Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Urban Design & Planning (with Integrated International Foundation & Professional Practice Years)

Entry requirements


112 new UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Minimum 4 GCSE's, grade 4/C or above, including English Language

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

27-30

27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM

UCAS Tariff

32-168

We consider the strength of our applicants’ portfolios as well as their grades and we therefore may make offers which are lower than our standard entry criteria of 112 tariff points. This may be to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance and who were expected to achieve higher results - in these cases, a strong portfolio is especially important. We regularly admit students with a tariff much higher than our standard 112 requirement, and applicants who show potential but aren’t quite at the stage to be able to succeed on the course are offered a 4 year degree with an integrated foundation year which has a standard entry requirement of 32 tariff points.

About this course


Course option

5years

Full-time including foundation year | 2024

Subjects

Architecture

Landscape architecture and design

Construction and the built environment

Planning

Urban and regional planning

Our BSc Urban Design & Planning (with Integrated International Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year) is a five year degree programme, specifically designed to provide international students with the English language and creative skills before they embark on year one of a degree. Your fourth academic year would then include a year in industry placement.

Discover the role of the urban planner and designer and its impact on society and learn the advanced skills to become one on our BSc (Hons) Urban Design and Planning course.

Our course is based at UCA Canterbury’s School of Architecture and Design, where you’ll learn spatial practices, and the value that an Urban Designer can add to projects and the wider community. You’ll use Canterbury and the wider Kent landscape as a canvas from which to work, researching, designing and examining the impact that your designs and plans would have upon it.

On campus, you’ll be able to take advantage of our extensive facilities, including forms of fabrication and testing, the latest scanning and VR technology, and a suite of traditional craft based workshops, all of which will allow you to bring your design proposals to life. You will have the freedom to establish your own unique specialisms, such as advanced retrofit-based knowledge, and you will develop your own highly individualised design identity and style.

Along the way you’ll be guided by our team of academics and a wide range of industry professionals, and collaborative opportunities alongside students across the School of Architecture and Design will give you an enriched experience where specialised learning is combined with new perspectives and approaches to broaden your own horizons.

Assessment methods

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Foundation Year, based at UCA Farnham to bring students from around the world to one hub of creativity. This year of preparatory study is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your degree in the best possible way – with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and the English speaking and writing skills you’ll need to succeed. You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree. If you opt to complete a professional practice year, this will take place in year three. You will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop your skills and CV. While on your Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be determined using government funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you are charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during this year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this as you approach your Professional Practice Year. Please note: If you are an international applicant, you will need to enrol onto the course ‘with Professional Practice Year’. It will not be possible to transfer onto the Professional Practice Year after enrolment.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£17,500
per year
International
£17,500
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Further details can be found via our Scholarships page: https://www.uca.ac.uk/study-at-uca/scholarships/

and our Financial Support page: https://www.uca.ac.uk/study-at-uca/fees-finance/financial-support/

The Uni


Course location:

Canterbury

Department:

School of Architecture and Design

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

79%
Architecture

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Architecture

Teaching and learning

92%
Staff make the subject interesting
92%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
90%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

75%
Library resources
90%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
79%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

66%
UK students
34%
International students
57%
Male students
43%
Female students
76%
2:1 or above
19%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
D

Landscape design

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

100%
UK students
0%
International students
30%
Male students
70%
Female students
76%
2:1 or above
18%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
D

Construction and the built environment

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Planning

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Urban and regional planning

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Architecture

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£19,000
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
82%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

74%
Draughtspersons and related architectural technicians
17%
Architects, town planners and surveyors
9%
Design occupations

Architecture had a difficult time a few years back during the great recession, but those days are over and the degree is in demand as house building and infrastructure have increased in importance. Most working architects secure jobs in the architecture industry, more usually starting as assistants rather than full-blown architects or chartered technicians. Some, however, move into management, design or marketing roles, where they find their planning, design and project management skills are very welcome. Nearly half the architecture-related jobs last year were in London or the South-East, and this group are rather more likely than average to find their jobs through personal contacts, so polish your networking skills, or see if you can get work experience if you want to succeed as an architect.

Landscape design

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£19,000
low
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

74%
Draughtspersons and related architectural technicians
17%
Architects, town planners and surveyors
9%
Design occupations

If you want to design outdoor features, this is the degree for you. Prospects for landscape design grads have improved a lot of late and employment rates and salaries are better than the average. Easily the most common job for graduates from this discipline is as landscape architects, with architectural technicians and landscape gardeners also important options. Graduates from this degree are a lot more likely than the average to be self-employed so this also suits people with an independent streak.

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Architecture

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£16k

£16k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Landscape design

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£16k

£16k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Explore these similar courses...

Lower entry requirements
University of Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton
Architecture with Foundation Year
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 48
Nearby University
University of East London | Newham
Architecture (with Foundation Year)
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 64
Higher entry requirements
Newcastle University | Newcastle upon Tyne
Architecture
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 144-198

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here