Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc
Urban planning is about the future-oriented planning and management of urban, social and economic change in the built and natural environment. UCL’s Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc teaches you the skills to work in traditional planning careers as well as a range of related professional and specialist areas. This degree is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and is currently undergoing regular reaccreditation with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Key information
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- Geography, Economics, Government and Politics, History, Business, Design subjects, English Literature, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Education and Philosophy preferred
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4
Contextual offer
- Grades
- BBB
- Subjects
- Geography, Economics, Government and Politics, History, Business, Design subjects, English Literature, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Education and Philosophy preferred
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4
At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Higher levels in Geography, Economics, Government and Politics, History, Business, Design subjects, English Literature, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Education and Philosophy preferred
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Higher levels in Geography, Economics, Government and Politics, History, Business, Design subjects, English Literature, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Education and Philosophy preferred.
The English language level for this programme is: Level 2
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
About this course
The built environment around us shapes how we live our daily lives. Future oriented city planning is required to ensure cities meet the changing needs of their communities, whilst addressing major challenges such as climate change, regeneration and public health.
Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc is designed to train a new generation of urban practitioners with the skills and creativity to understand, manage and deliver urban change. You will learn from leading academic experts from UCL Bartlett School of Planning how urban planning and design transforms our towns and cities. You will gain an understanding of how economic, social and environmental dimensions impact our urban environments, building specialist knowledge from modules about spatial planning, urban design, transport, climate change, rural planning, urban regeneration, and real estate development.
During your degree you will:
- Learn theories, methodologies, skills, and techniques from social sciences, urban planning and urban design disciplines, used widely across the built environment professions.
- Learn to use industry-relevant software applications in urban design, graphic skills, graphic communication, GIS.
- Gain hands-on experience understanding, managing and delivering urban change through fieldwork, site visits and project work, engaging in live examples of urban planning, design and regeneration challenges.
- Have the option to study abroad. Expand your practice to another city by taking advantage of our long-established links with many universities in Europe as well as a growing list in the USA, Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
- Have the opportunity to undertake a two-week voluntary work experience, drawing from a pool of our industry and professional partners.
- Gain a degree accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Town Planning Institute.
What we look for in an applicant is sincere interest in the degree subject and an intellectual curiosity towards cities, society, economy, environment. In your application you can mention any relevant work shadowing, reading around the subject, hobbies, volunteering, or career aspirations. We don’t require particular subjects, but A level subjects should demonstrate interest in cities, social sciences, geography, politics, environmental studies, art, design.
Course structure
Whilst studying this accredited degree full-time, each year you will take eight compulsory modules giving you an in-depth knowledge of how to understand, manage and deliver urban change. In your second year you will also have the option to apply to study abroad for a term, subject to academic performance. In term 3 of the second or third year, the voluntary two-week work experience placement is offered, drawing from our pool of employers.
Modules
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
Compulsory modules
- Introducing Planning Systems (BPLN0069)
- Planning History and Thought (BPLN0070)
- Contemporary Cities (BPLN0071)
- Urban Lab I: Graphic Communication (BPLN0072)
- Introducing Urban Design: Design Skills (BPLN0073)
- Management for Built Environment Professionals I (BPLN0074)
- Beyond Cities: Rural Economies, Communities and Landscapes (BPLN0076)
- Making Cities: Production of the Built Environment (BPLN0120)
Compulsory modules
- Urban Lab II: Spatial Analysis (BPLN0077)
- Urban Design: Theory to Practice (BPLN0078)
- Green Futures (BPLN0079)
- Cities and Social Change (BPLN0080)
- Economics of Cities and their Regions (BPLN0081)
- Spatial Planning Projects (BPLN0082)
- Urban Form and Formation (BPLN0085)
- Management for Built Environment Professionals II (BPLN0086)
Compulsory modules
- Urban and Environmental Politics (BPLN0084)
- Development Project: Regeneration (BPLN0088)
- Urban Design: Space and Place (BPLN0089)
- Urban Project Management (BPLN0090)
- Transport Policy and Planning (BPLN0091)
- Planning and Property Law (BPLN0092)
- Regional Development, Planning and Policy in a Global Context (BPLN0095)
- Real Estate Development (BPLN0099)
Our teaching is very interactive and hands-on. Alongside lectures, seminars and tutorials we include field visits, group project work, and laboratory and design work sessions to enrich your learning experience.
In the third term of the second or third year, a voluntary two-week work experience placement is offered, drawing from our pool of employers.
In previous years, placement employers have included: AECOM, Buro Happold, Ealing Council, Greater London Authority, Jacobs, London Borough of Islington, Mode Transport Planning, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Simone de Gale Architects, Transport for London, Urban Design London and more. Please note future placement employers are not yet confirmed and participating employers are subject to change each year.
Students go on extended field trips during their undergraduate degree, in the first and third years. In previous years field trips have taken students to Porto, Lisbon, Genova, Rotterdam, Folkestone (first year) and Cardiff, Newcastle, Durham (third year). In addition, many modules include fieldwork in London, site visits or day trips as part of the learning experience.
Methods of assessment include a combination of individual and group work, essays, examinations, project work, urban design and plan-making projects and other skill-based practical work such as graphic communication skills, presentations, and filmmaking. Assignments are spread across term 1 and term 2 of each year. Examinations take place in term 3.
Typical contact hours vary between 8–12 hours per week, depending on the year of study, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and project tutorials. Students will also display a level of independent study 25–30 hours per week , for example, by engaging with key topics, required readings and fieldwork or project work in preparation for the discussions promoted in the course.
The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
| Study mode | UK fee (2026/27) | Overseas fee (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | £9,790 | £39,200 |
UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.
International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.
International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
This course includes two field trips: one in Term 2 or 3 of Year 1, and the other in Term 1 of Year 3. Travel and accommodation (including breakfast) for the trip will be covered by UCL, however students will need to cover the costs for visas where needed (up to £100, depending on student nationality and destination), other daily meals and any other personal expenses. The exact subsistence costs will depend on the location and prevailing exchange rates; however, it is estimated that students would need to budget between £200 and £300 for an overseas field trip and £150 for a UK field trip.
During the course we will also attend site visits across London. Students will need to pay for their own transport to sites. Based on visits last year you should expect to budget up to £60 across the year to access sites by public transport. Sites are always within the TFL travel zones, and full-time students should be able to benefit from a student Oyster card for discounted travel rates. For up-to-date costs visit the TfL website.
Some modules require poster printing. Requirements for poster submission are listed in the module descriptions. Most students on this course should expect to budget up to £30 for poster printing in a typical year. Some of these posters will be for group submission so the costs may be shared with others.
If you are selected for the (voluntary) study abroad programme in Term 2, you will pay normal UCL tuition fees but will be responsible for the additional costs of travel, visa application and accommodation associated with this. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website and students are offered information and guidance to support decision-making prior to committing to this opportunity.
For in-person teaching, UCL's main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2026. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue undergraduate studies. Please see the Bartlett Promise Undergraduate Scholarship page for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.
Why study this course at UCL?
World-class, research-led education
UCL Bartlett School of Planning has been at the forefront of planning research and teaching for more than 100 years. You learn from urban experts in our School, with opportunities to engage with professionals through guest lectures and events. UCL is a global top 10 university (QS World University 2026) and first in the world for built environment studies (QS World University Subject Ranking 2025).
Immerse yourself in London and beyond
London is ranked the best city for students in the UK and Europe, and holds third place worldwide (QS Best Student Cities 2026). With our campus located in the heart of the city, you are surrounded with opportunities to explore urban design and planning in action. London is home to a diverse range of employers, and an unrivalled concentration of professional meetings, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and events. The opportunity to study abroad allows you to expand your urban knowledge while experiencing a new city.
Build your career in planning
You will apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings through hands-on learning, including field trips, site visits, and project work, gaining valuable experience for your future career. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage in an industry placement and planning specific careers workshops. Gaining an accredited undergraduate degree is the initial step to membership to professional bodies, demonstrating to future employers you have the skills needed for the job. From enrolment, through to three years after graduating you can access UCL’s Careers to support you in building your career.
Discover Uni
To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.
What this course will give you
This course enables you to acquire highly transferable knowledge and skills such as data collection, analysis and presentation, graphic skills, GIS, the ability to resolve problems and conflicts, negotiation and mediation, teamwork and leadership, managing work tasks, preparing and writing professional reports, as well as written, graphic and oral presentation skills.
Graduates find work in a vast range of positions in town planning, urban design, economic development, housing, transport, regeneration, property industry sectors, as well as other diverse sectors where their analytical, negotiating, and problem-solving skills are valued.
93.5% of graduate from The Bartlett School of Planning are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes surveys 2017-2023). Our students go on to work in the private, public, and third sector including planning, urban design, and infrastructure development consultancy firms, property development companies, local government, civil service, and national and international non-governmental organisations. Graduates have found employment in international world leading planning consultancies such as ARUP, AECOM, Turley Associates, Lichfields, as well as in many local authorities in London and the UK. Many graduates also continue to master’s level study, completing the learning requirements for membership to professional bodies such as the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Professional accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and is currently undergoing regular reaccreditation with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
After you graduate and have completed the additional requirements you will be able to apply for membership to the accrediting body. Membership of an internationally recognised professional body demonstrates to your future employers that you have the professional skills required for the job.
Learn more about urban planning degree accreditation
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Register nowRegister your interest
Register your interest in undergraduate study and become part of the UCL community.
Register nowHow to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Apply for this course
You are applying for the Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.Course starts: September 2027
UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.
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Bartlett School of Planning
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