Human Geography and Planning with a Professional Placement Year (Accredited) (BSc)

Recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a spatial qualification, this programme combines the problem-solving approaches of planning with the topical insights of geography, equipping you with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to tackle the challenges affecting how and where we live.

The programme fosters an understanding of the main geographical trends in the world today, along with the analytical skills needed to study spatial change. You will examine the changing nature of spaces and places, the relationship between society and space, and the role of the state. Placing local and national issues in a global context, the programme covers topics from environmental change in the UK, and economic and social change in Wales, to regional and international development.

You'll gain an understanding of global, national and local processes of change, key environmental, social, cultural, political and economic trends and the role that planning plays in shaping their effects on different places. Detailed case study work through field study visits, away days and projects will give you an appreciation of transnational spatial change.

Recognising how competitive the job market is for graduates, the programme has been specifically designed to provide you with the key employability skills to help kickstart your career and make your mark in your chosen field. The salaried professional placement year builds on this and provides you with the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills you acquire during the first two years of the programme into practice. It is also a way of building your professional profile and network.

Fieldwork and experiential learning are key in the development of your knowledge and skills in the disciplines of geography and planning. This programme provides a range of opportunities for you to develop this knowledge and skill set, including in-module 1 or 1/2-day field visits; group data collection and analysis assessments; and dedicated year 2 and final year field study modules.

This degree carries partial (spatial) RTPI accreditation. For full RTPI accreditation, once you have completed your spatial-accredited undergraduate degree, you need to complete a RTPI specialist-accredited master's degree.

Accreditations

• Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

International Baccalaureate

32-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Careers

Career prospects

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.

Placements

This degree is a 4-year option with a placement year in the third year. The placement may be paid or unpaid. You won't need to make a final decision on whether or not you want to explore this option until year 2.