A successful year for student placements

Urban Planning and Development undergraduate students reflect on their year out working in industry.

The placement year, offered as part of the BSc Urban Planning and Development degree programme gives students valuable practical experience in professional practice. The placement is a period of supervised office training with an employing organisation which is prepared to deliver a range of experience and a structured programme of work.

The staff in the School of Geography and Planning support students as they seek to secure paid placements, usually on a competitive basis from a range of opportunities.

Sara Vaziri-Tabar has returned from a placement year with Transport for London.  Speaking about her experience Sara said: "My placement year at Transport for London as an Assistant Planner provided me with a great deal of practical experience which helped me to understand how everything I learnt in the lecture room at university is applied in the working world.

“I was given so much more responsibility than I had expected, however the team was so welcoming and helpful that it was never too daunting! The most rewarding part of the year is knowing that my work has had an impact on the development and growth of London's transport network."

Students at the School of Geography and Planning can explore opportunities with a wide range of employers. Placements are offered by a range of different organisations in the private and public sectors. Recent placements have included position at Welsh Government, Local authorities and planning consultancies.