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Planning – (Grad.Dip.)
Oxford Brookes University
Department of Planning
| Application Deadline: | as early as possible | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 4,000 - ≈ € 12,862 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Oxford / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Oxford Brookes University
The Diploma in Planning is centred on core modules that provide an in-depth understanding of professional planning practice and students also have the opportunity to broaden out their skills and knowledge by specialising in a specific area of planning practice.
The postgraduate Diploma in Planning is fully accredited by the RTPI when combined with the BA (Hons) in City and Regional Planning. On successful completion of the diploma, graduates can register for the Assessment of Professional Competence procedures of the professional body and work towards becoming full members. Applicants who completed their BA in Planning at another university may also be accepted for entry onto the Diploma but to gain RTPI accreditation they must be able to demonstrate that their undergraduate programme achieved the same learning outcomes as the Oxford Brookes BA (Hons) in City and Regional Planning.
Why Brookes?
The postgraduate Diploma in Planning is offered as both a full- and part-ime course and Oxford, with its excellent transport links to all regions of the UK, is a particularly convenient place to study for part-time students on day release from work. Indeed, Oxford Brookes is the preferred choice for many employers even when other universities, closer to home, offer similar RTPI and RICS accredited programmes.
For over 40 years, Oxford Brookes has been one of the leading providers of planning education and the Department of Planning remains one of the largest planning 'schools' in Europe. With a complement of over 60 teaching, administrative, technical and research staff, the department performs a leading role in research and consultancy, with clients and projects covering subjects from local concerns to multi-national organisations, government and industry. This research feeds directly into the teaching of the Diploma in Planning and the Department's students have the opportunity to learn directly from the most current areas of practice.
Career prospects
Not only is the Diploma in Planning a qualification for professional planners, it is also widely recognised as providing the transferable skills and critical knowledge and understanding necessary in many fields of work in the built and natural environment.
Local government, the traditional destination of the planning graduate, is just one of many career opportunities available to Diploma in Planning graduates. Today our alumni can be found in senior positions in some of the largest international planning and environmental consultancies, in government agencies, in large NGOs and campaigning organisations. They can also be found in similar positions and organisations in countries across the globe.
The long-standing reputation of the Department of Planning in producing highly skilled, enthusiastic and very capable professional planners aids the employability of our graduates. We are the first port of call for many employers when they are seeking new graduate planners.
Contents
Course length
Full-time: 12 months, concentrated with lectures delivered on two days per week
Part-time: 24 months, delivered on day-release over two years
The course is made up of two areas of study: core compulsory studies and specialisation studies. Because the course is run in tandem with other graduate courses offered by the department you will, for the specialisation modules, work alongside students who are on other specialist master's programmes.
NB. As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary from what is shown here.
Core modules:
* Development Economics, Management and Finance examines the general elements of economic development and management which are applicable in a local government and development setting. You will focus on communication and negotiation techniques required in the implementation of policy. Financial frameworks and controls exercised by local and central government are also considered.
* Contemporary Issues in Planning Law, Practice and Research gives you the opportunity to study emerging issues in spatial planning and to develop your own skills in the analysis of planning debates and in problem-solving techniques. The module is practice based and examines key issues in planning practice including the legal and policy context of development control and forward planning, and probity in professional practice.
* Implementation Project represents a project of professional advice for a client according to a pre-set brief in the form of a report of 7,500 words maximum. The module provides an important link between the generality of the implementation of policies and proposals and your specialist knowledge. The content of the report will normally depend on your choice of elective specialisation (see below).
Specialisation modules:
As a Diploma students, you are offered a high degree of choice and flexibility in terms of your area of specialisation. You are required to complete any set of 'paired' modules from the following list (subject to availability and student numbers).
Urban Design
* Urban Design Studio I is project-based, applying the theoretical and operational concepts of urban design to a 'live' study site of more than 10 hectares. Groups produce design policy, site analysis, site proposals at appropriate scales and design rationales for the site in question.
* Urban Design Theory I introduces the theoretical concepts underpinning current urban design practice approaches. The module includes the history and theory of urban design, the introduction of design approaches such as responsive environments, and urban morphology.
* Urban Design Theory II explores design issues in more detail, including design for the sensory experience of space, problematic building types and mixed use, density issues, regeneration, guiding and promoting urban design development, sustainability in urban design, coding and briefing, issues of local identity, urban landscape design, movement and mobility, and emerging issues concerned with the provision of good urban design in relation to globalisation.
* Urban Design Development consists of a set of specialist topic seminars. The specialist topics will vary but will normally cover coding and briefing, issues of local identity, urban landscape design, movement and mobility, and emerging issues concerned with the provision of good urban design in relation to globalisation.
Environmental Decision-Making
* Environmental Assessment examines the organisation, preparation, presentation, prediction, assessment and decision-making in environmental assessment techniques. Key skills in screening, scoping, review and the methods of assessment for noise, landscape, archaeology, ecology, traffic and socio-economic impacts are emphasised.
* Environmental Law and Decision-Making examines the international, European and UK legal context of environmental decision-making. This considers the development of environmental law from international treaties and conventions into European and UK legislation. In particular, the module focuses on key areas of environmental law and the assessment procedures established by European directives.
Historic Conservation
* Design for Conservation provides an introduction to the differing philosophies underlying approaches to building in historic places, and familiarises students with the concepts of townscape appraisal and urban design. It examines the role of design guides, design codes and site briefs in securing 'appropriate' development in sensitive historic locations. The unit also provides an opportunity for you to develop their own skills in briefing for historic locations and in developing graphic presentation/design skills.
* Conservation Economics provides an introduction to financial and economic aspects specific to the conservation of buildings and areas including construction costing, development appraisal for the use of historic buildings and the particular characteristics of conservation area land markets. The module combines with Historic Conservation in Context which provides an introduction and critical examination of the legal measures which preserve and enhance the historic environment. The module includes a review of how these powers may operate in practice is also provided. It also examines the public policy framework to achieve implementation of conservation and regeneration objectives and the agencies involved in the process.
Urban Planning in Developing and Transitional Regions
* Development and Urbanisation examines the theories, processes and consequences of rapid urbanisation in the developing world within the context of economic development and social change.
* Urban Land Policy and Urban Management examines the processes of urban land development under conditions of rapid urban growth. The concept and development of land policy is examined.
Tourism Planning
* Sustainable Tourism Planning examines the growth, development and impact of tourism, introducing students to the broad issues affecting the planning and development of tourism as a base-line understanding of tourism planning and sustainable development. Core elements include a discussion on tourism's impacts (economic, social and environmental), issues of sustainability, carrying capacity, eco-tourism and other alternative forms of tourism.
* Destination & Event Development develops a critical understanding and evaluation of the role that events, transport, government organisation and travel and tourism intermediaries play in the development of destinations. The movement and organisation of tourists to and within destinations is an essential role of many organisations in the tourism industry's distribution chain. The provision, management and hosting of events play a vital role in destination development.
Urban Regeneration
* Introduction to Regeneration introduces the context within which urban regeneration takes place and examines different approaches to securing desired change. Contemporary policies, objectives, strategies, funding and agencies are introduced and critically analysed.
* Regeneration and Neighbourhoods critically examines key issues in current regeneration theory, policy and practice, focusing on neighbourhood renewal and people-based approaches to regeneration. As well as looking at particular initiatives the module explores issues involved in community participation in regeneration.
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Requirements
Admission to the course is primarily open to candidates who are progressing from the third year of an RTPI-approved undergraduate programme, namely students holding the BA (Hons) in Town and Country Planning at Brookes, or the BA City and Regional Planning, or students who have graduated from equivalent programmes from other universities and whose transfer has been approved by the department in collaboration with the RTPI. In all cases, a minimum of a 2.2 (Hons) is required.
Students who have successfully completed the BA (Hons) degree at Oxford Brookes are normally admitted automatically. LEA funding and student loans are available for full-time UK students on the diploma course if you have established the intention to study for four years at the outset of the BA degree.
Students with planning experience and/or other degrees and qualifications may be accepted. Their applications are normally considered on the basis of the syllabus and pass mark of the student's earlier course or the presentation of a folio of work.
English Language Requirements
You will need a good honours degree and IELTS 6 to 7 or equivalent TOEFL PBT 550 (CBT 213, iBT 80) to PBT 600 (CBT 250, iBT 100)
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade B (Score: 75) |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 550 |
| TOEFL Computer-based: | 213 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 80 |
Accreditation
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) accredited
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