City Planning and Design Higher Level Apprenticeship (MSc)

Program Overview

The City Planning and Design Higher Level Apprenticeship (MSc) is a unique program that combines project-based learning with planners and urban designers. It aims to develop skills for managing changes to the built and natural environments and designing cities that promote environmental sustainability, health, and happiness. Graduates typically find positions in central and local government or planning consultancy in the private sector. The program is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Royal Town Planning Institute.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Aims to develop skills to manage changes to our natural and built environments and design and plan cities that impact our environmental sustainability, health, and happiness.
• Unique program focusing on project-based learning with planners and urban designers.
• Students choose to complete an urban design thesis or dissertation with work-based options for both.
• Requires 22 weeks of daytime learning per year and participation in a project over the summer.
• Suitable for individuals interested in planning, urbanism, and placemaking with experience or hands-on experience.

Assessment:

• Through completion of group reports, individual assignments, student presentations, portfolio submissions, and role-play exercises.
• Includes a thesis based on an independent research project in semester 3, supervised by a research staff member.

Teaching:

• Includes IT tutorials, project sessions, self-directed study, and student-led thematic presentations.
• Focuses on developing research, data interpretation, strategic regeneration policy development, and design solutions through projects for local authority and community sector clients.

Careers:

• Graduates typically find positions in central and local government or planning consultancy in the private sector.
• Other opportunities exist in urban design, housing, community advocacy, climate change, renewable energy, heritage, and construction.

Other:

• This program is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Royal Town Planning Institute.
• Emphasis is placed on developing problem-solving skills in live projects with options for work-based studies.
• International opportunities exist in Belfast and globally.
• Requires an entrance requirement of at least a 2:2 Honors degree, an application, and employer support in the form of a letter stating release for one day a week for attending the course.

Additional notes:

• The program is open to those who are working for a Northern Ireland-based company.
• Tuition for Northern Ireland and European Economic Area residents is £6,500 per year, with additional course costs of £500 for a European field trip.
• Scholarships opportunities may be available and students can borrow a tuition fee loan of up to £11,836 in the UK.
I hope this information is helpful and detailed enough to your satisfaction. Please let me know if you have any further questions.