Overview

If you are passionate about current and emerging challenges facing our towns, cities and rural areas, want to help shape our future built and natural environments and want to study planning at the heart of one of the world’s most exciting cities then the MA or the PG Diploma Town and Country Planning* provide the answer. The courses focus on interactions between people and place and how to facilitate high quality developments in the right location.

At LSBU, ‘We Educate Britain’s Town Planners’ and focus clearly on the British Town Planning system but the course includes international perspectives to provide useful comparisons.

The MA is fully accredited by the RTPI. The PgDip is fully accredited when taken after completion of the BA UEP. With two years relevant work experience (with at least 1 year of this experience gained whilst registered as a licentiate), you can apply to take the RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence exam and become a chartered member of the RTPI.

Our academic staff have expertise in a range of planning related fields and are all research active with a strong track record in national and international research networks, projects and publications.

Employability

There is currently a national shortage of professional planners and a demand from both the public and private sector after over a decade of public sector austerity. There is also demand for planners on the international scene. As the world struggles with climate change, urbanisation, population growth and changing work and living patterns it will be crucial to our futures to plan for these eventualities if we are to avoid major environment and social disturbances.

Employment prospects are excellent especially in London and the South East of England. Successful planning students may find jobs in central government, local government, non-governmental organisations, housing associations and quangos. Given our extensive links with public, private and voluntary sector employers we often find that employers often approach us first seeking suitably qualified and motivated applicants

A high proportion of our graduates find employment in the field within six months of graduation in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Some students take up jobs towards the end of the course. Local authorities and private consultancies are major employers as are companies and other organisations with large land and property assets and our alumni can be found in senior positions particularly in London and the South East of England. That said a significant proportion of alumni now practice (teach and research) across the UK and overseas.

Our alumni include three past presidents of the RTPI, and many senior planners in local authorities, government agencies and private sector consultancies, developers and housing providers. These regularly return to provide talks to our current students and have donated prizes for students on graduation.

Teaching and learning

The teaching team has a track records of academic research, professional practice and consultancy, and have strong links to public, private and voluntary sector employers. Practitioners as guest speakers provide valuable input through lectures, tutorials and project visits

The course supports the employability agenda by enhancing the focus on an applied education. In addition, it provides an opportunity to develop closer links with employers, building professional credibility and academic reputation.