Higher Level Apprenticeships in Planning at QUB

The Department for the Economy (DfE) is funding MSc programmes in Planning at Queen's University Belfast as Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs)

This scheme covers fee costs to complete the programmes part-time (a day a week over two years) for employees working for NI companies in planning-related sectors. DfE will expect the staff member to be released a day a week during term time and given a new title on successful completion. 

Do you think this type of HLA might be of interest to any of your contacts? Both programmes are fully accredited by RICS. A HLA could, in theory, either work for an established staff member gaining a new qualification or a recruit who could learn on the job and at university. Both have places for September 2022 starts (with potential to register in September and start in January subject to a maximum number of places being filled). 

The programmes are MSc City Planning & Design, which has a strong urban design, global challenges and live projects-focus (and RICS accredited as a standalone programme) and MSc Planning & Development, which is a fully RTPI and RICS accredited conversion programme for applicants with any previous undergraduate training.  

MSc City Planning & Design – a specialist RTPI and RICS accredited programme with urban design and planning routes. 

City Planning and Design Higher Level Apprenticeship (MSc) | Courses | Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

MSc Planning & Development – a conversion Master’s for students with no planning-related undergraduate degree that is accredited by the RTPI and RICS. 

Planning and Development Higher Level Apprenticeship (MSc) | Courses | Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

Entry Requirements

MSc City Planning & Design – 2.2 or better at undergraduate in planning or a ‘cognate’ discipline. This is normally taken to be clearly related disciplines like geography and architecture but work experience can be considered in the interpretation of whether an offer can be made.

MSc Planning & Development – 2.2 or better in any under undergraduate degree

RPEL – Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning – in some cases, offers can be made to applicants with no undergraduate degree if they can demonstrate an appropriate level of experiential learning. These cases can be discussed individually.

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