University subject profile: construction, surveying and planning | Building and town and country planning

What you’ll learn
From construction management to urban planning and quantity surveying, this area has a range of career routes, so you will probably want to pin down where your skills and interests lie before you apply.

Building and town and country planning are distinct, although they are closely linked. These programmes generally cover all things related to construction, infrastructure, sustainable design, planning for new developments, and elements of structural and civic engineering. Building studies tends to focus more on construction.

Town and country planning, meanwhile, is the construction industry’s strategic cousin. Town planners take decisions that shape major issues in our lives, such as how we deal with the climate crisis, where and how jobs are created, how we regenerate places, where people live, and how we travel. They help communities make big decisions about where development might occur, and which types of environment should be protected and why.

How you’ll learn
On campus, you’ll get the chance to learn through lectures, simulated and live projects, and group work. Assessment will likely involve exams, project work, coursework and presentations.

Building courses have a strong practical element, such as a sandwich year in industry. This means you’ll have gained some business contacts and will be better placed to hit the ground running when you start full-time work. There will also be field trips to building sites.

Town and country planning courses are also practical, and involve developing skills in design, communication and analysis. Universities such as Loughborough have a key focus on teaching the digital and data skills needed to design smart cities.

Entry requirements
Some institutions don’t ask for specific A-level (or equivalent) subjects, but do expect a 4 (or C) or higher in GCSE maths and English.

What job can you get?
Building and town and country planning graduates generally have very good employment prospects, given recruitment shortages in the construction industry and in many planning authorities. You could get work in a local council’s planning department, a national or local planning consultancy, with a property developer, a national environmental charity, or an environmental consultancy organisation.

Some courses are accredited by professional bodies, such as the Royal Town Planning Institute or the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, so with a bit of extra work and more exams after graduating, your prospects will be further enhanced. It is possible to qualify as a planner without a degree: with a supportive employer, you can study part-time while working in a related field.

Average starting salaries for a graduate town planner range from £18,000 to £25,000, and £22,000 to £26,000 for a graduate building surveyor, with potential in both industries to hit a six-figure salary.

A degree in building or town and country planning will give you plenty of transferable skills, such as communication and time management – perfect for a career in business or management, or working for an NGO, perhaps one that aims to better the environment.