TEE BSBE : Planning, Environment and Development - BSc (Hons)

The BSc (Hons) Planning, Environment and Development is designed to help you to pursue either a professional career in planning or if – more generally – you are interested in the processes, characteristics and functions of development and the property market. You should consider a career in planning, or in the broader development field, if:

• You are interested in the environment you see around you.
• You are interested in how the property development industry operates.
• You think it is important to understand how towns and cities work and to try and create better places in
  which to live.
• You would enjoy helping to plan and design the places of the future

Key Facts

• Accredited by the professional planning body, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• An undergraduate degree course in the West Midlands to combine both planning and development.
• Emphasises practical aspects of the disciplines and offers the opportunity to work with fellow property and environmental professionals. 
• An additional one-year full-time (or two years part-time) postgraduate course gives you a full professional planning qualification, enabling you to apply for RTPI membership once you’re established in employment.
• Lecturers’ RTPI membership means you get deep professional insight as well as mentoring through the Assessment of Professional Competence process.

Why Choose Us?

• The latest GIS and CAD software, surveying equipment and a computer-generated Virtual Building Site allows you to hone the professional skills any construction employer would value.
• Our courses equip you with a working knowledge of Sustainable Development.
• The comprehensive study project will allow you the opportunity to develop the theory and practice you learn into the real world.
• Our innovative collaboration with Birmingham City Council’s Urban Design Team means you can gain work experience, work on key individual research projects, gain technical application skills, as well as win excellence awards and contribute to projects influencing future council policy
• The Inter-Professional Project, delivered in conjunction with Birmingham City Council’s Housing and Regeneration and Development Department, allows you to undertake research on behalf of an industry client; our students’ recommendations now inform council policy.

Download the Course Programme Specification

Entry Requirements

• 280pts, minimum of two 6-unit or one 12-unit A Level (GCE or VCE) including a minimum of four GCSEs including English and Mathematics grade C
• BTEC National Certificate Distinction Distinction
• BTEC National Diploma Distinction Merit Merit
• Advanced Diplomas are accepted
• Pass in Access

Application Details

Full Time: Please make your application via UCAS using course code K420

Part Time: Please make your application directly to us by using our downloadable application form

UCAS Information

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

UK, EU and international students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

You submit an application via the UCAS website with a list of up to five courses. All choices are confidential during the application process so universities and colleges considering an application cannot see your other choices. Applications must be completed by mid-January of the year that you wish to start university.

You can monitor the progress of your application using the UCAS Apply system.

Fees and Finance

The University reserves the right to increase fees broadly in line with increases in inflation, or to reflect changes in government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.

Sandwich year

Where a full-time undergraduate student opts to extend the normal length of a Bachelor’s degree by an additional year in order to take a full-year work placement there will be no fee for the additional placement year.

Additional costs

The course includes field study visits, locally and within the UK, that will incur small additional costs.

Financial Options and Advice

We have deliberately tried to set fees that reflect the cost of course delivery in order to help our students avoid debt.

Full-time students won't have to pay for tuition fees until after their studies - there are government tuition fee loans available. If you are a full-time student, after leaving university you will start to pay back your loan once you are earning over £21,000 a year, at a rate of nine per cent on any income above £21,000. So if you were earning £25,000, you would pay back nine per cent of £4,000, or £30 per month.

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis offers key facts on fees, loans and grants:

Financial Support

We offer further information on possible financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.

University Approach to Employability

Expertly woven into our curriculum and work experience opportunities, and underpinned by a diligent approach to career preparation and the close involvement of professional bodies, the University views employment as one of the principal rewards for a student's ambition, application and academic achievement. It's why the University is one of the country's top 30 universities* for placing students in graduate-level employment.

Our close links with business and the professions mean that our courses are always relevant, up-to-date and meet the exact needs of the current marketplace. Wherever possible, we involve employers in planning the curriculum, while many of our lecturers come from and maintain their links with industry, ensuring they are up to speed with the latest developments.

Employability will be an integral outcome of your studies.

* Sunday Times University Guide 2012

Employment Opportunities

There are career openings available both in local authorities and private sector consultancies. Those interested in the wider context of property and development may choose to work across a whole host of other organisations from house-builders to environmental bodies. Transferable skills developed in communication, management and research will further increase your options.

Placements

The delivery of the course is complemented by a range of visits where you will be able to appreciate theory in context.

Further Studies

You will be encouraged to progress to postgraduate study within the school, which provides a range of relevant Master’s courses. Details can be found on the courses section of the website.

About KIS data

From September 2012, all universities and colleges are publishing standardised information for all undergraduate courses in the form of a Key Information Set (KIS). The KIS data is designed to meet the needs of prospective students and allow for informed decision-making when choosing a university course.

Putting our students first

We pride ourselves on our student satisfaction levels which have risen from 73 per cent to 83 per cent between 2010 and 2012. Our dedication to improving the student experience is illustrated by our award-winning student engagement, our close links with business and industry and our £180 million investment in new facilities.

Employability facts

86.8% of leavers from the Birmingham School of Built Environment who responded to our survey entered employment (and/or further study), earning an average full-time salary of £22,000. Employers hiring leavers from the School include the Amey Plc. and Bovis Homes, offering positions such as Quantity Surveyor and Architectural Technologist. Other graduates have secured roles with Laing O’Rourke, Currie and Brown, Taylor Wimpey, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham City Council, Thomas Vale Construction, Bigwood Associates, and NHBC.

Working with your Students’ Union

Improving student satisfaction is a priority commitment shared by both Birmingham City University and its Students’ Union. In its strategic planning, the Union has pledged to be more accessible, more relevant and provide more opportunity to engage with a diverse student community.

The Students’ Union is already a key stakeholder in supporting an excellent teaching experience at Birmingham City University, through joint projects such as the Extra Mile Teaching Awards and the Student Rep scheme, which allows students to share their ideas on how they are taught.

As Birmingham City University moves towards a two campus strategy where it can better support enhanced learning and student support facilities across a two-mile radius, the Students’ Union will also be better able to implement its commitment to improve communication and engage with its valued student membership.

Course Structure

You will learn how the UK’s new spatial planning system has been designed to respond proactively to the challenges ahead and to deliver sustainable communities for the 21st century. You will also learn how the development industry and property markets function and, significantly, how all of the built environment professions work in conjunction with one another. At the same time, the course will build an appreciation of the socio-economic, environmental, political and cultural contexts in which processes of planning and development operate. At every stage you will receive advice and support from the friendly and approachable staff of the School - who offer a tremendous range of academic and professional experience. You’ll also benefit from sessions delivered by experts from outside practice.

Course Modules

Assessment Methods

The range of assessment methods adopted include continuous coursework assessment, presentations and reports as well as examinations.

Enquiries

Prospective students from the UK or EU

• Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions for answers to a range of questions about our courses and studying here.
• If you need further help, you can contact the Course Enquiries Team online by using the Course Enquiry Form.
• Alternatively, call us on +44 (0)121 331 5595.

Prospective students from non-EU countries

• International enquirers from non-EU countries may enquire via the International Enquiry Form.
• Alternatively, call us +44 (0)121 331 6714.

Prospectus

For an overview of our undergraduate courses and range of other information order a printed Prospectus or download a PDF of our 2014/15 Prospectus (16MB).

Further Information

For general enquiries, please contact Birmingham School of the Built Environment as follows:

Birmingham School of the Built Environment
Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment
Birmingham City University
Millennium Point
Curzon Street
Birmingham
B4 7XG

Tel: +44 (0)121 331 5400
Email: bsbe@bcu.ac.uk or enquiries@tee.bcu.ac.uk

If you haven't already, visit the Birmingham School of the Built Environment website for more information.