Architecture and Planning

Architecture and planning are disciplines that together shape the built environment and determine how cities, towns, and communities develop over time. Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings that are structurally sound, functionally effective, environmentally responsible, and aesthetically considered. Planning is the social and technical discipline through which communities and governments manage the use of land, guide the location of development, protect the natural environment, and ensure that housing, infrastructure, and public spaces serve present and future needs.

Studying both together gives you a unique perspective on how the designed and the regulatory dimensions of place-making interact.

At the University of the West of England in Bristol, this four-year full-time degree brings architecture and planning together in a programme that draws on UWE's strong connections with the built environment professions and Bristol's position as a city undergoing significant development and regeneration. You will develop design skills and spatial thinking alongside the policy, law, and technical knowledge that underpin planning practice, giving you a broader foundation than either a single-discipline architecture or planning degree alone would provide. The programme benefits from UWE's long tradition in professional built environment education and its excellent relationships with employers in the sector.

Graduates from architecture and planning programmes are well placed for careers across the built environment professions. Town planning, urban design, development management, landscape planning, and environmental assessment are all accessible directions. Many graduates work in local planning authorities, private planning consultancies, housing developers, regeneration agencies, and infrastructure organisations.

For those drawn to architecture, the degree provides a foundation for further professional training. Postgraduate study in planning, urban design, housing, or real estate is a natural next step. The typical entry tariff is 136 points.