This programme particularly suits those geography students with a keen interest in human geography. This popular combination of geography and planning explores some of the big issues facing today’s and tomorrow’s societies, including key issues such as urban regeneration, climate change, sustainable development, property development, community involvement and transport infrastructure. Urban and regional planning lies at the heart of the major challenges that face existing and future generations. Decisions that are taken today can have a major impact on what happens to our towns and cities in the future, so it is important that we get those decisions right. Only by having an in-depth understanding of the way our towns and cities work can we hope to make informed decisions about the future of the built environment. This unique degree course builds this understanding by drawing on the academic strengths of one of the largest and most prestigious Geography departments in the UK, and the research and international reputation of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) here at Birmingham. Based in the great planning laboratory that is Birmingham, you will be able to exploit fully the huge wealth of case study material available on your doorstep whilst interpreting these experiences in an international context. This will bring to life the issues you are studying and set them in a real world context. A Planning degree from Birmingham provides a raft of opportunities in the private and public sectors, both of which demand the skills and know-how you will acquire with us, such as business acumen, group working abilities and technical expertise. The good news is that as our towns and cities are constantly evolving there will always be a need for planning as an activity.