Manage your preferences

The Leeds Beckett website is designed to enable you to manage your own privacy preferences. By clicking on 'Cookies' below you can manage what data the site collects about your browsing. This will only maintain if you are on your own device or using a synched version of your chosen browser. If you are using a shared or public machine without synching your browser then there is no need to change the preferences.

Our site is built with accessibility in mind and we seek to adhere to the WACG AA levels of compliance for digital accessibility. To support that we have provided instructions on managing animations below.

Cookies

Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable you to use all the different parts of leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Without them services that you have asked for cannot be provided. Necessary cookies can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us understand how people are using our websites, so we can improve them and provide a better user experience. We also sometimes get our approved partner companies to analyse how people are using Leeds Beckett Websites and they may set their own analytical cookies in order to do this.
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies allow us to provide you with online adverts that are the most relevant and useful for you.
For more information please view our Privacy Policy

Animations & Interaction

The Leeds Beckett University website occasionally uses animations to page elements and animated gifs to add impact to pages. If you wish to stop them from playing for accessibility purposes or for personal preference then please see the guidance below. Please note that browsers sometimes change how they operate, so please refer to your browser help files to find their latest information.
How do I turn off animations?

Chrome

Chrome users will need to use browser extensions. Animation Policy from Google will help you set your own preferences.

Microsoft Edge

There is currently no way to disable animations within Microsoft Edge. Users of Edge (Chromium) browser can install the Chrome extensions above and use them.

Internet Explorer

To stop animations on a single page you can just press the 'Esc' key. This will stop the animation on that page. If you wish to restart the animations you need to refresh the page. To permanently disable the playing of animated GIF images, open Internet Options > Advanced tab. Under the Multimedia section, uncheck the Play animations in webpage check-box, click Apply and Exit and then restart your computer.

Firefox

Type about:config in Firefox address bar and hit Enter to open Settings. Search for the image.animation_mode flag and change its value from Normal to None. Once you restart Firefox this will disable animations.

Student Blog Squad

How my course is preparing me for the workplace

Hi, my name is Paige and I’m a mature student studying Human Geography and Planning in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. If you’re interested in learning about how this course is preparing me for the workplace then read on.

Written By

Paige

Published on 23 Sep 2022

Everyone has different reasons for going to university. For me, my career goal is to work in Urban Planning, which is why I chose to study Human Geography and Planning here at Leeds Beckett. This course is teaching me about the role that planning plays in helping to shape our cities and towns and is arming me with the essential knowledge and skills I need to enter the Urban Planning profession when I graduate.

In this blog I’ll be telling you exactly how my course is preparing me for the workplace and telling you about the brilliant opportunities and experiences I’ve had through studying a degree at Leeds Beckett.

EXCELLENT COURSE CONTENT

The first way in which the Human Geography and Planning course is preparing me for the workplace is through the modules and topics themselves. In the first year, one of the modules I studied was Intro to Planning, which involved guest speakers from across Leeds Council’s Planning Department coming in and speaking to us about their roles and responsibilities.

For me, having these guest speakers helped to enhance my learning experiences and show me the type of employability that is available for me after completing the course.

It was also great to connect with people from within the planning industry and have the opportunity to forge professional connections. I’ve just started my second year and I’m really excited about all of the new modules I'll be studying. One of my year two modules is called Development of Planning Thought, and I’m looking forward to this in particular because it will help me expand on the professional skillset that I developed in my first year, by giving me a more in-depth understanding of relevant planning laws and policies. Another key element of the course content is field trips. I love going on field trips because I get to practically apply the theories I’ve learnt in lectures and I find this incredibly useful for my development. All of the field trips are also fully funded which is so handy when you’re on a student budget. Recently, we took a field trip to nearby Micklefield, as part of a module where we were worked in groups to think about and explain how we would develop this village.

PROFESSIONAL TEACHING AND SOFTWARE

The School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing is very focused on supporting all of the students who study within it, and on my course the lecturers are all active in or have previous experience of working in planning.

This makes me feel confident that my course is preparing me well for a career in planning, because I'm being taught by people with expertise and hands-on experience in the field.

In addition, the facilities and equipment are excellent, and we are given the opportunity to use computer programmes which are the same as those utilised by planners at work. I recently used SPSS research software and geographic information system (GIS) software as part of a case study in one of my modules, and I will be able to use these again in other classes.

CAREER FOCUSED OPPORTUNITIES

When I was choosing which university to study at, it was important to me the course would give me a range of experiences and placement opportunities. Unsurprisingly my goal is studying a course that prepares me well for the workplace. As I want to go into a good graduate job when I complete my degree, armed with all the tools and knowledge I need.

This academic year, one of my modules involves a professional placement. This is something I can’t wait to take part in, I’m looking forward to getting hands-on experience, demonstrating my passion and skills to an employer, and learning so much more about the planning industry. As a mature student, I don’t want to spend years studying because I want to get into the industry and start progressing my career as soon as I can. A big selling point for me was that this course at Leeds Beckett gives me the essential placement experience I so want but it’s weaved into my studies, opposed to me having to add a year on to my degree with a twelve-month placement.

Another benefit of this course is that it's accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), and every student on the course is eligible for free student membership of the RTPI.

Student membership gives me access to planning news, learning materials, and events. As I’m a member, I got a free ticket to the 2022 UK Real Estate Infrastructure and Investment Forum, which very handily is held annually here in Leeds. This was a great event because I not only saw talks by a wide range of leaders in the built environment sector, but I also got to network and grow my industry contacts.

On the whole, I feel that my course is preparing me very well for the workplace and I love studying here at Leeds Beckett. When I graduate I feel confident that I’ll be in a good position to start my professional journey in Planning and I honestly can’t wait!