UCAS K421, three years
UCL describes a three-year BSc teaching skills for traditional planning careers and related professional areas.
Undergraduate · UCL Urban Planning, Design and Management
UCL Urban Planning, Design and Management: an accredited route into planning
UCL's Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc is a professional-track degree: the Royal Town Planning Institute accredits it, and it sets no required A-level subject at AAB. It teaches the planning and management of urban, social and economic change. The decision is whether you want the planning profession rather than architecture or the wider study of cities.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What UCL asks for in Urban Planning, Design and Management
Taken from UCL's Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc course page (a saved copy that UCL labels as possibly not showing recent changes) and read on 31 October 2026. For a normal 2028-entry application, made in 2027, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; UCL's 2028-entry requirements and dates are awaiting publication.
AAB, with preferred subjects but none required
The A-level requirement is AAB; a range of humanities, social science and design subjects are preferred.
IB 17 points at Higher Level
17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Professional accreditation
The degree is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute, with reaccreditation under way with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
No required subject
UCL lists preferred subjects but sets no required one.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on UCL's Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc course page (a saved copy that UCL labels as possibly not showing recent changes), which describes 2027 entry. UCL's department pages, the fees pages, the contextual-offer details and the 2028-entry values were not read, and the page lists no admissions test or interview so none is stated and are not stated.
The course
Planning and managing places
UCL says urban planning is the future-oriented planning and management of urban, social and economic change in the built and natural environment, and that the degree teaches skills for traditional planning careers and related professional and specialist areas. The Royal Town Planning Institute accredits it.
Is it the right degree?
Planning against Architecture and Urban Studies
UCL's built-environment degrees differ in purpose.
Choose Urban Planning, Design and Management if
you want the planning profession and its accredited route.
Choose Architecture if
you want to design buildings. Avandy's UCL Architecture guide covers it.
Choose Urban Studies if
you want the social study of cities without a professional track. Avandy's guide to it covers that.
Entry rules
AAB with an open subject profile
A-level applicants need AAB, with no required subject but preferred subjects including Geography, Economics, Government and Politics, History and Business. IB applicants need 17 points in three higher level subjects with no higher level score below 5. UCL's page lists no admissions test or interview. This page states no scores.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not UCL's.
Do you want a planning career?
The accredited route points that way.
Is your profile broad?
Humanities, social science and design subjects are preferred.
Would a design degree suit you better?
Architecture has a different entry route.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Applying for 2028 entry means applying in 2027, under rules UCL has not yet published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means UCL published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means UCL has not yet published it.
Grades, the subject requirements and the preferred-subject guidance: last verified for 2027 entry
These are the best guide to what to prepare. UCL has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
The UCAS deadline and the 2028-entry requirements: awaiting publication for 2028 entry
Check UCL's course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
What to do now
Confirm the required subjects, read the course structure and plan your preparation around it.
Support
Independent support with course choice and preparation
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with University College London or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here means course-fit advice, subject mentoring and ethical preparation; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write applications. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What does UCL Urban Planning, Design and Management BSc require?
AAB at A level, with preferred subjects including Geography, Economics, Government and Politics and History, in UCL's wording for 2027 entry.
What is the IB requirement?
17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Is the degree accredited?
UCL says the Royal Town Planning Institute accredits it and that reaccreditation with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is under way.
Do I need Geography?
No. It is a preferred subject, not a required one.
Does Avandy state offer scores?
No. This page records UCL's wording for 2027 entry and states no scores or probabilities.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are UCL's wording for the 2027 application cycle. Check the course page again when UCL publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about UCL Urban Planning, Design and Management
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their interest in cities and professional planning and how this degree compares with Architecture and Urban Studies, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.