Our Undergraduate Courses
The Department of Town and Regional Planning is directly responsible for three separate undergraduate degree programmes.
Masters in Urban Studies and Planning (MPlan) - UCAS Code K400
A four-year course, professionally accredited by the RTPI, leading to an undergraduate Master of Planning qualification. Level one includes core ideas influencing planning and urban development and the skills planners need, including urban design. Level two develops your understanding of concepts and practices in town planning. Level three focuses on how planning ideas and planning practice interact with each other. Level four prepares you for professional practice and allows you to develop your knowledge and expertise through specialist options.
Throughout the programme, you will gain practical and professional experience through planning projects, an overseas residential field course and work placements. There are also opportunities to spend part of your degree studying abroad in Europe, North America or Australia.
More information about our Masters in Urban Studies and Planning course
BA Urban Studies - UCAS Code L722
The BA Urban Studies is a three year degree that follows the core of the MPlan in years one and two, but gives students more flexibility to branch out in year 3. The BA Urban Studies is not professionally accredited, but it provides a good basis for a subsequent accredited masters degree.
More information about our BA Urban Studies course
BA Geography and Planning - UCAS Code LK74
The BA Geography and Planning is aimed at those students who are interested in human geography and urban development and want to combine the strengths of the University of Sheffield's work in these areas through the Departments of Geography and Town and Regional Planning. In general the BA Geography and Planning allows for a broader focus that the Single Honours town planning degrees, whilst focusing on the urban, political and environmental dimensions of geography research. The two Departments have close links and share the same building. The BA Geography and Planning is not professionally accredited, but it provides a good basis for a subsequent accredited masters degree.
More information about our BA Geography and Planning course
Year tutors
You will be supported each year by a dedicated tutor who is responsible for your academic and pastoral well-being.
Year one:
Year two:
Year three:
Year four:
Transferring between courses
Transfers between courses are possible. BA Urban Studies students may transfer to the MPlan at any time until the end of Level Two. BA Geography and Planning students may transfer to the MPlan at the end of Level One.
Our policy on placements
The four year MPlan Urban Studies and Planning course includes two work placements of at least two weeks duration with either a local authority planning department or a private planning consultancy. We feel that this is much more meaningful approach to placements than the 'year in practice' approach of some of the other UK planning schools. Our approach means that students can graduate with an RTPI accredited degree in four years (as opposed to five years in some of the other planning schools). We feel that two relatively short placements give students sufficient knowledge and experience in a working environment, and that much more is learnt in the first year of post-graduation practice than would be gained from a year in practice part of the way through the course. Full support will be given in the setting up of placements.