About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: K430
- Applications: UCAS
- Level: Undergraduate
- Tariff points: 300
- Department: Construction and Property
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: Three years full-time; four years sandwich; four years MPlan
- Delivery: Part-time, full-time, sandwich
- Study Abroad: Yes
- Programme leader: Jane Galloway BSc(Hons), Dip TP, MRTPI.
- Key fact: This course allows you to achieve professional status in both planning and surveying
Introduction
The BA(Hons)/MPlan Property Development and Planning provides an opportunity to be involved in the urban renaissance which is transforming our cities.
Managing, planning and implementing the development and regeneration of cities is high on corporate and government agendas in the UK and abroad. This course prepares you to enter an interesting and fast-moving industry dealing with economic, financial, legal and design issues, where you will seek and implement innovative property development solutions to urban regeneration problems.
Planning and development professionals play a central role in this by co-ordinating and managing multi-agency teams, directing and managing projects, advising on strategy and finance and social and economic implications of new development.
There are tremendous opportunities for those who have the skills to promote and manage property development, and at the same time understand urban policy and planning procedures.
Student's view
Interview with a current student
"I decided to study at UWE after advice and a chat from a friend of the family who is a surveyor. From the vast range Built Environment courses to choose from, I decided on Property Development and Planning as it boasted a dual accreditation from both the RICS and the RTPI.
"The course has been very beneficial for myself, as I have gained valuable, well-rounded knowledge and skills in a wide variety of subjects in an interdisciplinary environment. I feel as though every ounce of knowledge I have taken from this course is going to be indispensable for my future career.
"The dual accreditation Property Development and Planning offers is very appealing to employers and it gives you the edge over other students who will gain only one or the other. This has allowed me to gain valuable work experience with Bluechip surveying practices over the duration of the course that will undoubtedly boost by employability when I graduate."
Adam Ryan
Structure
Content
The course includes introductory topics covering urban design, planning and urban form, sustainable development, economy and society, property appraisal, information management and construction. Students will also study property development, plan making, planning theory and policy, property finance and business management.
You may opt to do a sandwich year placement after your second year. The integration of a placement into courses is highly favoured by employers, and gives you the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge by applying it in the real world, before building upon it in your final year. The Department has an excellent record of making sure students secure good experience and training during their placements.
In order to become a member of the RICS, you must complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) which involves two years professional experience. Your placement can enable you to complete one year of your APC which means that you could become a member of the RICS only one year after graduation, which increases your appeal to potential employers.
The project work and other studies are complemented by field study courses in each of the first two years, one of which is normally located in a British city (such as London or Liverpool) and one in another European country. Students are expected to contribute towards the costs of field courses.
The course has a distinctly inter-professional ethos, providing opportunities to work with fellow students across the built environment professions. It gives a broad perspective on city development and regeneration, enabling graduates to work creatively with a wide range of other professionals to promote effective and imaginative solutions to urban problems.
Year 1
- Building Construction
- Economy, Society and the Built Environment
- Healthy Sustainable Communities
- Introduction to Property Appraisal
- Making Places
- Information Management for the Built Environment
- The Process of Development
Year 2
- Law for Development
- Local Spatial Planning
- National and Regional Spatial Planning
- Property Appraisal
- Property Development Economics
- Land Use Economics
- Interprofessional Development Project
Optional Placement Year (between Year 2 and 3)
Year 3
- Dissertation
- Property Development
- Real Estate Finance and Management
- Transforming Cities
- Investment & Development Project
- Interdisciplinary Issues
Year 4 (MPlan)
- Managing Integration: Stakeholders and Sectors
- Planning Theory and Philosophy
- Planning and Managing Development
- Agency Project
- Planning Implementation
- International Comparative Planning
Teaching and learning
Teaching methods are varied depending on the module; lectures, project work and tutorials all have a part.
The teaching staff provide a friendly, enabling environment for learning. They are also actively engaged in research or professional practice, ensuring that you learn directly from the latest academic and business developments.
Study time
The course is normally studied full-time. If you study part-time, you can choose how many modules to study each year. Your timetable will be constrained and determined by the teaching pattern for those modules.
Assessment
Assessment is achieved through a balance of coursework and examinations. Examinations are held in either January or May/June. Coursework will be a variety of essays, reports, surveys, design projects, teamwork or progress tests.
You are encouraged to do 'formative work' to prepare for assessments: this does not count towards your marks but the feedback which you receive will help you to improve your performance. Support is available for students who have difficulties with numeracy, IT, literacy and study skills.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
The course has been developed to meet the requirements of two professional bodies, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) which have both accredited the course.
You will have an unusual opportunity to achieve professional status in both planning and surveying. Graduates will be ideally placed to participate in multi-disciplinary teams leading town centre development, urban renewal and masterplanning new settlements under the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan. You can build a career in the public or private sector, for instance in firms of property developers, surveying, planning and multi-disciplinary practices, local authorities, and development agencies in the UK and abroad.
If you wish to become a professional town planner and join the RTPI, an additional year of study leads to the Master of Planning. It focuses on implementation and includes a six week work placement at the end of the course, enabling you to gain valuable work experience and move from the placements into employment.
Where are they now? Have a look to see what some of our graduates are up to.
"Would-be property developers, note the 22-point [QAA] assessment in the School of Land and Property Management, and another employment strength, the curriculum mining rich seams in their planning, built environment and business provision, in particular, Property Development and Planning. Nationally, a third of the 200-odd graduates into property development come out of built environment and building and planning departments. UWE accounts for a lot of them."
The Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities 2005.
Placements
You may opt to do a sandwich year placement after your second year. The integration of a placement into courses is highly favoured by employers, and gives you the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge by applying it in the real world, before building upon it in your final year. The Department has an excellent record of making sure students secure good experience and training during their placements.
In order to become a member of the RICS, you must complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) which involves two years professional experience. Your placement can enable you to complete one year of your APC which means that you could become a member of the RICS only one year after graduation, which increases your appeal to potential employers.
Study facilities
A range of specialist facilities are provided by the Department. A suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis and spatial enquiry. They provide access to e-mail and internet, including Department and University websites which enable you to use a vast number of specialist electronic journals and publications, and resources provided by lecturers to support their modules.
A Project Room provides space for students to work on individual and group assignments, together with a range of materials and equipment. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
You may also use the well equipped laboratory for spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems), with a specialist technician supporting both teaching and research.
The Department is based in a large modern building, to which a new set of studios and teaching rooms (designed by a member of the Department) have recently been added.
Student representatives sit on a wide range of committees at University and Department level, where they can influence discussions and decisions which affect your learning experience.
Careers/further study
You will have an unusual opportunity to achieve professional status in both planning and surveying. Graduates will be ideally placed to participate in multi-disciplinary teams leading town centre development, urban renewal and masterplanning new settlements under the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan. You can build a career in the public or private sector, for instance in firms of property developers, surveying, planning and multi-disciplinary practices, local authorities, and development agencies in the UK and abroad.
Graduates of courses that are accredited by both the RICS and the RTPI have an advantage over people who are only able to offer an employer expertise in just one area. From this course, you will have the skills to promote and manage development, and at the same time understand urban policy and planning procedures.
If you wish to become a professional town planner and join the RTPI, an additional year of study leads to the Master of Planning. It focuses on implementation and includes a six week work placement at the end of the course, enabling you to gain valuable work experience and move from the placement into employment.
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
The course is supported by a group of employers who contribute towards resources used in teaching, offer sponsorship and placements to students, and who are keen to employ our graduates. Find out more about our real estate 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 how James's interest in property led to his career path.
Useful links
UWE - careers in planning
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Royal Town Planning Institute(RTPI)
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 here, please read the general information about entry requirements.
On the course, you will learn how to undertake property valuations using a range of mathematical techniques including statistical analysis, so you need to be comfortable with using maths and must have at least a grade C in GCSE Maths.
Fees
For more information on fees please visit our money matters page.
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.
Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves. 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 and a Disability Support Co-ordinator in the School.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Visually inspect construction sites, including physical movement around and through construction sites
- Participate in field courses or activities away from the University
- Measure distances and sizes of buildings, materials or sites
- 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. Please ask for details. For further information regarding the course, you are welcome to contact: Jane Galloway (Course Leader) Jane.Galloway@uwe.ac.uk or the Admissions team admissions@uwe.ac.uk +44 (0)117 32 83333.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011