Develop the skills and knowledge needed to progress your career as a reflective and creative urban planner.

About the apprenticeship

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

Start date: September

Course level: Level 7

University award: MSc Urban Planning

How much it costs: funded through the employer

Course summary

• Understand the purpose and principles of urban planning and explore types of planning in depth
• Apply your learning in the workplace, including the chance to undertake consultancy work
• Work towards Chartered Planner status and professional recognition with a masters degree

Taught by academics with extensive professional practice and research experience, you’ll develop an innovative approach to planning. You’ll specialise in your area of interest and gain the knowledge and skills required to advance your career.

There are two entry points for this apprenticeship: year 1 for those with A levels or who need further support, and year 3 for postgraduate level employees with an undergraduate degree.

As part of the course, you can specialise in:

• 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

The course is grounded in theory and lively academic debate, exploring a wide range of planning skills, from translating ideas into policy frameworks to design and delivery of development. 

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. 

You learn through:

• attending the course at Sheffield Hallam one day per week
• professional reports and essay writing
• critical appraisal and policy evaluation
• design briefs and conceptual masterplans
• viability assessments
• preparing for an endpoint assessment for Chartered Planner status

You will be supported to learn in your workplace with the support of a work-based learning coach.

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 our Natural and Built Environment Department based at our City Campus.

Entry requirements

Throughout the course, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours at university. They can be existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the business.

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• not be in full time education
• have the right to abode in the UK
• meet the course entry requirements

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)
• Town Planning Technical Support Apprenticeship - Level 3 Diploma
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: a minimum of 45 passes at level 3

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 sustainable futures
• 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)

• 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.