Urban Planning

Urban planning is the discipline concerned with how cities and towns are shaped: how land is used, how communities are built and sustained, how transport networks are designed, how housing needs are met, and how environmental and economic pressures on urban areas are managed. It combines technical knowledge about the built environment with an understanding of law, economics, social dynamics and governance, and it asks difficult questions about equity, sustainability and who benefits from development decisions. Planners work at the boundary between government, communities and the private sector, making decisions that affect the everyday lives of millions of people.

At the University of Liverpool, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year for extended professional experience, a year abroad at a partner institution, and work placement experience built into the programme. This combination of practical and international exposure is particularly relevant in a discipline that varies significantly between national planning systems and urban contexts. You will study planning law and policy, urban design, housing, transport planning, sustainable development, geographic information systems and community engagement, developing both technical skills and the capacity to navigate complex policy environments.

Graduates work in local planning authorities, central government, development companies, planning consultancies, housing associations, infrastructure organisations and international development bodies. Many graduates pursue professional accreditation with the Royal Town Planning Institute over the course of their early careers, a widely recognised mark of professional competence in the UK planning system. The international exposure provided by the year abroad is particularly valuable for those interested in comparative planning practice or international development roles.

Postgraduate study in urban planning, housing policy, urban design or sustainable development provides a route for those who wish to specialise further.