BSc (Hons) Urban Planning Bachelor's degree at Loughborough University
BSc (Hons) Urban Planning at Loughborough University. Loughborough's Urban Planning degree equips you to design and reshape built environments. You'll develop practical skills to solve real-world planning challenges across core theory, research methods, applied practice, specialist options…
About this course
This BSc Urban Planning course draws on our diverse expertise to provide you with the skills required to help you shape and design the world around us. Discover more. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Urban Planning is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Loughborough University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Planning (urban, rural and regional) graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £34,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Professional SkillsCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is for the student to explore and reflect on the academic, professional and personal skills required for their learning development and future employability.
- Principles of Law and Economics for the Built EnvironmentCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to provide the student with a foundation of law and economics as they impact the built environment. The principles of English public and private law and economic theory will be introduced including: tort, contract, planning, supply and demand, elasticity, market structures and the macroeconomy.
- Professional Practice in Urban PlanningCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is for the student to be introduced to collaborative practices and project roles in the built environment profession, and to understand the processes involved in producing the built environment and to recognise the skills required of a manager in the planning sector in a broader development context. An important part of the learning will be to develop a student's own self-reflection to aid in taking ownership of their own professional and academic development. The module i
- Design Skills and Urban Data AnalyticsCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to provide students with the skills to communicate design intentions and analytical skills to explore, visualise and analyse the cityscape.
- Contemporary PlanningCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce students to: The challenges facing urban planning in society. The institutional structures, policies, practices and processes governing planning in the UK and the broader societal factors influencing how this regime has evolved.
- Principles of Urban PlanningCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enable students to acquire a broad knowledge of the main theoretical ideas and principles underpinning urban planning since the late nineteenth century as a reflection of social, economic, and political influences and developments. The module will also begin to explore the fundamentals of urban planning in the mediation of space and the creation of place.
Year 2 8 modules
- Urban Economics and Development AppraisalCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enable students to translate aspects of economic theory into urban contexts. The module will cover prominent challenges facing society such as the provision of public goods and the supply of housing. In addition, students will consider the appraisal of property development and the impact of policies to address urban challenges.
- Research Methods and Digital SkillsCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module it to introduce students to the fundamentals of conducting an original and rigorous research project from project proposal through to data collection, analysis and reporting. In addition, students will study the skills necessary to operate in digital environments.
- Urban Planning and the EnvironmentCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is for the student to understand environmental issues related to urban planning and how planning can be used as a tool to manage and mitigate these issues. In addition, the module also aims to introduce students to collaborative practices and professional perspectives in solving project planning and construction risk for the built environment and to allow students to work in cross disciplinary teams to plan and deliver a project.
- Design and Place MakingCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce key processes, practices and principles of place-making. During this process students will develop an enhanced appreciation of the structure of the public realm and adopt a people-centred approach to the design of space. Students will also develop critical appraisal of design alternatives with respect of key factors such as socio-economic activities, design aesthetic and the environmental setting.
- Remote Sensing & GISCompulsory
Module details
The module will introduce the use of GIS and remote sensing systems as a means of addressing geographical questions through the use of digital geospatial data. Students will explore a variety of primary and secondary data acquisition methods including satellite-based remote sensing and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). They will engage in the organisation, manipulation, analysis and presentation of spatial data using GIS. Students will be able to use knowledge and skills from this m
- Construction Finance and RiskCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enable the student to develop essential knowledge and understanding in the fundamentals of accounting, financial and risk management, and use them to support management decisions at project and company level in construction.
- Global MigrationOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Familiarise students with contemporary trends in global migration and the social, political, and economic dynamics underlying migration patterns. Engage students in contemporary theoretical debates regarding the causes of migration and its broader impact on both sending and receiving countries. Introduce students to current political debates regarding citizenship, migrants' rights and inclusion.
- Urban GeographiesOptional
Module details
The aim of this module is to use a geographical perspective to explore leading-edge processes of urban change and to critically analyse urban policy.
Final year 6 modules
- Planning Theories in ContextCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module will be to explore the relationship between planning theory, urban theory and practice and to debate and critique competing perspectives and thoughts on the role of planning interventions. The students are expected to design intellectually robust and substantiated planning interventions.
- Future CitiesCompulsory
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Identify and understand a broad range of challenges facing urban environments in different contexts including their drivers, threats and opportunities. Understand how planning interventions (design and policy) can positively address social, environmental and economic issues within the built environment. Explore diverse international examples and how contemporary planning issues are affected by their context.
- Planning Policy and PeopleCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is for the student to understand planning policy and how it inter-relates with people in the context of UK and global contexts. In addition, the module will consider how policy is developed within a political system and the role of community engagement and stakeholder consultation.
- Urban MobilityCompulsory
Module details
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the concept of urban mobility, which is a complex system of systems that is evolving at a faster pace than any time in the past decade. The module provides comprehensive coverage of all of the major factors that underpin our understanding of urban mobility, including its planning, management, monitoring, and appraisal.
- Research DissertationCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is for the student to gain experience in the process and methodology of research by defining and studying (on an individual basis) a problem in a specific area relating to their degree.
- Teamwork and LeadershipCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to provide the student with an opportunity to develop and deepen their knowledge of, and connections between: management theories, practice and competencies. The module is a unique combination of developing and deepening students understanding of their own management competencies, theoretical grasp of theory (leadership, teamwork, motivation, power and communication) and a fantastic opportunity to engage in experiential learning over three very challenging, problem solv
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This BSc Urban Planning course equips you with skills to shape and design the built environment. You'll begin with core concepts in planning alongside research and digital literacy foundations. Year 1 and 2 typically progress through interdisciplinary modules connecting planning's main strands, alongside applied projects that tackle real briefs and case studies. From there, a course like this normally moves into optional modules offering breadth across the university's offering, with specialist options in areas such as interdisciplinary core, applied projects, placement experience, and independent research. Year 3 emphasises professional skills, workplace experience, and culminates in a capstone project or dissertation that draws together your learning across the degree.
Who it's for
You're drawn to understanding how cities work and want to influence the places people live, work and spend time. You think systematically about complex spatial problems, transport networks, housing, green space, inequality, and enjoy both the analytical side and the human impact. You're comfortable with data and research methods, but you also value site visits, stakeholder engagement and seeing ideas become reality. This course suits someone keen to bridge theory and practice, who wants skills that matter in local government, consultancy, or the voluntary sector.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Among those working, 65% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Starting salaries typically range from £24,000 to £30,000; after five years, graduates earn between £25,075 and £35,400. Careers span planning authorities, design consultancies, transport organisations, housing associations and development agencies.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) Urban Planning is a full-time, 3-year degree studied in English at Loughborough University, a public university founded in 1909 and located in Loughborough. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this degree is nationally recognised. Loughborough holds a Gold award for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Access Loughborough Contextual Offer. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Loughborough University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £34,000 | £30,000 – £40,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £32,000 | £26,500 – £39,000 | 45 |
| 5 years after | £41,000 | £30,500 – £57,000 | 50 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with General Studies courses at the same study level.
Compared with 207 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 30; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where General Studies graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
General PractitionerMatchMedicsGeneral ManagerParkside RecruitmentGeneral ManagerThe Management Recruitment Group (MRG)General ManagerBite TalentGeneral ForemanCONTRACT SCOTLAND LIMITEDGeneral PractitionerFlexzo AiIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £34,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 83.6% · in work or study 90% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Loughborough University
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Loughborough University
1,024 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Loughborough University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Loughborough University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Loughborough University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Loughborough University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Loughborough University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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