Environmental Planning

Description

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

On the BSc. in Environmental Planning we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this degree are:

• Lectures: introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assignments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers). There are normally between 40 and 50 Planning students on the course. In some modules you will be with students from other degrees, but on the whole the planning degree will provide you with an excellent staff to student ratio.
• Studio Work: Environmental Planning is one of only a few courses at Queen’s which conducts a large proportion of its teaching in a studio environment. We use studio projects to help you develop design/technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts. For you, studio work will offer a unique and highly supportive learning experience. Most of our project work is conducted in our own dedicated studio in which you may work informally, individually or in small groups, with staff on-hand to offer guidance and support.
• E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assessments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics components; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities such as on-line discussion forums; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in practicals and project- based work etc.
• Seminars/tutorials: Significant amounts of teaching will be carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). This will include breaking up into small groups within lectures. These sessions will provide opportunities to engage with academic staff that has specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups. Teaching staff will also be available on a one to one basis for tutorial sessions. The amount of time allocated to seminars will vary across modules and will be clearly outlined in the module guides provided.
• Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out. Self-directed study will commonly be supported by seminars/tutorials.
• Employer/community input: Teaching will be complemented by the inclusion of contributions from those in planning authorities, professional planning practice and representatives of local communities. Such practitioners will contribute directly to lectures, field visits and practical student projects. For example, we partner with community groups to develop project ideas that are relevant to the needs of the sector. Recently this has included work on social economics, public participation, social documentary and others. Contributors have included the East Belfast Partnership, Friends of the Earth, Belfast Healthy Cities, Belfast City Council, Groundwork NI, the private sector (Turley Associates, BS Design), the BBC and many others. This will provide a significant learning and employability enhancement opportunity, draws on the strong professional and community links of teaching staff and enables professional contacts to be developed.
• Work-Related learning: Throughout the degree you will be applying theoretical ideas to real-life projects and engaging with the world of work. For example, the design stream of the degree will begin in year one with a design brief which will be consolidated with a design proposal in year two. Year two will also include a plan making exercise for a local town, and a client-based project involving a planning response and appeal. You will engage with the world of work, therefore, through engaging with practitioners as outlined above and by working on and disseminating projects with employers that draws on ‘live’ issues. For example, during year two students present their group findings on plan-making to classmates, lecturers and professional experts. In year three, there will be considerable opportunity for engagement with international, comparative topics and international practitioners during a field study module. Recent collaborators from the world of work include the Chief Architect and Town Planner from Krakow City.
• Field Trips: From the beginning of year one you will be involved in ‘getting out there’ on field trips of one day or longer. For example, a project in year one will include a visit to a local town in order to develop a design brief. In year three students will participate in a week-long stay in a European city. In recent years this has included Krakow and Barcelona. Such learning will enable you to apply your existing knowledge and research skills to a different and international setting. It will also provide an opportunity to engage with lecturers and practitioners in a more informal context. Students have told us that they value such interaction and the friendliness of lecturing staff.
• Supervised projects: In the final year, you will be expected to carry out an independent research project on a planning topic. You will receive one to one support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and successfully complete your project.
• Personal Tutor: All BSc. in Environmental Planning students will be allocated a Personal Tutor who will meet with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic and skills development and discuss individual student’s career aspirations.
• Peer Mentoring: All level one students will have the opportunity to be mentored by Level Three Students. There will also be other opportunities for career-related mentoring as you progress.

Careers

Studying for a BSc in Environmental Planning will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from the Environmental Planning undergraduate degree at Queen’s are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international).

The course is professionally accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and if followed by a one-year Masters degree in planning is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Degree Plus and other related initiatives: Recognising student diversity, as well as promoting employability enhancements and other interests, is part of the developmental experience at Queen’s. Students are encouraged to plan and build their own, personal skill and experiential profile through a range of activities including; recognised Queen’s Certificates, placements and other work experiences (at home or overseas), Erasmus study options elsewhere in Europe and learning development opportunities and involvement in wider university life through activities, such as clubs, societies, and sports.

Queen’s actively encourages this type of activity by offering students an additional qualification, the Degree Plus Award (and the related Researcher Plus Award for PhD and MPhil students). Degree Plus accredits wider experiential and skill development gained through extra-curricular activities that promote the enhancement of academic, career management, personal and employability skills in a variety of contexts. As part of the Award, students are also trained on how to reflect on the experience(s) and make the link between academic achievement, extracurricular activities, transferable skills and graduate employment. Participating students will also be trained in how to reflect on their skills and experiences and can gain an understanding of how to articulate the significance of these to others, e.g. employers.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 4160 Year (EEA)
• EUR 13380 Year (Non-EEA)

England, Scotland and Wales £9,000; EU £3,575; International: £11,500

• English

Course Content

This degree programme nurtures an understanding of the built and natural environment and the learning of skills which will enable graduates to participate in its design and development. It also develops a range of social science transferable skills which can be applied in a range of international career environs, and can be seen either as the first part of a four-year pathway to professional recognition in the fields of planning and development, or as a robust stand-alone multidisciplinary degree.

The general aims of the programme are to develop the professional skills necessary to work in the broad field of planning practice and development management, while providing an understanding of related economical, ethical, social and political dimensions. These are progressively developed during the programme, with a flavour of each year outlined below:

Stage 1Provides an overall introduction to the key issues, processes and professional skills required for planning practice, and includes projects that promote group working, oral presentations, academic writing, design skills and use of specialist software. Students are also introduced to a wide range of planning activity, the key political and administrative structures and contemporary issues facing the planning profession.

Stage 2Provides students with a more detailed theoretical appreciation of planning, with modules examining, for example, economics, sustainable development, and planning theory.
The year includes two key projects, one that develops skills in spatial planning policy, and another that promotes understanding of the development control process. Students are also given an opportunity to further develop skills in design issues and are introduced to the social aspects of planning activity.

Stage 3This final stage promotes a greater understanding of planning practice in a variety of political and cultural contexts. Students will have the choice of either completing an independent research project or they may wish to take advantage of a three-month Erasmus placement at a European university. The second semester includes modules dealing with law, infrastructure and transport, and specialist themes in current planning practice.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• A-levelBBB + GCSE Mathematics
• BTEC Extended DiplomaA BTEC Extended Diploma with 10 Distinctions and 8 Merits + GCSE Mathematics.
• Irish Leaving CertificateB2B2B2B2CC/B2B2B2B2B2 + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade C in Mathematics

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Queen's University Belfast.

Accreditation

This degree is recognised by two different professional bodies: the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI); and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Northern Ireland (RICS). To gain full professional recognition from these institutions, students will be required to complete a fourth year of study, followed by a period of work experience and assessment of professional competence. Further details are available from the School.