"If you are thinking of studying town and country planning at university, this book tells you what to expect and how to succeed" - Cliff Hague, Emeritus Professor of Heriot-Watt University and Past President of the Royal Town Planning Institute "A clear, accessible and friendly guide to studying to become a planner, with great tips, insight and advice - including what employers will be looking for and the importance of lifelong learning" - Michael Harris, Deputy Head of Policy and Research, Royal Town Planning Institute This student-focused guide shows you how to develop a relevant skill set to succeed in your planning degree, and importantly, how to apply these skills in a practical and diverse workplace. Clearly written and accessible, the book includes: Up-to-date case studies, showing how tools and techniques can be applied in the real world Practical activities, such as preparing and practising presentations and drafting short reports Suggestions for further reading for each chapter Lists of key books, journals and useful websites in the field A guide to referencing Themselves experienced teachers, researchers and planners, Adam Sheppard and Nick Smith have written a valuable companion for anyone considering a planning course and for those in their first year of study. Adam Sheppard is a lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Planning at the University of the West of England. He previously worked in Essex, South Gloucestershire and the Bristol urban fringe, and Herefordshire as a Local Planning Authority development control officer, and has been involved in a diverse range of planning projects at varying scales and degrees of complexity. Adam teaches modules relating to planning regulation and the decision process to undergraduate and postgraduate students and on professional practice short courses, and is part of the programme team for the undergraduate planning courses at UWE. Nick Smith is a senior lecturer in the same department and is also a university teaching and learning Associate Fellow. He is a professional town planner and a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Town and Country Planning Association. Nick previously worked for Terence O'Rourke, a multi-disciplinary consultancy in Bournemouth, working on a range of projects for both public and private clients across the country.

He has been the programme leader of the BSc in Urban Planning since 2010, winning the university's 'personal tutor of the year' award in 2011 and in 2012 receiving a teaching-led award from the Students' Union for Inspiring Students.