You can study town planning at university as well as develop skills through work experience and apprenticeship training. The variety of planning jobs and specialist areas of work means you can develop and practice different skills throughout your career. Our About planning guide gives you a taster of what you could do.
What skills do planners learn
• Policy development and implementation
• Site analysis and land uses
• Maps and plans, and recommendations for improvement
• Natural environment and climate change
• Legal frameworks and development management
• Project management and negotiation
• Design and heritage
• Community engagement and presentations
• Research, professional assessments, data analysis and measurements
Accredited courses
Employers value the RTPI’s professional status, and Town Planning is in the top three university subjects for students finding employment within six months of graduation. Courses can also be called Urban and Regional Planning, City Planning or Spatial Planning.
Undergraduate pathway from school
The following school subjects can be useful if you want to study Town Planning:
• Geography
• Citizenship
• Art /Graphic Design
• Business Studies
• Economics
• English
• Environmental Studies
• Science
• History
• ICT
• Psychology
• Politics
Postgraduate pathway
You can change to planning by studying a professional postgraduate RTPI-accredited degree. Graduates from any subject can be accepted, including:
• Architecture or Landscape Architecture
• Geography
• Law
• Economics
• Environmental studies
• Politics
• Social studies
• Design
Apprenticeships in planning
There are two options to study town planning while employed as an apprentice in an assistant role. The Town Planning Technical Support Diploma is an entry-level college route for school leavers. A Degree Apprenticeship is a professional route through a series of university level modules. Both options are currently available through employers in England.
