Urban Planning

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

- Explore key planning issues at a global, national and local scale.

- Adapt the course to meet your academic interests and career aspirations.

- Gain core knowledge and skills for contemporary planning practice.

- Learn with academic and professional practitioners.

- Create a professional profile to kickstart your career

Understand how our cities and neighbourhoods are developed and gain the relevant skills to shape their future. Accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), this course provides an adaptable approach to learning with a range of specialisms to explore. Choose from environmental planning, urban design & development, planning for housing, historic environment, transport & infrastructure or economic development.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

The course explores the relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge through our dynamic approach to teaching. You’ll develop your skills as an independent, critical and reflective learner through a range of professional learning experiences. You’ll benefit from a mix of face-to-face lessons and online tutorials. Not only does our virtual learning platform help you interact with course material and other students – it also gives you the skills you need to operate as a contemporary planning professional.

Your course can span either two or three years with the third year focussing on your dissertation if you take this route.

You learn through

- seminars

- workshops

- gateway talks and lectures

- individual and group tasks

- virtual fieldwork

- case study analysis

- real-life planning scenarios

- online learning platforms

Applied learning

Live projects

We base your learning experiences around coursework that reflects contemporary practice. You’ll plan policy reviews, consider professional practice and ethics, develop comparative studies, critique design and undertake your own research. Instead of examinations, you’ll be assessed on these practical applications of skills and knowledge.

You can also undertake independent masters-level research. This focuses on contemporary practice within a specialist area of urban planning while developing your project management and consultancy skills.

On the optional Professional Project module you can choose a client and develop your own project. Here your learning takes place in a professional environment, with ongoing support from our tutors.

Networking opportunities

We’ll also encourage you to develop your professional network through our extensive links to industry, leading authorities and fellow students.