Study at Cardiff | Postgraduate

Spatial Planning and Development (MSc)

Course Aims

The course aims to put you on the road to being a good planner. It has the following main aims:

• Develops core planning skills, applicable at a range of spatial scales
• Nurtures professional judgement;
• Develops specialised skills which will make graduates employable with a wide range of employers.

Special Features

• This MSc is a combined planning course and is itself fully recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The course provides the full RTPI educational requirement, so that successful completion of the MSc with the necessary RTPI practice requirements allows direct membership entry to the Institute. Recognition is currently being sought from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• Provides skills and knowledge of direct value in the planning office in public, private and voluntary sectors, including research skills.
• Supports the development of analytical abilities which are used to provide insight into the nature and purpose of planning.

Course Description

The MSc Spacial Planning and Development is underpinned by a recognition that planning is undertaken in diverse (and sometimes unjust) societies, and that objectives and approaches to planning can be subjects of debate and struggle. The course attempts to provide students with resources to be sensitive to, and be able to form independent judgements on, these ethical, political and professional matters. While its focus is on planning in developed capitalist societies, especially the UK/Europe, its understanding of planning is comparative, and the skills taught are applicable in many planning contexts.

There is a mix of teaching methods and learning environments, including projects for 'real life' clients. There is an expectation that students will supplement class/workshop sessions by independently exploring library and internet resources.

Course Structure

The course is divided into two parts:

• Part 1 comprises a teaching programme of compulsory and option modules over two semesters (or four semesters for the part-time course).
• Part 2 comprises an individual dissertation. A topic is selected by each student in consultation with members of staff. The topic must be planning related. In the case of students from countries outside the UK, the dissertation may focus on a planning issue in their country of origin. An important aspect of the dissertation process is student reflection on what is involved in researching a planning topic.

Available Modules

The following is a proposed list of modules for the programme in 2013/14. Please note that these may be subject to minor changes.

Course Modules

• ‘Live’ Project
• Planning and Real Estate
• Planning: Nature, Purpose and Instruments
• Research Methods for Planning Practice
• Site Planning, Design and Development

Option Modules - One to be chosen from:

• Designing Cities
• Development and Urbanisation Processes
• Environmental Management
• Governing Places
• Housing in a Globalising World
• Real Estate Analysis
• Transport and the City
• Urban and Regional Development in Practice
• Urban and Regional Dynamics

For further details and up-to-date information on the course and modules, please see the course listing on the School's website.

Skills Acquired

Transferable skills:

• analytical skills, including research skills
• communication skills, especially report writing and presentations
• time management
• ICT skills
• team working

Professional:

• using the planning policy process
• planning law (introductory)
• site planning
• development appraisal in relation to planning

Careers Prospects

Graduates of this course do extremely well in getting jobs they want. The input of people from practice into the degree keeps it relevant. It also gives students great contacts. Principal graduate employment destinations are UK and EU town and regional planning organisations, including local and regional authorities, national government agencies, private planning consultancy firms and voluntary organisations. We also have students employed in North America and Australia.

Our Alumni collectively represent the variety of potential careers and jobs that our current (and future) students may embark on.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally hold a first or second class Honours degree in an appropriate subject. This MSc is suitable for graduates in most subjects and is a particularly popular choice for graduates in economics, geography, architecture, sociology, engineering, politics and history. Applications from mature students with a relevant professional background are also welcome. The course is specifically aimed at those wishing to gain a professional qualification in planning.

A minimum standard in English language of IELTS 7 or equivalent will be required for students whose first language is not English. Pre-course English Language tuition is available.

Study Visits:

A number of short field study visits may be arranged during the course. The School does partly subsidise these trips but students should allow for travelling and subsistence expenses. These visits help integrate student learning.

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Funding

Cardiff School of Planning and Geography is able to offer a reduction in tuition fees of £500 (or £250 reduction in each year of a part-time course) to all Cardiff University alumni.

For other funding opportunities available through the School, please visit their Tuition Fees and Funding webpage.

The fees below are those before bursaries have been deducted.

Next intake: September 2013

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