Environmental Planning and Design (Hons) University of Plymouth

Overview

With small class sizes and personalised support, you’ll learn through teaching that draws on different subject areas and offers wide-ranging opportunities to gain real experience across the sector.

This three-year degree gives you the practical skills and knowledge needed to develop creative, evidence-based solutions that benefit people, places and the environment. You’ll learn how to prepare plans and policies, work with communities and stakeholders, and support the design and delivery of real projects on the ground. Alongside this you'll explore how to assess the potential impacts of plans and developments, and how to avoid or reduce negative effects through thoughtful, well-designed solutions.

Careers

Preparing you for your careerPlanning is a global profession with opportunities across the public, private and voluntary sectors. In the UK, public sector roles include local authorities, national parks, government departments and organisations such as Homes England, the Environment Agency, Natural Resource Wales and Natural England. Private sector opportunities are available in planning and multidisciplinary consultancies, house builders and infrastructure providers, while the third sector offers roles in think tanks, charities and organisations such as the National Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The course will provide you with the insight and confidence to transfer your University experiences and learning into the workplace. You’ll explore the wide range of careers within environmental planning and receive support from staff to help shape your future ambitions. You can choose to take an optional placement year between years two and three, gaining hands-on experience with public, private or voluntary organisations. Alternatively, you can gain work experience alongside your studies through a work-based learning module in your final year.

Graduates have secured professional positions with employers including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Planning Inspectorate, Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council, Arup, Lichfields, Savills, and WSP, and some have launched their own practices. Careers related to planning also include housing, tourism, economic development, regeneration, and environmental protection.