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Course overview
Accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), our Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship enables employees to advance into professional planning roles, fully funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.
Transform your future with our Chartered Town Planner Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship, combining university study and on-the-job training to advance your career in professional planning and achieve an MSc Urban and Regional Planning qualification.
I chose Birmingham because it has a really good reputation as a University.
Course Structure
The Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship emphasises real-world study, equipping you with essential skills like group work, IT proficiency, presentations, and report writing, valued by all employers.
Upon completion of the taught elements of the programme, learners will complete an independent End Point Assessment which will consist of a Professional Discussion and Assessment of Professional Competence.
Course highlights
Our Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship offers a day release structure, combining university attendance with practical work. It features diverse teaching methods, critical reflection on spatial planning, and real-world insights from planning practitioners. The course leverages Birmingham and the West Midlands as a ‘learning laboratory,’ allowing specialization in urban regeneration, community planning, economic development, and urban resilience.
- Build strong foundations for a successful career in spatial planning and related fields
- Flexible Delivery: Part-time structure suits both learners and employers
- Research-Informed: Developed with research-informed teaching at a Russell Group University
- RTPI Accredited
Fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute
- Fully funded
Completely funded by the Apprenticeship Levy
Course delivery
There will be a variety of assessments that you will have to complete including essays, reports, project-based work, reflective think-pieces and a 12,000 word dissertation.
The programme exposes learners to a variety of learning and teaching methods including lectures, small group teaching sessions, seminars, student-led workshops and tutorials. The teaching emphasis is on participative approaches to learning that enable students to reflect critically on important current debates in the practice and principles of spatial planning in diverse urban regions. To provide a “real world” feel for the programme there are a number of planning practitioners who directly input into the programme and we make good use of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands as part of our overall “learning laboratory”.
Module information
You will study seven core modules, plus one optional module and complete a dissertation of 12,000 words. In terms of the progression through the programme, the choice of option must be related to the dissertation.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
The seven core modules:
Students choose from one of the following optional modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| LM Community Involvement in the Built Environment | 20 |
| LM Green Infrastructure and Health | 20 |
| Urban Regeneration and Renewal | 20 |
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- 2:1 Honours Degree
combined with relevant work experience
The normal admission requirement for our taught postgraduate programmes is a 2:1 Honours degree combined with relevant work experience. For a Graduate Diploma you should have a degree or diploma or equivalent qualification in an appropriate field. Graduate Diploma students who achieve Masters level in their modules may be transferred to the Masters level.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 Listening, 21 Speaking and 19 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 25 in each skill
English Presessional Programmes
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Fees and scholarships
This course is fully funded via the employer Apprenticeship Levy.
Application process
Interested applicants will need to apply for the apprenticeship through their employer, who will have their own selection criteria.
For all enquiries relating to this apprenticeship programme or further information please contact the Central Apprenticeships Team.
Career opportunities
Supercharge your career with our professional qualification, opening doors to dynamic fields like spatial planning, regeneration, economic development, housing, and transport. Gain the skills and knowledge to drive impactful change and shape the future of our communities. Don’t just plan your career—ignite it with us!
By completing the Charted Town Planner Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship, you will gain a professional qualification that will enable you to pursue and build a career in spatial planning and related areas of regeneration, economic development, housing and transport.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Student experience
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation will allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham is a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students so that you can get the most out of your university experience.
Campus life
Our green and spacious campus is the place where our community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.