Careers in urban planning

Do you want to build your career in urban planning? If you’re looking for jobs as a city planner, in sustainable planning or transportation planning, an urban planning degree could get you there.

Why is urban planning an important career

Urban planning, at its heart, is essential for the functioning of the places we live.

Not only do our towns and cities need to meet community needs and provide access to essential services, but they also need to be inclusive and promote the wellbeing of inhabitants. This is why people with urban planning skills and knowledge are essential in the workforce to oversee the careful design, development and management of our towns and cities to meet the social and economic needs.

There are a range of different planning related career pathways incorporating city planning, transport, sustainability, infrastructure planning, urban regeneration, real estate. Let’s dive into some of the different sectors and jobs a degree in planning could open up to you. 

What sectors could I work in?

A degree in urban planning can open positions across both public and private sectors. Depending on your personal career ambitions this could include local government and local, national and international consultancies. Other possibilities include housing and transport sectors; planning, urban regeneration and environmental agencies; public and private utility companies; think tanks and public policy organisations; environmental campaign groups; and teaching and research.

Example job titles include:

• Chartered architectural technologist
• Planning officer
• City planner
• Environmental planner
• Planning consultant
• Infrastructure planner
• Transport planner
• Real estate developer
• Chartered surveyor 
• Business professional
• Finance and investment analyst / advisor
• Civil engineer

What skills do you need to work in planning?

The key to realising your career goals is to gain the right skills and knowledge for the sector and job you want to work in. 

There are many degrees out there spanning urban design, spatial planning, transport, sustainability, infrastructure planning, regeneration, real estate, city planning and more. Each of these will give you the unique set of knowledge and skills for your future job. These skills could include learning to use GIS systems for mapping, building knowledge of planning policy, or gaining a deep understanding of urban design and placemaking. When choosing the right degree for your planning career ambitions take time to look at the modules they offer – do they include the kinds of skills you see in job descriptions for your dream role? If so, this could be the right choice for you.

Explore all the different courses available to you, delve into what they offer and the different career paths of their alumni. If you’re unsure if the degree is the right fit, why not reach out to the academic lead to learn more?

Apprenticeships

If you’re already working in the field, but want to level up your career, an apprenticeship is a great option to continue working whilst studying with the support of your employer. Accredited degree apprenticeships, such as our RPTI accredited Spatial Planning Degree Apprenticeship MSc, gives you the opportunity to study alongside working for your current employer. By completing an apprenticeship, not only will you become a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI), but you’ll also gain an MSc qualification.

Where do UCL’s urban planning graduates work?

Top employers of our graduates include:

• Aecom
• ARUP
• Atkins
• Avison Young
• Buro Happold
• Capita
• Local and District councils
• Lichfields
• Greater London Authority
• Iceni Projects
• Network Rail
• Savills
• UK Government
• Urban Design London

UCL’s team of experienced careers professionals are dedicated to helping you find the right path to ensure success in your future career. UCL Careers provide support to help you find graduate jobs or further study positions and advise you on the opportunities you have during your time at UCL. From your first day at UCL and up to three years after you graduate, you can access bespoke one-to-one appointments, career events and activities programme featuring employers and alumni, confidence-boosting insights, online resources, and opportunities to increase your employability.

TL;DR

Think of what your career ambitions are. Research the different types of skills required for your dream job. Explore the different planning courses available to see if they match the job descriptions for your ideal role.