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Leeds Beckett to co-fund planning bursary
The bursaries, also sponsored by a number of leading employers of planning graduates, are part of the RTPI’s ‘Future Planners Bursary Scheme’ which is open to students from any discipline, including law, politics, geography or architecture who decide to choose planning as a career.
Quintin Bradley, Senior Lecturer in Planning & Housing at the School of the Built Environment & Engineering at our University, said: “The RTPI Future Planners Bursary scheme is helping to inspire a young generation with a passion for place. It will foster their interest in planning as a profession that has the potential to make our world a better and more sustainable place to live.
“Leeds Beckett University is absolutely delighted to be taking part in this scheme and to be developing the next generation of planners and helping young people discover their potential and the vital role they can play in improving our environment.”
A recent survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency revealed that 71.3% of architecture, planning and building graduates find work within six months of graduating, making it the fourth most successful degree subject for finding work after completion.
Jennifer Winyard, Chair of RTPI Yorkshire, said: “With rising demand for chartered planners, there has never been a better time to study planning. I’m pleased RTPI Yorkshire and these universities have agreed to fund these bursaries which will encourage high quality graduates to study planning at Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and University of Sheffield.”
UK Housing and Planning Minister, Brandon Lewis, added: “Planning is a hugely important area, spanning from protecting our heritage buildings and wonderful countryside, to providing for current and future housing and business needs, supporting growth and promoting great design. Right across the country planners work at the cutting edge of shaping how the country will look in future. This is why we need to keep encouraging talent into the planning profession, which can only ever be as good as the people who work in it. I warmly welcome the RTPI’s introduction of their bursary scheme, which will draw some of the best and brightest graduates to continuing their studies into planning at master’s degree level.”
There are currently over 30 bursaries funded at over 20 universities. Each bursary is worth £1000, with £750 contributed by the RTPI Future Planners Bursary fund and £250 from the university. The bursary will be awarded and administered by the host university on a competitive basis and will be available for the recipient to use at their discretion.
Students starting on RTPI-fully-accredited Masters courses in 2015 may be eligible for a bursary if they have a first or upper second class degree at undergraduate level in any discipline and demonstrate an interest or career in planning.