FAQs for TU835 BSc (Hons) in Spatial Planning and Environmental Management
TU835 is a combined four-year undergraduate programme. Students can study one of two streams and aim to graduate with either a BSc (Hons) in Spatial Planning or a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management.
All TU835 students study all subjects in year 1. In year 2 students are required to choose between one of two programme streams: the Spatial Planning stream or the Environmental Management stream. Students graduate with either a BSc (Hons) in Spatial Planning or a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management.
Both groups will continue to work together collaboratively throughout the full programme, although each group will become increasingly specialised within their chosen stream as the programme progresses.
Year 4 allows students to specialise fully in their chosen field, including the completion of a major individual dissertation project. Figure 1 below illustrates how this unique and multi-disciplinary programme works.
Figure 1: How the TU835 Combined Programme Works
The programme welcomes and encourages applicants from diverse entry channels, including the TU Dublin Access Programme (including HEAR, DARE and TU Dublin Access Foundation) and students entering from designated QQI Level 5 & 6 programmes.
Mature students (i.e. applicants who are older than 23 years on January 1st of the year of application) can also apply through the CAO for admission.
The most popular admission path for standard applicants is through the Central Applications Office (CAO). While TU835 is a relatively accessible course, it has the highest employability rate of any programme of its type in Ireland.
The document TU835 Stage One modules provides a profile of the types of modules and teaching material which students will experience in their first year of studies on TU835.
This first year of TU835 is an introductory, foundation cycle. Students are introduced to the disciplines of spatial planning and environmental management. Students carry out a range of project modules. They also get introduced to important skillsets, such as geo-spatial awareness. Student also learn theories and gain a practical understanding of how society and the environment work together.
Spatial Planning is a very applied discipline, which seeks to plan a sustainable future for our cities, towns and regions.
Spatial planners help communities to make plans for the future of their towns and regions. They also assess development proposals to see how they meet the objectives of the plans agreed by communities. Spatial planners get involved in urban design, planning mobility networks and ensuring that development is sustainable.
Planners utilise a combination of scientific knowledge and participatory systems to achieve this. These draw on related subject areas, including economics, sociology, statistics, spatial awareness and planning law. Spatial planners have to consider the needs of all facets of society, coastal, urban and rural, and at all scales from local to national.
The document TU835 spatial planning stream provides greater detail on the types of modules and content students will experience across the spatial planning stream.
Download: TU835 spatial planning stream
Environmental Management graduates are well-placed to make important contributions in a wide range of environment-related areas, such as protecting water, air and soil quality; addressing biodiversity loss and managing natural habitats; tackling issues of waste; and carrying out environmental assessments. Students develop an understanding of the natural world, as well as the social and economic dimensions of environmental issues, both locally and globally.
The document What will I learn in the environmental management stream? provides greater detail on the types of modules and content students will experience across the environmental management stream.
At the end of first year, students must choose to stream into one of two disciplines leading to a defined final degree. For many students this will be a mostly easy decision. For others, who might see a future for themselves in either discipline, it could take longer to decide.
Each year the Programme Management Team delivers a Streaming Choices seminar to support students making their decision. This normally involves workshops with higher year students and also recent graduates of both streams.
The workshops can be followed up with one-on-one mentoring for students who experience difficulty with making a streaming choice. This can involve discussions directly with a Programme Team Member. Sometimes a connection is made with a higher year student who the first-year student can engage directly with.
Going to university can be a big change, and a daunting experience for many. The TU835 Programme Team have programme and year tutors in place to help students engage with this new environment.
To help, a programme-specific First Year Induction event is provided for all new incoming students. This provides information about Registration, IT services, Library facilities, campus life and student heath & wellbeing. Students also get a taste of what life and studies will be like on their programme ahead.
The programme places a high priority on active- and field-based learning. Field trips, site visits, study tours, field work and other excursions form a significant and essential part of the curriculum.
Every semester of every year, each cohort has at least one major group project, which normally incorporates a portion of field-based learning.
A lot of project site visits are located in the Greater Dublin Area. Occasional longer trips take place to further regional locations.
Year 3 includes a European Field Trip module. The module provides an overview of spatial planning and environmental management practices in Europe and is normally centred on a one-week long field trip to an EU member state.
The European Field Trip Module Co-ordinator will provide guidance to the student group, who are involved in site selection and curation of the itinerary. The study trip will expose students to comparative environmental planning in a European context and trans-national planning and environmental policies across Europe. Students will prepare a report or web log on their experience.
Recent groups have travelled to Rotterdam, Vienna and Warsaw.
The Programme Management Team works together with the TU Dublin Erasmus Office and International Office to promote Erasmus and other student exchange opportunities.
Recently students have travelled on exchanges to Australia, Finland, Germany and the United States.
The programme is designed to prepare students for careers and professional practice. There is a strong emphasis on practicality, relevance and being career-ready, utilising a model of education that is research-informed and practice-based.
The programme includes a work placement module and a professional practice module.
Through the development of analytical, communication and presentational skills, students gain a lot of confidence and an ability to engage with civic society, industry and government.
Many Spatial Planning graduates find successful careers in town planning, retail planning, transport planning, urban design and other specialist areas. Work can include plan making, collaboration and engagement with businesses and communities, developing retail and transport strategies and place-making.
Graduate Job Titles have included: Spatial Planner; Planning Consultant; Retail and / or Property Analyst; Transport Planning Consultant; Urban Design Analyst, etc.
Environmental Management graduates are well-placed to make important contributions in a wide range of environment-related areas, such as protecting water, air and soil quality; addressing biodiversity loss and managing natural habitats; tackling issues of waste; and carrying out environmental assessments.
Graduate Job Titles have included: Community Development Officer; Conservation Officer; Environmental Consultant; Environmental Licensing Officer; Rural Development Officer; Sustainability Consultant, etc.
The TU Dublin Career Development Centre offers a range of services including one to one guidance with a professional Careers Adviser. Students will meet with a Careers Adviser as part of their Professional Practice module.
In short TU835 graduates have a range of opportunities and can find positions within commercial, private sector, public sector, community sector and non-governmental organisations.
All graduates of TU835 have the opportunity to join a professional institute representing their discipline. Students are also entitled to become student members of their respective Institute(s) and this is actively encouraged by the Programme Team. This helps to ensure a strong connection with professional practice and provides a channel for students and graduates to become professionally affiliated on graduation.
The BSc in Spatial Planning has professional accreditation with the following professional bodies: -
- Irish Planning Institute (IPI)
- Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
BSc in Environmental Management graduates are eligible to take up membership of the following professional bodies: -
- Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI)
- Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
- Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
- Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA)
The most appropriate option may depend on the graduate’s greatest area of interest.
The BSc in Spatial Planning is also recognised by the Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCSI) [Planning and Development Division].
BSc in Environmental Management graduates can also become affiliate members of the Irish Planning Institute.
Yes. A recent copy of the Student Handbook for TU835 is available for download at: 2022-23 Student Handbook for TU835 BSc (Hons) Environmental Planning and Management
Some sample student project and coursework is available here.
The students of TU835 have led the formation of the EPS Society. (EPS stands for “Environment, Planning and Sustainability”).
The Environment Planning and Sustainability (EPS) Society has developed successfully with the support of the School and has been directly involved in initiating many very worthwhile co-curricular events. These have included events with invited industry speakers, but also social events including an annual Ball organised together with the Architectural Students Association.
You can follow the EPS Society (and even come along to many of their events and activities) at @TUDublinEPS.
TU Dublin Environment and Planning forms part of the School of Architecture, Building and Environment, located within the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, and is the largest and longest-established centre for Planning and Environmental Management education on the island of Ireland.
At TU Dublin Environment & Planning we maintain a commitment to delivering a career-focused and reflective education, one that is practically and technically suited to contemporary demands within the fields of planning and environmental management, both in Ireland and globally.
We are located in the heart of Dublin City, on the TU Dublin – Bolton Street Campus. This is mid-way between the main TU Dublin Grangegorman Campus and Dublin city centre, both less than 10 minutes walking distance.
Our mission is to prepare graduates to be career ready and enabled with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on our environment, society and economy. We are committed to promoting sustainable development within all our disciplines and educational activity.
Our approach is to take a multi-disciplinary perspective, within a highly engaged learning environment.