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Graduate and Non-graduate Entry
The Joint Distance Learning MA provides a route to becoming a chartered qualified town planner through distance learning. It is suitable for students who do not want, or are not able to complete a part-time or full-time college-based course.
It provides for people in remote locations, for the unemployed or for people who are working and cannot take time off to attend a college. It is available to people living in the UK, and beyond.
Its guiding principle is "Access for all to a quality town and country Planning education".
It is fully recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute and is the only course of its kind in Britain. In common with Open University courses, the course follows a calendar year, with each course starting in January.
The Joint Distance Learning MA in Town & Country Planning is made up of three planning courses devised and run by a Consortium of four Planning Schools. One of the Courses incorporates a 30 credit specialism offered by the Open University. Graduates take a short programme comprising the three planning courses. Non graduate entrants take the three planning courses and four Open University courses. Successful completion of the programme leads to a Royal Town Planning Institute recognised MA in Town and Country Planning (hereafter called JDLMA), awarded jointly by the University of the West of England, Bristol and Leeds Metropolitan University.
The programme has been running since 1985 and has been granted full professional recognition by the RTPI. It has been granted accelerated status as a new spatial planning course. It also continues to receive the full support of the OU which has been closely involved in its development from the outset.
This Summary Guide to the programme anticipates your questions and does its best to provide the answers. At the end is an Application Form for Planning Course 1. The Open University produces its own parallel guide, Recognition Information Leaflet No.3.2, updated in April each year.
The JDLMA represents a unique approach to professional planning education. It provides a distance learning route to the academic qualification needed for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. The course provides an opportunity for those who are not in a position to embark upon 'conventional' full or part-time courses to obtain a professional planning qualification. It offers flexibility in terms of how and when you study and at which pace, as well as some choice over the subjects included. It provides tutorial and documentary support.
Although initially designed as a route to the professional qualification of the Royal Town Planning Institute the programme may also be of interest to others wishing to know more about the planning system for reasons other than professional qualification.
Yes it does. The JDLMA, taken together with a minimum of two years relevant experience, can provide the basis for election to Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, which carries with it the right to use the designation MRTPI and the title 'Chartered Town Planner'. Further information can be found in the Institute's booklet 'General Information about Membership'.
University of the West of England, Bristol, Faculty of the Built Environment
Leeds Metropolitan University, School of the Built Environment
London
South Bank University, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences
Dundee University , School of Town and Regional Planning
There are two distinct but complementary elements - the Planning Courses devised and run by the consortium and the Open University element of Planning Course 3. (See Figure 1). The Planning Courses focus on town and country planning practice - looking closely at the making of place and the mediation of space. As such, they deal primarily with issues relating to the use and development of land. The OU specialism has been selected to provide an understanding of the social, economic and technological context within which the activity of town and country planning takes place.
The OU courses, particularly those at foundation level, also fulfil the important functions of introducing students with limited experience in higher education to study at this level, as well as to study by distance learning.
The three Planning Courses, which are compulsory, are each equivalent in workload to an OU 'full 60 credit' course and operate over the standard OU year - February to October inclusive. They are studied in sequence, building progressively on material already covered and increasing in academic difficulty.
Figure 1: Joint Distance Learning MA Overall Programme
Note: OU Course and Specialism to be chosen from the list of 'approved' courses
There are 6 modules units of study in each of Planning Courses 1 and 2. Students are expected to spend around 15 hours, per week studying, giving a total study time of 600 hours per Course. Planning Course 3 will extend into the following year, giving a total study time of 800 hours. It should be noted that this will include time spent working on the Tutor-Marked Assignments, revision for the Examinations, and participation at the College-Based Sessions. There is considerable diversity in subject matter within each course reflecting the range of material necessary to be covered in a recognised Town Planning course.
As far as possible the course material, together with supplementary material (such as hand-outs, off-prints, journals and other publications), is self-contained. In practice it is not possible to cover everything in this way and additional reading is indicated where appropriate. In a limited number of cases particular text books are recommended for purchase.
The Courses involve compulsory College-based sessions (CBS's) which provide valuable opportunities for group work, face-to-face learning and practical work such as tutored field and studio work and computing: there are two of these each in Courses 1 and 2.
Planning Course 1 - focuses on context and procedures and covers the practices by which planning systems in the UK, Europe and the world seek to control, direct and harness the forces that impact upon the built and natural environment. To start the course historical background and current issues are aired as contexts. Following this, legislative background in the making of plans and the control of development is comprehensively covered, as are the working of the property development process. The course concludes with a module introducing the principles and practice of urban design, which is then linked to a new integrative 'Place Making Project'.
Planning Course 2 - further develops learning on spatial planning, engaging with the processes, aims and objectives of planning systems. After initial consideration of the methods that planners use to collect, analyse and apply environmental data, the Course goes on to discuss in turn three different scales of operation: international and European; regional and strategic; and local. The final taught module considers the are heavily based on case studies of planning at different levels, and the course concludes with a substantial and in-depth 'Spatial Planning Project', carried out partly in groups at the autumn College Based Session.
Planning Course 3 - seeks to provide a specialist focus on ideas, perspectives and debates that set the context for planning and enable students to develop a substantial and genuine expertise in a specific field, which they may pursue throughout their careers through future programmes of life long learning. We recognise that planning specialisms cover an increasingly wide and varied field and we aim to keep our offered specialisms under continual review.
Assessment
The Pass mark for Planning Course 1 is 40%; Planning Course 2 and 3 are Masters Course with a higher pass mark of 50%
A distinction is enforced in terms of how many courses students are required to complete depending upon whether or not they are 'graduates' as defined and recognised by the RTPI. Non-graduate entrants will normally be required to follow the full programme of courses (4 OU + 3 Planning Courses) as set out in Figure 1. This will involve registration with the OU as an 'undergraduate student' and the completion of a least one foundation course before moving on to any second or third level course. Some qualifications offer exemption from the Open University foundation courses, and this information can be obtained from the Open University.
Graduate entrants are able to follow the reduced programme of three Planning Courses as set out in Figure 3.
The normal pattern of progression for the non-graduate and graduate routes are set out in Figures 2 and 3. This sequence is designed, with flexibility, to provide a progression through appropriate levels of study.
The Open University specialism is taken as part of Planning Course 3.
The following modules are available:
Environmental Policy Modules
| D830 |
Ecology, Justice and Citizenship |
| D831 | Environmental Valuation and Policy |
| D832 | Environmental Negotiation and Conflict Resolutions |
| T835 | Integrated Safety, Health and Environmental Management |
| T860 | Environmental Decision Making: A Systems Approach |
| T862 | Enterprise and the Environment |
Management, Decision-Making and Leadership Modules
| TU870 | Capacities for Managing Development |
| TU871 | Development: Context and Practice |
| B822 | Creativity, Innovation and Change |
| B823 | Managing Knowledge |
| B824 | Managing Human Resources |
| D860 | Rethinking Social Policy |
| D861 | Managerialism and Social Policy |
| D862 | European Social Policy |
| D863 | Community Safety, Crime Prevention and Social Control |
| D864 | Youth Justice, Penality and Social Control |
Non-graduates choose from an approved list of OU Foundation Second and third Level Courses, one of which must be U216 Environment. The approved courses are as follows
Foundation Level Courses
| DD100 | Society and Social Science: a foundation course |
| T171 | You, your computer and the net (half course) |
| T172 | Working with your environment (half course) |
Second Level Courses
| DD200 | Governing Europe |
| D215 | Shape of the World |
| D216 | Economics and Changing Economics |
| MDST242 | Statistics in Society (half course) |
| T204 | Design: Principles and Practice |
| T205 | Systems Thinking; Principles and Practice |
| U213 | International Development |
| U216 | Environment (compulsory non-graduate course) |
| U208 | Third World Development |
| DD202 | Economics and Economic Change |
| AT308 | Cities and Technology: from Babylon to Singapore |
| DU310 | Environmental Policy in an International Context |
| D316 | Democracy: from Classical times to present |
| DD304 | Understanding Cities |
| BYN630 | The Professional Certificate in Management |
| T302 | Innovation: Design, Environment and Strategy |
| T306 | Managing Complexity: a Systems approach |
| U316 | The Environmental Web |
We appreciate that in considering which of the OU specialisms you might wish to do as part of the MA you will need more information about content. Further details of OU. courses are available either direct from the Open University at Milton Keynes (at the address given later in this Summary Guide) or from one of the 13 Open University regional centres, each of which should have a library of course material.
Each of these specialsms involves 20 weeks of home-based study. The written material is divided into Units. A Unit represents one week's work (at least 14 hours). The written material may be supplemented by audio-video tapes, CD Roms, radio or TV broadcasts. Assessment is generally based on coursework (assignments/projects) and examination.
The Open University operates its own admission procedures and for OU specialisms you should apply direct to the University. Applications must be received by 1 October for level 2 and 3 courses commencing the following year; or by 1st April for foundation courses. Early applications are recommended, as Open University courses can be over-subscribed.
We are also keen to encourage students to treat the Specialism as a first step on a programme of life learning. Through credit transfer arrangements the (30 credit) Specialism module will provide advanced standing with a range of Open University masters qualifications and in combination with the Dissertation/Special Study access to life long learning programmes in other planning Schools or graduate programmes. As such it represents a starting point for continuing professional development beyond their completion of Masters qualification.
Non graduates must follow the full MA programme. You will be required to obtain four courses from the approved list, including at least one of the foundation courses. Three second level, or two second level and one third level courses must be taken including U216; "Environment".
As a non-graduate, you must register with the OU as an undergraduate student, and as such would be required to obtain a foundation course before taking any higher level course. After obtaining the four OU courses required by the MA programme, or a combination of some planning courses and some OU courses (reaching five in total), you may be able to qualify for the Open University's BA Honours Degree. You would need to register direct with the Open University if this is what you intend to do.
No. The Open University has granted credit recognition to the Planning Courses. For example Planning Course 1 will be officially considered the equivalent of one full 60 credit OU course in advanced standing/credit accumulation terms, thus making the scheme more attractive to students working towards an OU Degree at the same time as studying on the MA programme.
The Planning Courses must be taken in sequence by all students, as illustrated in Figs. 2 & 3 of this guide.
Students will progress from Planning Course 1, which is a level 3 Course, onto Masters level study there after, completing their programme with Planning Course 2 and 3, and obtaining a Master of Arts in Town and Country Planning.
Whilst this represents a recommended pattern of study for students, it is proposed to offer flexibility to allow students to tailor the programme to their own circumstances.
Yes it is. Much of the Planning Course Material is available for purchase as a full course, on a Module or unit basis. Some of the Open University Material, notably 'course readers' is also available for separate purchase. Please make further inquiries with John Allinson at Bristol or the Open University as appropriate.
The Planning Course Material in particular could well prove useful to a wide range of people as well as to planning professionals in the public and private sectors for practice updating and continuing professional development purposes.
You may also be interested in the 'Certificate in UK Planning Law and Practice', the modules for which are taken from Planning Course 1. Students follow modules in Development Control, Development Plan, and Development Process over a four month period. For further information, please contact Leeds Metropolitan University.
There is no simple answer to this. On credit accumulation schemes such at this the time taken to complete will vary according to individual personal circumstances. Most people complete one full course per year. Total duration also depends of course upon how many individual courses you are required to obtain. It might also, for example, be necessary to take years out due to other commitments. As a guide, if you took the Planning Courses in successive years, graduates would be able to complete the MA in 3 ¼ years.
You will be required to attend a residential weekend in April/May and a 5 day residential course in September (costs are included). The location of these changes each year giving you the opportunity to visit several cities. You should also allow a further day to meet your tutor. This will total about 6 working days for most students. Overseas students are not required to attend the April/May weekend.
Yes. Overseas Students wishing to complete the course must register with the Open University for the relevant specialism, and separately with the Consortium for the Planning Courses. The Open University has its own requirements for overseas students, and you should contact the O.U. directly. Regarding the Planning Courses, a requirement is that you must attend one College-Based Session per year in the UK.
The course is registered in Ireland with F.A.S. (reg no. 901614). This may enable the employer to reclaim part of the fees, if they register with F.A.S. before the course commences.
There is no simple answer to this question! Fees, like enrolment, apply on a course-by-course basis and are subject to change from year to year. It is therefore not possible at the start of your studies to put anything like a precise figure against the total fee cost of your Diploma. As a rough guide however on the basis of 2005 fees, the graduate programme of 3 courses would cost around £5,500.
The fees for the Planning course are as follows:
Planning Course 1, Year 2006: £1,800
Payable in full on enrolment or in 6 instalments on the understanding that liability
for the full fee is incurred by enroling. Fees per block are £300.
Reduced fees may apply in the case of re-enrolment to complete part of the assessment.
Fees for courses 2 and 3 will be of a similar order allowing for inflation.
Open University fees (approximate)
Undergraduate Summer School
Full Courses (60 credits) approx £500 approx £200
Half Courses (30 credits) approx £250
Are Grants available ?
Unfortunately, at present the answer is NO. Unless you can find an employer or other body to sponsor all or part of your fees there are no generally available sources of grant aid for this course. However, a limited number of bursaries will be available to students who are unwaged. The bursary will amount to 75% for the course.
If you think you might be eligible, you should contact Nancy Campbell, the Award Secretary for further details.
Further information on Open University Courses can be obtained by contacting:
The Assistant Registrar (Advanced Standing and External Recognition)
Academic Administration (Students) Division
The Open University
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Tel: (01908) 652780
For advice contact Joe Smith who acts as OU liaison Officer with the consortium.
Contacts for each member of the Consortium are:
University of the West of England
Yasminah Beebeejaun, Admissions Tutor
Telephone: 0117 328 83508
E-mail: yasminah.beebeejaun@uwe.ac.uk
Leeds Metropolitan University
Tony Ray
Telephone: 0113 283 2600 x 1708
E-mail: t.ray@leedsmet.ac.uk
Open University
Joe Smith
Telephone: 01908 654447
E-mail: J.H.Smith@open.ac.uk
London South Bank University
Phil Pinch
Telephone: 0207 815 7349
E-mail: pinchpl@lsbu.ac.uk
Dundee University
John McCarthy
Telephone: 01382 345240
E-mail: j.p.mcCarthy@dundee.ac.uk
JDLMA Web Site Address
http://hermes.uwe.ac.uk/jdlcourse/tcp/
This scheme has been developed in the spirit of encouraging wider access to planning education and professional practice. There are no prescribed pre-requisites in terms of academic qualifications for the non graduate case. Registration on both the Planning Courses and the Open University Courses requires that you should be 18 years of age or over, have a UK, or EU address and are the requirement for joining the graduate route are more demanding. You need to have a degree in a cognate subject in a non-cognate subject plus at least one year's experience in a planning - related field.
Throughout your studies for the MA you register on and complete one course at a time. As you work through the course it remains entirely your own responsibility to enrol either with the OU or the Planning School Consortium depending upon the particular stage you have reached. Enrolment on Planning Course 1 brings you technically under the umbrella of the MA scheme and you will remain so until you complete the last of your courses (normally Planning Course 3) or decide at any stage not to proceed with your studies. You must also be prepared to attend College-Based Sessions in the UK.
Registration on the Planning Courses begins with the completion of the Application Form included with this Guide. For administration purposes the application is made to UWE, Bristol and you will be registered as a Bristol student on behalf of the Consortium.
Don't worry if Bristol seems remote from where you happen to live and work. There will be opportunities for face to face contact from time to time with a personal tutor and for making use of a good planning library and other facilities. For this, your nearest Consortium Planning School - Bristol, Leeds, South Bank (London), Dundee - will become your 'study base'. The application form asks you to indicate which school you would like this to be. Irish students normally register with Dundee who make special arrangement for holding examinations etc. in Ireland.
The college-based sessions are held in different locations each year and provide an opportunity for all students on the programme to meet. During your time on the course you may have the opportunity to visit Bristol, Dundee, Leeds and London.
Applications should normally be made by the end of October for Planning Course 1 which starts at the beginning of the next calendar year. Further verification or consideration of qualifications may by necessary in the case of graduate entry ie confirmation of graduate status.
Applicants will be sent a University of the West of England, Bristol student registration form which should be returned, together with the Course fee or instructions for invoicing in December/January.
The requirements for joining the graduate route are more demanding. You need to have a degree in a cognate subject (e.g., geography, environmental studies, surveying) or a degree in a non cognate subject plus at least one year's experience in a planning-related field.
Registration with OU is entirely separate from enrolment on the Planning Courses and it remains your responsibility to register and pay your fees on a course by course basis with the Open University. It would be helpful, incidentally, if you mentioned the fact that you were studying within the Joint Distance Learning MA in Town and Country Planning scheme when you did so.
Details of the procedures should be obtained direct from the OU, but the system is broadly as follows:
Undergraduate students - register on the Undergraduate Programme in order to obtain Course credits towards the University's BA (Honours) Degree. Selection of courses for following year begins in May/June. The end of September is the deadline for applications to begin courses starting the following year. If you intend to study or a foundation course, you should register by the end of March of the previous year. Some courses are very popular, and numbers are restricted. Non-graduates are normally required to register in this category.
Graduate students - remember to enrol on your chosen specialism towards the end of Planning Course 2.
Formal enrolment on Planning Course 1 will normally take place by 01 December 2005. The form, which signifies your general intentions as far as the Masters programme is concerned as well as in relation to Planning Course 1 should be returned by the beginning of November, 2005.
Please submit the completed form to the Faculty if the Built Environment at the address given on the form.
Please be sure to indicate that you are seeking enrolment to the Distance Learning Course, not the full-time or part-time courses.