enhance the student experience. We are keen for you to meet your academic potential and provide regular contact time with staff in order that they can help you with your study and provide support as you look beyond university. The programme has a growing student identity with a number of social and academic events being organised by students each year. Personal tutors provide one to one pastoral support.
"When first starting at UWE I was worried about making friends. However the course induction really helped. My overall student experience has been so good that part of me now wants to be a student for the rest of my life!"
Third year planning student
Placements
The department's well-established Erasmus programme provides an opportunity for you to study at one of four universities; Hannover in Germany; Nijmegen in Netherlands; Tours in France and Bologna in Italy. You may also be selected to participate in an Erasmus Intensive Programme that we arrange for students in Year 3 with the same Erasmus partners, together with the University of Oradea in Romania. The programme enables six students from each of the participating universities to work together on a planning-based exercise over the course of 11 days. The project is fully funded by the European Union. Other international links continue to be forged to help support the academic and student experience.
Fieldwork
Field trips are an integral part of the learning experience. During the 2011/12 academic year, students on the programme visited the cities of Rotterdam (Year 1), Liverpool (Year 2), London (Year 3), and Paris (Year 4). A number of other trips and excursions were also arranged, taking advantage of the diverse environments found in the city or further afield.
"Our field trips to Rotterdam, Manchester, London and finally Paris were not only fun and informative, but taught me completely new ways to see and read a city-landscape. My lecturers at UWE haven't just taught me about the policy and processes involved in spatial planning, they have taught me completely new skill sets which will be invaluable in the workplace".
Fourth year town planning student
Study facilities
The department benefits from modern and well-equipped facilities that are subject to ongoing improvement. You will be able to study in our award-winning design studios that include a range of different learning environments, including lecture spaces and teaching rooms and a large café with computing facilities and work areas. Most of the university's facilities are now open 24 hours a day.
A range of specialist facilities are provided by the department. A suite of computer rooms support software for word processing, data analysis, spatial enquiry, desk-top publishing and design. They provide access to e-mail and the internet, including department and university websites from which you can access a vast number of specialist electronic journals and publications, and resources provided by lecturers to support their modules.
A project room provides space for you to work on individual and group assignments and provides a range of material and equipment. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
A well equipped laboratory for spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems) is also provided.
Careers/further study
Planners work in a variety of places for a wide range of employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. While the majority of our graduates choose to forge a career within planning, the degree will also provide an excellent foundation for many other career paths, such as within housing, tourism, economic development, regeneration, and environmental protection. The programme also provides a solid ground for careers in research and teaching.
Opportunities in the public sector include working for government departments or agencies (such as English Heritage, Highways Agency, Natural England or the Environment Agency), or in local planning authorities. By their nature, planning authorities offer a variety of location and opportunity from large city authorities to those centred on national parks. You may also be interested in working in the private sector, either for large companies or developers (such as major retail chains or house builders), a multi-disciplinary firm, or as a Planner in a more specialist consultancy. Working with the voluntary sector could include opportunities with such groups as the National Trust or Shelter. Employment prospects remain very good, despite the recent economic slowdown.
The department is well-known to employers and our courses are well respected. For instance, one of our final year students was awarded 'best overall student' in the 2011 RTPI Planning Awards; he was one of five students from across the country that had been shortlisted for this prestigious award. A variety of employers are invited throughout the year to contribute to lectures and projects and to offer advice about career and professional development.
"UWE is really concerned about the 'employability' of its students. The department spends a lot of time and resources on developing the students and getting them ready for life outside of studying, and the university as a whole offers many opportunities to grow as a person. I have been able to sharpen my CV with the help of staff and I now feel more comfortable in looking for my ideal job and succeeding."
Third year planning student
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating - includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Key employer partnerships
Our degrees can lead to a wide variety of career choices. To ensure that our degrees make you as employable as possible we work closely with partner employers in our planning and architecture consortium.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Read about what being a town planner involves.
Useful links
UWE - careers in planning
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 300
- GCSE: Maths and English Language at grade C or above required.
- Specific subjects: None specified
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of level 2 credits in Maths and English Language.
Advice on typical offers
In addition to the typical offer given at the top of this page, please read the general information about entry requirements.
Fees
For more information on fees, please visit our money matters pages.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
Students who successfully complete the Built and Natural Environments Foundation course may be permitted to transfer onto the first year of this degree course.
We welcome applications from students without the conventional entrance requirements but who do have substantial relevant work or other experience and whose motivation and skills would enable them to succeed on the course.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from people with disabilities.
We are committed to supporting students with disabilities, and wherever possible we will make reasonable adjustments to these activities to enable students with disabilities to successfully complete the course. We encourage applicants to disclose any disabilities or support needs in their application forms, so that we can offer information, advice and support. There is a Disability Service at UWE Bristol to support you. Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves:
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Team working and negotiation
- Take part in discussions and presentations
Open days
We run open days throughout the year, when you can meet lecturers and current students, see the facilities and resources that we offer, and visit the student accommodation.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011