About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: K40112
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Planning and Architecture
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: The MA or the PGDip may be completed in 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time, or on a module by module basis.
- Delivery: Full-time, part-time block release
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Dr Michael Short BSc MA PhD
Introduction
Planning offers the opportunity for a fascinating career in a field where there is currently a shortage of qualified professionals. This course offers postgraduates the opportunity to gain the required RTPI accredited qualification at a long-established centre of recognised teaching excellence in this field.
This is an intensive postgraduate conversion course.
The Master's degree comprises 180 credits, and may be completed in 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. The MA is recognised by the RTPI as a Combined Planning Programme and it meets all the academic requirements for Corporate Membership (MRTPI). The Postgraduate Diploma is recognised by the RTPI as a Spatial Planning Programme and meets the academic requirements for membership if you have also got an RTPI recognised Specialist Planning Master's.
New vision for Planning
Planning 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 has developed a 'New Vision for Planning' with four strands:
Spatial
Manage the competing uses for space to create places that are valued and have identity.
Sustainability
Integrate and mediate between the often conflicting objectives of economic development, social justice and inclusion, environmental integrity and integrated transport.
Integration
Consider issues beyond land-use, such as inequalities in health and education, energy policy, urban design and the rural economy.
Inclusivity
Aim to reduce social and spatial inequalities, and meet the expectations and aspirations of communities for greater influence over the impact of development and the quality of the environment. Planning cannot always be achieved through consensus, so clear and equitable decision making is essential.
Summarised from the 'New Vision for Planning' at www.rtpi.org.uk.
Aims of the course
- To provide a coherent programme of advanced study in spatial planning, firmly underpinned by staff, research, consultancy and scholarship
- To provide an inspirational programme of learning, strongly linked to practice, which enables students to become effective, professionally qualified spatial planners
- To integrate the core ideas of the 'New Vision for Planning'
- To offer varied study pattern opportunities ranging from full-time to flexible part-time modes in order to broaden access
- To ensure the programme reflects the needs of those students in employment and is sensitive and responsive to the particular opportunities and difficulties involved in part-time study
- To provide for specialised studies in planning at an advanced level, building upon the basis of a general core of planning knowledge and skills and responding to the RTPI's new vision and the policy statement on Initial Planning Education
- To provide a programme which encourages students to develop the capacity for independent and critical thought and action - the critical thinking about space and place seen as central to the new vision
Benefits of study at UWE Bristol include:
- A well established Planning department with highest quality teaching
- Opportunities for specialisation, including urban design, transport planning, and health and planning
- Modern purpose-built accommodation, excellent library, and postgraduate facilities
- Good public transport and road access to the Frenchay Campus
- Supportive staff with wide ranging research interests, so that the course is underpinned by the research and consultancy undertaken by the School's Research Centres
- The opportunity to study either full-time or part-time, and the flexibility to switch from one to the other
In short, a stimulating and supportive learning environment.
Structure
Content
The course is arranged around seven core modules:
- Planning and Sustainability Appraisal
- Modernising Planning
- Strategic Planning and Policymaking
- Planning Law and Decision Process
- Theory and Philosophy of Spatial Planning
- Research for Policy and Practice
- Planning and Design Quality
You can also take a specialism in: Urban Design, Transport Planning or Health and Planning.
Projects
Five of the modules include a project. These are designed to integrate the wide range of subject matter and professional skills within the module, and with the content of other modules as appropriate. The projects address spatial planning at different scales, from strategic down to small or local area. The order in which the modules are studied ensures that you can draw on the knowledge and skills from other modules as appropriate to the project.
In the first part of the course, you will undertake projects dealing with a mixed use urban development proposal, small area/scale design and the development control process for an individual site proposal. In the second part, projects will focus on the strategic scale of a town or city and its rural hinterland and a city/major urban centre. All projects require you to be aware of the links between context, policy making, implementation and evaluation. However, some of the projects put greater emphasis on the process and implementation of planning (for example in Planning Law and Decision Process). While others have a stronger emphasis on policy making (for example in Planning and Design Quality) or evaluation (for example, in the module Strategic Planning and Policy Making).
Modules are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, so some of them may change before the course starts or whilst you are on it, but the overall aims and broad content of the course will remain the same.
Study time
Full-time students attend classes for either two whole days each week or three to four days every other week during term time over one year. With tutoring, reading and cross-department lectures on top of this, you should realistically expect to be occupied all week with your studies. Full time students will find it hard to combine study with paid work. All students are required to attend the two-day induction sessions at the start of the course. Both full and part-time students will spend the summer term working on their dissertations.
Part-time students attend classes for two whole days a fortnight during term over two years.
It is possible to switch your mode of study if your circumstances or commitments change.
Assessment
All assessment is by coursework. Overall assessment is by credit for each module, so flexible patterns of studying can be arranged.
One of the departments main aims is to foster an active graduate community, encompassing students on postgraduate taught courses and students undertaking research degrees. There are currently around 800 students on postgraduate taught courses, and about 60 postgraduate research students. Graduate students have a dedicated space on the main campus, with teaching rooms and informal areas. Each course has a student adviser who provides pastoral support and general advice.
You may also use the well equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental services, environmental physics, earth sciences, spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems) and surveying technology, each with specialist technicians supporting both teaching and research. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
The Faculty has invested in online and offline computer-based resources to support modules, and especially those offered by distance learning. You also have access to a vast number of journals and databases online through the Bristol UWE library. The library and some computer labs on campus are open 24 hours, and the Faculty's suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis, spatial analysis, computer aided design and other specialist software required by our students.
Bristol Planning Law and Policy Conference - free places
The Bristol Planning Law and Policy Conference is an important event for planners and lawyers practising in planning law. The organising committee, which comprises the UWE Short Course Programme and the firms Clarke Willmott, Terence O'Rourke, Bryan Smith Associates and King Sturge, have decided to offer a limited number of free places for people who are strongly motivated to attend the conference, but because they are currently studying or have other financial difficulties are unable to attend unless financial assistance is available.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Study facilities
One of the Department's main aims is to foster an active graduate community, encompassing students on postgraduate taught courses and students undertaking research degrees. There are currently around 800 students on postgraduate taught courses, and about 60 postgraduate research students. Graduate students have a dedicated space on the main campus, with teaching rooms and informal areas. Each course has a student adviser who provides pastoral support and general advice.
You may also use the well equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental services, environmental physics, earth sciences, spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems) and surveying technology, each with specialist technicians supporting both teaching and research. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
The Department has invested in online and offline computer-based resources to support modules, and especially those offered by distance learning. You also have access to a vast number of journals and databases online through the UWE Bristol library. The library and some computer labs on campus are open 24 hours, and the Faculty's suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis, spatial analysis, computer aided design and other specialist software required by our students.
Entry
Entry requirements
We normally require an honours degree of 2:2 or above.
Pre-Enrolment Learning
If your first degree is not in a related subject and you do not have relevant work experience, you may be required to pass the PEL as a condition of entry onto the MA Town and Country Planning. The PEL is designed to give you some knowledge that will help you at the start of the MA course. It is not really intended as an 'admissions test' but more as required preparation. The PEL will introduce you to the main features of the UK planning system, and its social, economic and environmental context. You would normally complete the PEL over the summer before the MA course starts, but you can choose to do it earlier if you prefer.
Related degree subjects include geography, environmental science, economics and architecture. You may also voluntarily choose to do the PEL as preparation for the MA or as a 'taster' of the subject before deciding whether to apply for the MA.
Fees
Information on fees, bursaries and scholarships for postgraduate students can be found on our money matters web page.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
This course normally becomes full in mid summer, so you should aim to apply before then. In particular, applicants who think they may be required to complete the PEL (see above) should aim to apply by the end of May to allow time to complete it. International applicants (non UK and EU) should aim to apply by the end of June to allow time to arrange their accommodation, finance and visa.
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.
We also welcome applications from people with disabilities, and we are happy to arrange visits for disabled applicants to find out whether the course is suitable, and discuss what support is appropriate.
There is a two-day induction in mid September (contact us near the time for dates) which all students must attend. Students who do not attend the induction may not be permitted to join 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 Department.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Participate in field courses or activities away from the University
- Take part in discussions and presentations
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011