Spatial Planning Studies
Qualifying Certificate
Key facts
Department
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
Our Certificate in Spatial Planning Studies provides an access route to our RTPI and RICS-accredited MSc in Spatial Planning. It is ideal for students who do not have the usual educational qualifications necessary for entry onto the course.
The course provides you with a general, yet critical, understanding of the planning process and some of the key issues and themes in contemporary spatial planning.
The School of the Built Envionment performs a leading role in research and consultancy. Clients and projects cover subjects from:
- local concerns
- multinational organisations
- government
- industry.
Our research feeds directly into our teaching so you will learn directly from the most current areas of practice.
The course is a one-year part-time (one day per week) undergraduate-level course.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Standard entry to the course is open to those who have:
- GCSE, O-level (or equivalent) in Maths and English
- at least three years' suitable experience within the field of planning - in an advanced technical or administration post *
* Applicants who have two years' work experience in planning at the commencement of their studies, and hold at least one A-level at grade C will also be considered.
UK/EU applicants for MSc Spatial Planning who were unsuccessful because their undergraduate degree attainment was unsuitable, will be reconsidered for progression by completing this course to the required standard.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
We advise applying in advance to secure places, and allow sufficient time for applications to be reviewed.
There is no formal application deadline (recruitment closes when teaching capacity is reached).
Applicants should also factor any time needed to meet offer conditions, arrange accommodation, and obtain a UK Student visa (if applicable).
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
For applicants and employers seeking to undertake this programme as an agreed progression route onto our Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship, please note the Certificate is not fundable via the Apprenticeship Levy.
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory field trips | Included in fees £0 |
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
The course comprises four modules. These modules have been carefully chosen to provide a balance of basic and advanced modules, and to offer you the opportunity to study basic themes in spatial planning. As well as some specific areas such as transport and community planning.
In Semester 1 you will complete Sustainable Development and Professional Practice and Transport and Society.
In Semester 2 you will complete Spatial Planning and Independent Study in Planning.
Study modules
Learning and teaching
Our teaching methods include:
- lectures
- directed reading
- workshops
- seminars
- practical and project work.
Each of the four single-credit modules requires 150 hours of study over 15 weeks. This includes 36 hours of staff contact time.
Formal teaching takes place over the first 12 weeks. The final weeks are available for examinations, if included as part of the module assessment.
Field trips
Some modules may have Field Trips (day or half day) associated with them. Where these form a compulsory element of the module the transport costs come at no additional cost.
Research
The School of the Built Environment is widely recognised as a leading educator in environment, design and development subjects. We perform a leading role in research and consultancy, with clients and projects covering subjects from local concerns to multi-national organisations, government and industry.
Key areas of expertise and scholarship in the department form the research groups and units listed below. These research groups and units also comprise a substantial part of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD):
- Smart Construction and Impact Assessment (SC&IA)
- Land Design and Development (LDD)
- Planning, Policy and Governance (PPG)
We have links with universities worldwide, including Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Taiwan, Romanian, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and most EU member states.
After you graduate
Career prospects
The Certificate in Spatial Planning Studies provides an entry qualification for the MSc in Spatial Planning which is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
This dual accreditation makes MSc in Spatial Planning graduates attractive to both the public and private sectors of planning and related built environment employers.
Our Staff
Dr Bridget Durning
Dr Bridget Durning is an academic, sustainability and impact assessment specialist.
Read more about BridgetProgramme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.