Human Geography and Planning with a Professional Placement Year (Accredited) BSc (Hons)

UK

What will I learn?

Recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a spatial qualification, this programme combines the problem-solving approaches of planning with the topical insights of geography, equipping you with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to tackle the challenges affecting how and where we live.

The programme fosters an understanding of the main geographical trends in the world today, along with the analytical skills needed to study spatial change. You will examine the changing nature of spaces and places, the relationship between society and space, and the role of the state. Placing local and national issues in a global context, the programme covers topics from environmental change in the UK, and economic and social change in Wales, to regional and international development.

You will gain an understanding of global, national and local processes of change, key environmental, social, cultural, political and economic trends and the role that planning plays in shaping their effects on different places. Detailed case study work through field study visits, away days and projects will give you an appreciation of transnational spatial change.

Recognising how competitive the job market is for graduates, the programme has been specifically designed to provide you with the key employability skills to help kickstart your career and make your mark in your chosen field. The salaried professional placement year builds on this and provides you with the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills you acquire during the first two years of the programme into practice. It is also a way of building your professional profile and network.

Fieldwork and experiential learning are key facets in the development of undergraduate knowledge and skills within the disciplines of Geography and Planning. This programme provides a range of opportunities for students to develop this knowledge and skill set, including in-module 1 or 1/2-day field visits group data collection and analysis assessments and dedicated Year 2 and Final Year field study modules.

This degree carries partial (spatial) RTPI accreditation. For full RTPI accreditation, once you have completed your spatial-accredited undergraduate degree, you need to complete a RTPI specialist-accredited Masters degree.

Career prospects

We are committed to helping you achieve your professional ambitions, providing you with the skills, curiosity and confidence to make your mark in your chosen field.

There are numerous exciting and varied career opportunities open to graduates of this degree programme, and many occupy key positions in a range of public, private and third sector organisations. These include national and local governments, business consultancies, sustainable energy centres, environmental agencies, housing strategy companies, construction, and surveying.

Specific planning career pathways include surveying, design and development, as well as fields such as transport, economic development and urban regeneration. You could practise in local planning authorities, local and national government, neighbourhood planning organisations, transport organisations, private planning consultancies, private

Which department am I in?

School of Geography and Planning

Study options

Full Time (4 Years)

Tuition fees
£23,700.00 (25,82,262) per year
Year one: £23,700, Year two:£23,700, Year three (sandwich year):£4,740 and Year four: £23,700.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2025

Venue

Cathays Park Campus

Park Place,

Cardiff,

CF10 3AT, Wales, United Kingdom

Entry requirements

For students from United States

General Studies and Critical Thinking excluded.

For international students

A level ABB-BBB Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met. International Baccalaureate 32-31 overall or 665 in 3 HL subjects. GCSE Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language. IELTS - At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-score TOEFL iBT - At least 90 with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Cardiff University

Cardiff University offers world-leading teaching, a vibrant campus life with diverse activities, excellent facilities, and global career prospects.

  • Ranked within top 24 research-intensive UK universities
  • 12th in the UK for graduate employability (THE, 2024)
  • 2nd most affordable UK university city (NatWest 2023)
  • More than 7,500 overseas students