Gain the skills and knowledge you need to further your career as an urban planner and progress onto the MSc Urban Planning degree apprenticeship

About the apprenticeship

Course length: Typically 4-6 years, part-time (dependent on experience)

Start date: September

Course level: Level 7

University award: DA MSc Urban Planning

How much it costs: funded through the employer

Course summary

• Develop your understanding of urban planning principles 
• Explore different types of practice including environmental, urban, housing, historic, health, and transport planning
• Specialise in your area of interest
• Achieve Chartered Planner status and professional recognition with a masters degree

This Chartered Town Planner course will equip you with the skills you need for a successful career. Learn to design and deliver developments, translate ideas into policy, and manage projects.

You’ll explore different planning environments and types of practice, while gaining a solid theoretical understanding. Guided by planning academic and practice experts, you’ll delve into a variety of planning topics, with opportunities to engage in lively academic debate.

There are two entry points for this apprenticeship: year one for those with A levels or who need further support, and year three for postgraduate level employees with an undergraduate degree.

In your third and fourth year, you’ll specialise in your area of interest, choosing from areas such as

• Environmental planning
• Urban design and development
• Planning for housing
• Historic environment
• Transport and infrastructure
• Economic development
• Planning for health

This course meets the chartered town planner apprenticeship standard.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You’ll be taught by experts in the field – bringing their research-based knowledge to all the teaching and learning activities on the course. With their support you’ll thrive as an independent learner and critical thinker.

You will be putting theoretical concepts and planning skills into practice, coming up with creative solutions to real-world scenarios and developing your planning practice.

You’ll also apply your learning to your workplace with the support of a work-based learning coach. The equivalent of 6 hours a week of your time will be spent on off the job learning, i.e. that is additional to your job role. This includes attending University, and work-based learning, but not undertaking your assignments.  

You learn through:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Workshops
• Field trips
• Work-based learning

Key themes

You'll explore housing, economic development, environment and climate change – all while learning through a variety of assessments. You'll also hear from cutting-edge guest practitioners.

Applied learning

Each year of the course is structured around applied learning. This links your studies to real-world situations.

• Group projects
• Work on real-world scenarios
• Field-visits
• Work-based learning
• Guest speakers

You will progress through the course following successful completion of your assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module.

You will also complete an endpoint assessment towards the end of the apprenticeship.

Campus facilities

You'll learn in modern facilities in the Institute of Social Sciences based at our City Campus.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be in a town planning role, either existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new to the profession.

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• not be in full time education
• have the right to abode in the UK
• meet the course entry requirements
• be working in a town planning role

There are two entry points for this degree apprenticeship, which is made up of three individual qualifications.

To start at year 1 (University Certificate in Urban Planning)

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (previously C) or above, including English and maths

Plus one of the following:

• 112 UCAS points from at least 2 A Levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (we accept AS Levels and general studies)
• Level 4 Town Planning Assistant Apprenticeship 
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: a minimum of 45 passes at level 3 
• Relevant Level 3 Apprenticeship qualifications will be considered in lieu of some UCAS points  
• We may also consider relevant professional level work experience as an alternative to 32 of the UCAS points. 

Following year 1, you’ll work towards a University Advanced Diploma in Urban Planning in year 2 and then an MSc in Urban Planning in year 3.

To start at year 3 (MSc Urban Planning)

You can usually start directly on the MSc Urban Planning if you meet our general qualification entry requirements above, and you have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree.

Modules

Year one and two (University Certificate and Advanced Diploma in Urban Planning)

• Building a sustainable future
• Reflective and personal development skills for town planning apprentices
• Work-based investigation for town planning apprentices  
• Reflective skills for professional performance, town planning
• Creating sustainable cities
• Geographies of everyday life
• Work-based project for town planning: local planning policy development   

Year three and four (MSc Urban Planning)

If you're starting this course at level four, you'll study the following modules:

• Professional development frameworks
• Strategic spatial planning
• Integrating policy and change
• Sustainable place making
• Applied research project

If you're starting the course at level six, you'll study the following modules:

• Planning, theory and context
• Policies for space and place
• Shaping places
• Housing, planning and development
• Environment and infrastructure
• Sustainable master planning
• Planning and growth
• Healthy places
• Advanced professional practice
• Applied research project

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change.