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Study Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design, why & how to study

Study Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design and you'll develop the necessary skills to improve living environments for so many people.

Landscape architect design backyard plan for villa

CONTENTS

  1. What’s Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design?

  2. What Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degrees can you study?

  3. What do you need to get onto a Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degree?

  4. What topics does a Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degree cover?

  5. How will you be assessed?

  6. Why study Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design?

  7. What do Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design graduates earn?

  8. What jobs can you get as a Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design graduate?

  9. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

  10. Similar subjects to Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design

  11. Have any questions?

What’s Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design?

Town & Country Planning is the study that concerns land use. The goal is to ensure sustainable economic development and a better environment. Each country of the UK has its own planning system. 

Landscape Design is the practice of landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice, landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design. Urban Design focuses on larger spaces and master plans.

What Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design include: 

  • Landscape Architecture BA/MA
  • Human Geography & Planning BSc 
  • Planning & Real Estate BSc 
  • Urban Planning & Property Development BSc 

Options may include an integrated foundation year or professional placements and field trips. Study abroad may be offered.

What do you need to get onto a Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degree?

Entry requirements will depend on the university, ranging from 104–160 UCAS points for most undergraduate courses. Qualifications may include:

  • A Levels: AAB–BCC
  • BTECs: D*DD–MMM
  • Scottish Highers: AABB–ABBB (with Advanced Highers: AAB–BB)
  • International Baccalaureate: 36–28

Experience that would look good on your application:

  • Shadowing or talking to a town planner about their day-to-day work, or contact a Planning Aid charity (England, Wales or Scotland)
  • Work or volunteering experience where you work with a variety of people, to evidence your interpersonal and team working skills
  • Research into the role and what it entails, e.g. on the website of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or online magazine, Planning Resource

What topics does a Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

  • Introducing planning systems 
  • Making cities: the production of the built environment 
  • Real estate development 
  • Sustainable urban futures 
  • People and planning
  • Infrastructure design and implementation project
  • Human geography and the city 
  • Cultural context: historic and contemporary landscapes 
  • Design skills and urban data analytics
  • Design and place making
  • Landscape architecture techniques

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

  • Design-based projects
  • Essays
  • Exams
  • Portfolio work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Skills-based practical work
  • Team projects
  • A dissertation may be a final year option

Why study Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design?

Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design degrees will develop your skills for tackling complex problems in urban landscapes, collaborative working, and people skills. For example: 

Career-specific skills: 

  • Computer modelling and visualisation techniques such as rapid prototyping and 3D design
  • Design creativity 
  • Professional practice skills 

Transferable skills: 

  • Analysis and critical thinking
  • Data collection
  • Document production
  • Graphic skills
  • Negotiation and mediation
  • Organisation
  • Preparing and writing professional reports
  • Project management
  • Team working and leadership
  • Written and oral presentation skills

Professional accreditation: 

  • Degrees that include Town Planning may be accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) towards graining professional membership; further training will be required
  • Degrees incorporating Landscape Design may be accredited by the Landscape Institute (LI)

What do Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design graduates earn?

Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £21,000–£25,000. 

Established landscape architects can earn an average of £38,000–£45,000. For town planners, by mid-career you could expect an average income of £39,000, while directors could earn up to £65,000. 

If you specialise and become a BIM manager (building information modelling software), your income could be £40,000–£55,000.

What jobs can you get as a Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design graduate?

A degree in Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design is highly vocational, and could lead to the following jobs:

  • BIM specialist
  • Chartered architectural technologist
  • Environmental consultant
  • Facilities manager
  • Garden designer
  • Housing officer
  • Landscape architect
  • Planning officer
  • Project manager
  • Sustainability adviser
  • Transport planner

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

  • Architecture and Historic Urban Environments MA 
  • Cities MPhil/PhD
  • Sustainable Urban Development MSc/DPhil
  • Urban Analytics and Visualisation (MSc

Similar subjects to Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design

If you’re interested in the built environment or human geography, you could also consider these subjects: 

Have any questions?

Get in touch with our experts by emailing ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design. We’ll be happy to hear from you!

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