Urban Planning

Urban planning is the discipline concerned with shaping cities, towns and regions so that they function well, fairly and sustainably for the people who live in them. Planners work with land use, housing, transport, economic development, heritage, climate adaptation and the design of public spaces, balancing the needs of different communities and stakeholders while operating within legal and policy frameworks. The discipline requires analytical skill, the ability to engage with complex systems and a commitment to creating places that serve the public good.

At the University of the West of England, Bristol, this three-year programme is delivered in one of the UK's most regenerated and design-conscious cities, giving you a real and varied urban laboratory as a backdrop for your studies. You will develop skills in spatial analysis, policy evaluation, planning law, community engagement and the technical tools that professional planners use. A sandwich placement year provides substantial professional experience in a planning authority or consultancy, and a year abroad adds an international dimension to your understanding of planning systems and practice.

Work placement opportunities are integrated throughout the programme, ensuring you develop a professional network and portfolio alongside your academic knowledge.

Planning is an accredited profession, and graduates from planning degrees are well placed to pursue the route to chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Careers in local authority planning departments, planning consultancies, housebuilders, infrastructure organisations, national parks and government agencies are all common destinations. The growing importance of climate adaptation, housing delivery and sustainable development means that planning professionals with strong analytical and policy skills are in consistent demand.

Postgraduate study in urban planning, urban design or environmental management is also a well-supported pathway.