Chartered Town Planning Degree Apprenticeship
Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship, the programme is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The core modules of the programme are:
In addition, students will take one specialist module from the following list (subject to availability):
How will the apprentice be assessed?
All taught modules (20 credits each) are assessed by two pieces of coursework, usually an essay, report, research project and/or presentation. The research project/dissertation (60 credits) is assessed by an independent piece of research linked to the student’s specialism option (up to 15,000 words).
Duration: 2.5 years
Hours of study per week: Class-based 6 hours; Independent study 8 hours
Delivery e.g. online/day release: Day release (Year 1 Tuesdays; Year 2 Thursdays)
Entry requirements: For the Level 7 qualification this will be at least a lower second class honours degree in a related-subject or at least five years of professional experience in planning as a practitioner.
Other key facts: The programme is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute.
1. Knowledge and understanding of planning: Planning theory, policy and practice; planning and related law; political framework; sustainability and resource management; place-making and urban design; stakeholder engagement and community involvement; economic framework; professional ethics and ethical framework.
2. Key and transferable skills: communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively by oral, written and visual means to a range of audiences and stakeholders in a professional context; undertake effective research information sourcing to establish an evidence base; collate, analyse and interpret data in quantitative and qualitative forms; and work independently and organise his/her own learning.
3. Employment-related skills: preparation of plans, policies and related documents; plan implementation; creative vision and design; critical analysis and decision-making; stakeholder management and leadership; project management; collaborative and multi-disciplinary working; and interpersonal skills.
4. Professional behaviours: demonstrate awareness and understanding of professional working, roles, responsibilities and ethical values; demonstrate negotiation, mediation, leadership, advocacy and networking skills likely to facilitate collaborative policy formulation and implementation; engage effectively in reflection and action planning for personal and career development; prepare for the RTPI’s Assessment of Professional Competence through a range of professional and work-based experiences; and appreciate the importance of life-long, work-based learning and reflect critically on their career plans and skills needs.
1. Up-skilling of existing planning staff and practitioners.
2. Increased productivity and professionalism.
3. Provides route to staff becoming Chartered Members of the RTPI.
4. Advantages for retention and recruitment of staff.
1. Improved knowledge and skills of planning for professional development.
2. Opportunities for the acquisition of skills and experience in a range of professional contexts.
3. Provides a route to Chartered Membership of the professional body, the Royal Town Planning Institute.
4. Professional development and promotion opportunities.
The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2022
We are extremely proud of our outstanding results in the latest Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2022. The MSc Town Planning degree (Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship) received 100% overall satisfaction for course quality, 100% assessment and feedback, 100% for support, 100% for skills development, and 95% satisfaction for teaching and learning on the course. These results place our master’s degree significantlyabove the sector benchmark. 100% of students responding to the survey agreed that staff are good at explaining things, enthusiastic about what they teach, has enhanced their academic ability, that there is sufficient contact time, and that students are happy with the support for their learning from staff on the course.
The University of Plymouth is proud to be supported by the European Social Fund.
As one stream of funding under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme 2014–2020, the ESF focuses on improving access to employment, promoting social inclusion, and investing in skills to help people fulfil their potential.
More projects supported by ESIF with the University of Plymouth