9 reasons to study planning at the University of Liverpool

21 Dec 2016

Saving the environment is no longer a lifestyle choice but a responsibility we must take on. But with the rising amount of environmental issues, it’s going to take more than world leaders and corporations to maintain a future for the next generation. And from the looks of it, millennials are choosing to be a part of the programme as Will Gardner, Chief Executive of Collectively, cites that a growing number of millennials are “a globally empathetic generation” who would like to see businesses become “agents for positive change” in promoting sustainability.

But there is a lot more to do besides reducing carbon footprint for those who want to make a greater contribution. If you’re passionate about the environment, take your interest one step further by pursuing a career in environmental science at the University of Liverpool. With such a promising job market, there’s no better time to enter this field.

At Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, students can choose to learn about Planet Earth, the oceans, and its ecosystems at the Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, or learn about the different ways in which humans respond to and manage aspects of environmental, economic and social change in the Department of Geography and Planning. If your interest lies within the area of planning and management to promote sustainable patterns, or in urban regeneration and economic development, then a career in planning will certainly suit you well. Intrigued to know more?

Image courtesy of the University of Liverpool

Here are 9 reasons to study Planning at the University of Liverpool:

1. The planning courses are designed to maximise your future options

The University of Liverpool is the world’s first planning school and has been at the forefront of Civic Design education for more than a century. Students pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate programme will learn about some of the most pressing issues facing our world, like globalisation, geopolitics, and climate change, developing a critical understanding of how those challenges impact the development of worldwide cities and regions. By the end of your degree, you’ll equipped with the theoretical and practical skills needed to tackle these challenges head-on and provide sustainable solutions.

The department offers a range of Planning courses including Environmental Assessment and Management MSc, Geographic Data Science MSc, Marine Planning and Management MSc, Town and Regional Planning MA, Town and Regional Planning MCD, Urban Regeneration and Management MSc, Urban Design and Property Development MSc and Urban Planning MSc.

2. It’s the world’s first civic design planning school

Founded in 1909, the Department of Planning and Civic Design is the oldest in the world, yet it remains a leading global centre for professional planning education and research. The department is home to a group of renowned academics who work as editors of The Town Planning Review, an international publication that communicates new developments in planning, thinking, and practice around the world.

3. The university produces industry ready graduates

It’s important for students to be theoretically and practically knowledgeable to be able to tackle real-life issues and projects, so the institution believes in creating industry-ready graduates with the expertise, competence, and research capabilities needed for real-world development. The university is known for its excellent relationships with local, national, and international organisations working within the broad area of Geography and Planning. Through these industry links, students learn about client-acing project modules within some of the programmes, providing you with the opportunity to work on real problems while developing key network contacts outside the university.

Image courtesy of the University of Liverpool

4. The staff puts theory into practice

While each degree is theory-based to ensure students understand about the relationship between people, places, and policy structures, the school has all modules focused on developing personal and practical skills necessary to enable change. With these skills at their fingertips, it guarantees them a competitive advantage in the job market.

5. An international experience

The University of Liverpool is popular among international students, hence why its academic curriculum is taught from a global perspective. Students learn about global geography, planning issues, and approaches. The institution also offers a range of international trips and opportunities to study abroad in the U.S and China. Liverpool is also co-founder of Xi’an Jiaotong (XJTLU), a Chinese university, where passionate can opt to study within its sister department.

6. World class research

The Geography and Planning Department actively feeds research back into its teaching programmes which are led by leading experts in the field, giving students the privilege of learning what’s new and at the forefront of their respective disciplines. The department’s research team is also one of the largest in the UK, with a proven track record of international research excellence. Right now, its research is organised across four thematic groups: Environmental Change, Population and Spatial Analysis, Power, Space and Cultural Change, and Planning, Environmental Assessment and Management.

Image courtesy of the University of Liverpool

7. It boasts brand-new MSc opportunities

The institution has also introduced two new Planning MSc programmes (Urban Design and Property Development MSc and Urban Planning MSc) in conjunction with its Liverpool in London campus. The postgraduate degrees which are the first of its kind in the country focuses on areas relating to property development and urban design. It also explores the dynamic connections between real estate valuation and character of the built environment in one of the most rapidly changing property markets in the UK.

8. Degrees that open doors

The university prides itself on ensuring that employability is at the core of its degrees, seeking to review and update existing programmes as frequently as possible. Studying a geography, planning or environmental science degree at Liverpool will provide you a wide-range of career opportunities. You’ll develop valuable skills such as numeracy, literacy, laboratory skills, critical thinking, team work, project management, graphicacy, GIS, and research design policy analysis, allowing you to embark on careers in the public and private sectors.

9. One of the friendliest and most attractive cities in the world!

From visiting a museum on a lazy Sunday afternoon to attending a music festival, there’s certainly something special for every student in the vibrant city of Liverpool, which has also been voted one of the world’s friendliest cities. In addition to this, the amazing city is home to two of the Premiership’s biggest football teams, Liverpool and Everton, so be sure to head on over and catch a gripping game! It’s also a wonderful shopping destination, with 160 shops open until late, a multiplex cinema and plenty of restaurants all under the Liverpool ONE roof.

Image courtesy of the University of Liverpool

With a well-rounded academic programme, plenty of industry links and support, there’s no place better to study than at the University of Liverpool – allowing students to have fun as they learn to maintain a happy, healthy, global living environment.

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