Urban Planning and Development with a Professional Placement Year (BSc)

at Cardiff University

Course structure

This is a four-year full-time degree. Year three is spent working in professional practice. Year one modules are compulsory. Years two and four contain compulsory and optional modules. You will need to earn 120 credits a year. Modules are usually worth 20 credits.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2023/2024 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2023.

Year one

Year one places an emphasis on practical and applied projects while introducing the key building blocks of a planning and development degree.

You will take six modules, aimed at developing an understanding of the social, economic, political and natural processes at work in shaping cities, regions and the countryside. The year introduces the analytical and creative skills required in professional practice.

You will benefit from fieldwork and site-based projects to work on ‘live’ planning issues. Experts from professional practice are also engaged in the delivery of many modules.

Although you need to earn 120 credits, year one is an introductory year and the modules do not count towards the grade of your final degree.

 Core modules for year one

Year two

Year two builds on the core knowledge acquired in the first year and encourages you to apply your skills to a series of practical planning and development issues. There is a continuing emphasis on a mix of assessment types, including project work and assignments that require you to produce professional solutions and outputs.

You are introduced to plans, policies and development management, environmental planning, planning and its operation in market contexts, the operation of local government, spatial analysis, research skills and the essential components of planning law.

In year two you are supported with guidance and advice on the option to undertake a placement year as part of your degree, which is usually undertaken in the third year. This is a highly valuable component of the course and equips you with a wide range of practical skills and professional experience.

You can also choose to participate in an optional and subsidised field study visit.

 Core modules for year two

 Optional modules for year two

Year three: Sandwich year

The placement year will give you valuable practical experience in professional practice and allow you to begin building your profile and network.

It is a period of supervised office training with an employing organisation which is prepared to deliver a diverse experience and a structured programme of work.

We will help you to secure a paid or unpaid placement , subject to availability. You can also explore opportunities with a wider range of employers if you have a specialist interest in a specific form of experience. Placements are offered by a variety of different employers in the private and public sectors, as well as in the third sector such as charitable trusts and campaigning organisations.

 Core modules for year three

Year four

Your final year is a valuable opportunity to reflect on your learning to date, and allows you to start to develop a specialism within a specific sub-field of planning. It serves as an important component of the course in bridging the worlds of practice and academic study.

Emphasis is placed on developing the qualities of a critical, reflective practitioner and encouraging you to think carefully about the nature, instruments and impacts of planning.

A broad selection of option modules allows you to further specialise in your chosen area of Urban Planning and Development. You can also choose to participate in an optional and part-subsidised overseas field study visit.

 Core modules for year four

 Optional modules for year four

A level
BBB-BBC

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

International Baccalaureate
31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.

IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.

TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.

PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.

Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.

The cost of studying at Cardiff University varies largely depending on the type of university and the degree chosen. More often than not, humanities, arts, and education courses are less expensive than degrees in medical, engineering, or management. Furthermore, students who choose to study at the postgraduate level typically pay higher tuition fees, which again vary depending on the programme chosen.

Most universities provide scholarships or financial aid to students in order to help them offset their tuition costs. Students should be aware that additional course fees and incidental expenses may not be included in tuition. On average, international students can expect to pay £19,450 annually, to study in Cardiff University.

We are committed to helping you achieve your professional ambitions, providing you with the skills, curiosity and confidence to make your mark in your chosen field.

There are numerous exciting and varied career opportunities open to graduates of this degree programme, and many occupy key positions in a range of public, private and third sector organisations. These include national and local governments, business consultancies, sustainable energy centres, environmental agencies, housing strategy companies, construction, and surveying.

Specific planning career pathways include surveying, design and development, as well as fields such as transport, economic development and urban regeneration. You could practise in local planning authorities, local and national government, neighbourhood planning organisations, transport organisations, private planning consultancies, private developers and environmental organisations in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and internationally.

The experience and knowledge you gain from your placement year is highly valued by employers and could help give you a competitive advantage after graduation.