BA Urban Planning and Design
About this course
Urban planning and design shapes the cities, towns and communities in which most people live, determining how land is used, how buildings are arranged, how people move, and how public space is organised. It is a discipline with both a technical and a political dimension: planners must understand the regulatory and policy frameworks within which development happens, the environmental and social impacts of design choices, and the needs and values of the diverse communities they are working with. As cities face the twin challenges of climate change and housing pressure, the ability to plan and design places that are resilient, equitable and genuinely liveable has never been more urgent. At the University of Westminster you will study this three-year programme in London, one of the world's most complex and contested urban environments, giving you a live laboratory for exploring the challenges you will study in the classroom. You will develop skills in spatial analysis, planning policy, urban design, environmental assessment, and community engagement, as well as the technical tools, including GIS and digital design software, that underpin modern planning practice. The programme includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you significant time in professional planning environments before you graduate. That practical experience is valuable both for your development as a planner and for your employability. Graduates of urban planning and design pursue careers in local authority planning departments, development consultancies, housing associations, central government, environmental agencies, transport and infrastructure organisations, and the growing field of urban regeneration and placemaking. Many graduates go on to achieve chartered status with the Royal Town Planning Institute, the professional body for planners in the UK. Postgraduate study in planning, urban design, housing, environmental management or related fields is also a common route, particularly for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.
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