We recently met with Caroline Carney, a newly graduated from the University of Brighton, to hear more about her experience studying for an MSc in Town Planning.
A change in direction
Caroline’s academic journey began at the University of Warwick, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in politics, which led her to a successful career as a lawyer, practicing as a commercial real estate solicitor in the city. However, after taking a career break to raise her family, she sought a new challenge:
“I chose the planning sector because I felt I could draw on the knowledge and skills I gained through my previous employment. I had seen in my previous work the positive social and economic impact that good property development can have. Town planning provides the foundations for this.
“The University of Brighton offered a MSc in Town Planning that is dual accredited by the RTPI and RICS. I knew that the RTPI accreditation offered me a route to chartership, which is key for career progression in the industry. The RICS accreditation provided me with the option of pursuing dual chartership, which was a huge plus for this course.”
Course highlights
One of the standout aspects of Caroline’s experience was the diverse and knowledgeable cohort.
“I was delighted to find that a large number of my course cohort were existing planning officers representing local planning authorities across Sussex – this meant that our classrooms were not just a space for academic learning, but for lively discussions filled with practical experience and real life examples.”
One particularly influential assignment involved assessing the viability of a residential development site in Tower Hamlets. The project included a site visit and discussions with Berkeley Homes.
“We spent a day on site, exploring the site surrounds and listening to a talk kindly given by Berkeley Homes in one of their neighbouring developments. This assignment proved instrumental to my subsequent career decision to work in London in the private sector. I realised on this project that I was interested in the politics and dynamics of planning in London, where different boroughs operate under the umbrella of the strategic level London Plan.”
Learning from industry experts
The MSc Town Planning programme successfully blends academic study with vocational learning. Each week, students attended two-hour sessions with industry professionals, gaining insights from senior local authority planners, private consultants, central government officials, and representatives from the RTPI and TCPA.
For Caroline, the access to experienced professionals was inspiring:
“I found it inspiring that so many people provided their time to talk to us. We were incredibly fortunate to be given advice from senior local authority planners, private sector planning consultants, central government, the RTPI and TCPA, among many, many others.”
A supportive and inspiring environment
One of the most rewarding aspects of the course was the people – both the staff and fellow students. Caroline says:
“My favourite part of the course was the people I met along the way – the course leaders, my course mates and the local planning community that inspired me, informed me and have given me a ready made planning network for the future.”
Caroline particularly valued the guidance and expertise of the lecturers:
“We had three course lecturers who were all fantastic. Each brought something very different to our experience:
- Andrew Coleman: A passionate expert in planning and climate change whose insights were invaluable for future planners.
- Georgia Wrighton: Provided practical knowledge on public participation and gender equality in planning based on years of real-world experience.
- Helen Walker: A wealth of knowledge on local history, making her walking tours and heritage lectures a highlight.”
Achievements and future plans
The University of Brighton played a key role in launching the second phase of Caroline’s career:
“I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and, in particular, the guidance and support afforded to me by the Town Planning course leaders. Undertaking a master’s in a subject I hadn’t studied before was challenging, to say the least! The teaching was, however, phenomenal and certainly pushed me to achieve a level of understanding that I had not anticipated before starting the course.
“I graduated with a Distinction and was delighted to be awarded the Geography, Earth and Environment Performance Prize for the highest overall mark at master’s level across these disciplines.”
Partway through the course, Caroline secured a position as an Assistant Planning Consultant at Newmark (formerly Gerald Eve) in London, starting on completion of her MSc in September 2024.
Advice for future students
Caroline’s message for prospective students is:
“This course is demanding and hard work, but if you are prepared to rise to the challenge, you will be richly rewarded by fantastic teaching, a supportive network and exciting career opportunities!”
Her journey demonstrates that it’s never too late to retrain, upskill, and take on new challenges. The University of Brighton provided her with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to pursue her new career in planning.
Are you considering a future in town planning?
Find out more about our course on the University of Brighton website.
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