MSc Planning and Development Higher Level Apprenticeship at Queen's University Belfast

Programme overview

The MSc Planning and Development Higher Level Apprenticeship is a part-time conversion Master's, leading to accreditation as a planner, with Department for the Economy-funded places for people working in planning-related industries. It is a work/study programme professionally accredited by the RTPI and RICS, and the dissertation may be a work-based project for a client organisation. 20 part-time places are available.

Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences | Department: School of Natural and Built Environment | Duration: 2 years part-time | Intake: September 2027 (academic year 2027/28) | Study mode: part-time (apprenticeship route) | Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Core modules are Introduction to Planning Theory and Practice, Planning Skills and Ethics, Design in the Built Environment, International Planning Studies, Property Development, Professional Practice Project in Environmental Planning (20 credits), GIS and Spatial Analysis (20 credits), Community Planning and Regeneration, Planning and Environmental Governance, Planning Law and Practice and an Independent Specialist Project (60 credits). The degree includes a week-long study visit outside Northern Ireland, work shadowing on the planning appeals process and a two-day planning practice study visit.

Career pathways

Planning offers a wide range of employment across the natural, physical, economic, social and cultural environments; the degree provides the route to becoming an accredited planner.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Normally a 2.2 honours degree or above, or equivalent, in any discipline; below 2.2 considered case by case with appropriate experience. Applicants must be in employment, or hold a firm offer of employment, with a Northern Ireland-based company in a planning-related sector, and upload a CV and employer letter of support confirming day-release of one day per week (and, for existing employees, that the qualification is needed for a new role). Eligibility: minimum school leaving age in Northern Ireland, eligible to work in Northern Ireland, settled in Northern Ireland and ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years or holding indefinite leave to enter or remain. Not open to international applicants. Funding is subject to renewal by the Department for the Economy.

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 2 years part-time

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