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Architecture, Planning and Landscape

Research careers and find opportunities in architecture, planning and landscape.

About

The number of architects registered in the UK has remained stable for the past few years. The Architects Registration Board (ARB) 2022 Annual Report shows there were 41,240 registered architects in the UK in 2022 and 42,170 in 2021.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) estimates that there are around 22,000 planners in the UK. According to their State of the Profession 2023 report: "Planners are increasingly employed in the private sector (50%). The largest employers of planners are local authorities and consultancies."

In December 2022, The Landscape Institute (LI) identified major green skills gaps and high demand for landscape skills. Their Skills for Greener Places report estimated that the landscape sector is worth "around £24.6bn to the economy" and is continuing to grow.

Roles, skills and salaries

Architects, urban designers, planners and landscape architects are usually employed in private practice firms or consultancies, or in the public sector. There are also employers in related sectors such as construction, utilities and engineering.

Use the content below to find out about available roles and the skills employers look for.

Job profiles

Have a look at Prospects and targetjobs to find out what roles in this sector involve and how to get into them. These are some of the job profiles available:

Architecture

Planning & urban design

Landscape

Skills employers look for
  • strong design, drawing and drafting skills
  • a creative approach, paired with an analytical mind and strong problem-solving skills
  • practical skills with the ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail
  • project management, organisational and planning skills
  • IT skills and a proficiency in computer-aided design software
  • leadership and the ability to work effectively in a team
Salaries

Starting salaries for graduate jobs in this sector vary depending on the position.

Architecture salaries

  • Part I architectural assistants are between £15,000 – £22,000
  • Part II architectural assistants are between £23,000 - £35,000
  • fully qualified architects range between £32,000 - £45,000, depending on experience.

Planning salaries

  • graduate or assistant planners are usually between £18,000 - £25,000
  • principal planner or team leader roles range between £30,000 - £45,000.

Landscape salaries

  • graduate landscape architects typically earn between £20,000 - £25,000
  • with chartership this rises to between £30,000 - £45,000.

To get an idea of typical starting salaries use the following resources:

For information about how to negotiate a salary, visit Handling job offers.

Be inspired

It’s not always easy to know which roles to apply for. The resources in this section can help you find inspiration from previous students and know where to get further support.

Inspiration from people working in the industry
  • browse our Work Experience and Graduate Employment directories. See where our students and graduates have had work experience, or been employed
  • use LinkedIn’s Alumni tool to find out what Newcastle graduates are doing now. You could ask to connect with them, to gain advice and insights into their career. See Newcastle Alumni on LinkedIn to help you get started or watch our quick tutorial on Getting inspiration from others [3:13]
  • attend alumni events, such as Newcastle Develop, to hear directly from our graduates
  • sign up for mentoring support with Graduate Mentor and The 1 Hour Project. These aim to match students with industry professionals who can provide invaluable insights. Register to be connected for a one-hour meeting
  • attend events, including recruitment fairs and employer and sector insights. Hear about graduate jobs, placement schemes, build your network and ask questions
Online reviews

Searching for reviews online can be a useful way to get an idea of what to expect from certain roles or employers. Reviews are written by employees with different opinions about what makes a good employer.

Use the following review sites for inspiration and insight into the recruitment process:

Not sure what you want to do?

If you’re not sure exactly what you want to do, we can help. You can book a guidance appointment via MyCareer. Our careers consultants can help you explore your options or plan your career.

Explore career planning advice
Making career choices
Exploring your options

Sector and industry insights

Researching the industry is essential, whether it’s to:

  • help you decide which area to work in
  • identify who to apply to
  • tailor your application
  • impress an interviewer with your knowledge of the sector

Here are some resources to help you get started:

Career guides

Read career guides for this sector, such as:

Construction and property

Architecture

Planning and urban design

Landscape

Industry news

Use online magazines and journals to follow news from your industry. Reading about trends and developments is important for applications and interviews.

Examples include:

Architecture

Planning and urban design

Landscape

North East sector insights

Attend events

Attend events to hear directly from professionals in the industry.

See also our events, including recruitment events and employer & sector insights.

Student societies

Join NUSU student societies to attend events and hear from industry professionals:

Consider young professional networks or student membership of professional associations:

Social media

Use social media to find industry insights

Join sector-specific groups on LinkedIn to keep up to date. Posts often include news, events and opportunities. You can also find useful insights on careers on X and TikTok. Treat these with caution, as not all content may be accurate.

Find out more about how to use social media for your career.

Professional bodies

Consider joining a relevant professional body/industry network

Professional bodies often:

  • run networking events
  • have specialist groups you could join
  • post vacancies on behalf of their members
  • have member directories, useful for speculative applications

Key organisations include:

Architecture

Planning & urban design

Landscape

Finding professional bodies worldwide

GoinGlobal’s country guides include details of professional bodies. Find them under ‘Professional and Personal Networking’ on each individual country guide.

Guide to finding opportunities

Some large recruiters advertise summer internships, year-long placements and graduate training programmes. You can also find opportunities within government agencies and public bodies.

There are various ways to find internships, placements and graduate opportunities. We’ve added some tips below to help you get started.

  • search for advertised vacancies using the vacancy sites listed below
  • look at the careers sections on company websites for student and graduate opportunities. Use Researching Employers to help you gain insights into companies
  • attend  such as recruitment fairs and employer and sector insights
  • contact employers speculatively – see  to help you find organisations to approach
  • follow companies on  for latest news and updates
  • consider registering with a recruitment agency for graduate jobs
  • register with EmployAbility if you are disabled, neurodivergent or have a mental health condition. They can offer advice and support on applications to Newcastle students. They also run first year, internship and graduate programmes with inclusive employer partners.
  • ask family and friends if they have any useful contacts who may be able to offer you work experience
  • consider alternative ways to find relevant experience and develop your skills
  • create your own opportunity by starting your own business or working freelance

Advertised work experience

Placements and summer internships are usually aimed at undergraduate students in and above their second or penultimate year of study. Some companies will also consider first and final year students.

You can find some internships and placements advertised with large companies, for example:

When to apply

Apply for advertised opportunities as early as possible.

UK applications typically open early in the academic year from September or October. Some close as early as November-December. Many employers close applications as soon as their places are filled.

Search for internships and placement years

Use our resources to get started:

Internship and placement sites:

In this sector, you're more likely to see adverts for internships and placements on company websites than general job sites. You can find them in the “Careers” sections, sometimes under “Early Careers”.

To find companies, use the resources listed in Non-advertised work experience and graduate jobs below.

You can also try searching graduate job sites for work experience, using key words such as “Intern”, “Placement” or “Assistant”. Use the resources listed in Advertised graduate opportunities below.

RTPI offer guidance on finding and applying for work placements in the UK.

NCL internships

The Careers Service runs flexible term-time and summer internships with local employers and on campus. NCL internships are aimed at all students, from any stage.

Search for these under Vacancies on MyCareer. Type in ‘NCL internship’ into the text search box.

You can find these advertised throughout the academic year. Full-time summer opportunities are advertised from around March.

Worldwide experience

Access GoinGlobal for internships in over 120 global locations, updated daily. Search for opportunities in the local language, as well as in English. You can also use their country guides to find:

  • additional vacancy websites
  • CV, application and interview advice
  • Advice on living and working in different countries and cities around the world.

International placement providers:

  • IAESTE – international work experience, including architectural placements
  • GoAbroad.com – sometimes advertise architecture internships
  • Global work experience – links to additional international work experience providers
Looking for ideas

If you’re looking for inspiration, try searching our NU Work Experience Directory. You can see where our students have had internships and placements in the last five years. To see all results in a search category, keep the search field blank.

Advertised graduate opportunities

When to apply

The resources in this section advertise both graduate jobs and graduate schemes. See our graduate jobs page to understand the difference between them.

For graduate schemes, apply as early as possible.

UK applications typically open early in the academic year from September or October. Some close as early as October - November. Many employers close applications as soon as their places are filled.

Graduate jobs tend to be immediate start positions which can be available all year round. You are more likely to apply for these towards the end of your studies.

Graduate and entry level vacancy sites

Use our resources to get started:

  • MyCareer – search for graduate schemes and graduate jobs in the North East, UK and overseas. Register/log in to access vacancies and sign up for personalised email alerts
  • Graduate Jobs – lists graduate vacancy sites

Also use the following sites:

Sector-wide vacancy sites
Public sector vacancy sites
Architecture vacancy sites
Planning and urban design vacancy sites
Landscape vacancy sites
Worldwide vacancy sites

See International jobs for details of overseas vacancy sites.

Access GoinGlobal for job adverts in over 120 global locations, updated daily. Search for opportunities in the local language, as well as in English. You can also use their country guides to find:

  • additional vacancy websites
  • CV, application and interview advice
  • advice on living and working in different countries and cities around the world

Non-advertised work experience and graduate jobs

Not all work experience and graduate jobs are advertised. In fact, many people create opportunities through:

A speculative approach is common for finding work experience and graduate jobs. This is where you approach a company directly to ask if they have any opportunities available.

How to access hidden opportunities

Start by identifying organisations you are interested in. Our guide to finding organisations below can help. Then use the following steps to approach them speculatively about possible opportunities:

  1. Identify a contact name to address your cover letter to. Call or email to find out who handles recruitment within the organisation. Or, find a key contact in the department you want to work in.
  2. Send them a tailored CV and cover letter. Express your enthusiasm for the sector. Show that you have researched the company.
  3. Follow up your speculative application with a phone call, or email, around a week later. This shows you are serious and motivated.
  4. If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback or advice, and keep trying!
When to contact organisations

You can use this approach at any point in the year. We recommend that you:

  • start your research as early as possible to gather relevant contacts
  • contact organisations around three months before you want the opportunity to begin
How to find organisations

Start by looking at organisations on MyCareer. Select ‘search' then 'organisations’. This shows organisations around the UK who have registered as an employer with the Careers Service. You can sort by region.

You can also:

Architecture organisations

Search the Architects Registration Board register for architects in the area you would like to work in.

You can also use the following resources:

Planning and urban design consultancies
Landscape architecture organisations
Public sector departments

Use the following directories for contact details of local government planning teams:

Approach government departments or other organisations responsible for planning and land use. Or, related areas such as protecting the natural environment, for example:

Other types of employers you could gain relevant experience with include:

Worldwide organisations

International Architecture practices:

You can also search GoinGlobal's employer directory for worldwide company information. Their country guides list professional bodies around the world.

Specialist recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies can be useful for finding graduate jobs in architecture, planning and landscape. These tend to be for immediate start positions. It's worth registering with one or two agencies towards the end of your course.

Specialist agencies include:

See recruitment agencies to find more agencies. 

Finding overseas recruitment agencies

GoinGlobal’s country guides include details of recruitment agencies in specific countries. They are listed under the following headings:

  • staffing agencies and temporary help firms
  • executive recruiters and search firms

Recruitment agencies may not operate in the same way in different countries. In the UK agencies are free for job seekers, but this may not be the case elsewhere. Explore the terms and conditions of an agency before signing up to use them.

Architecture post-part 1 placements

Completing a year long placement between your undergraduate and masters degree is an important stage in progressing your career as an architect. This is usually referred to as a post part-1 placement. See Study and Training below for more information on how to qualify as an architect.

Finding placements

Placements are advertised on the following websites:

You may also find opportunities advertised in local press and technical journals.

Many practices accept speculative applications for Post-Part 1 placements:

  • use the guide above to find companies and understand how to approach them
  • see the making applications section for advice on how to create a professional portfolio and CV, and how to impress at interview.

Some graduates choose to balance their Part 2 studies with part-time work.

Overseas opportunities

Securing a placement overseas can count towards your Post-Part 1 professional experience. You must be supervised by a registered architect.

You will have to consider the visa regulations for the country you would like to work in. Some employers or work placement providers may arrange, or help you to arrange, your visa. If you are responsible for arranging your own visa, start by checking out the information on Prospects country profiles. For the most up to date information visit the embassy or consulate website for the country you are interested in.

Use the resources above to find:

  • international practices
  • international work experience providers

You could also enter competitions to boost your CV.

Other ways to gain relevant experience

We've added some suggestions to help you develop your skills and gain relevant experience.

Volunteer

Volunteering can help you to develop relevant skills. For example:

See Volunteering for more opportunities.

Work for yourself

Working as self-employed or freelance is common in the architecture, planning and landscape sector.

The following guides can help you understand more about working for yourself in this sector.

Our START UP team can help you explore working for yourself at any stage. Whether you want to explore an idea or have already launched a business or freelance career, you can access the following help:

  • support with idea generation
  • provide tailored advice
  • help you develop your skills
  • introduce you to like-minded peers
  • refer you to further support from mentors
  • award grant funding up to £3,000
Find out about START UP

Study and training

Entrance into these sectors typically requires a university degree or professional qualification.

Architecture

Becoming a qualified architect generally takes seven years of study and training. The standard route is:

  • Part 1: a BA or BSc-approved degree in architecture (usually 3 years)
  • Stage 1 practical experience: 12 months practical experience under a qualified architect or construction specialist (known as post-part 1 placement)
  • Part 2: a BArch, Diploma or MArch degree (usually 2 years)
  • Stage 2 practical experience: another 12 months experience
  • Part 3: a final qualifying examination in professional practice and management

Once you've completed all parts, you can register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

For further information see:

Other routes include:

  • RIBA Studio – practical work-based route combined with accredited distance learning
  • Apprenticeship – work based route to becoming Architects Assistant or Architect
Planning & urban design

For most careers in town planning and urban design, you will need a qualification accredited by the RTPI.

See Further Study for more information on finding, funding and applying for courses or come and talk to an adviser. No appointment is needed.

Landscape

To become a qualified landscape architect, you will need to complete an accredited degree. The undergraduate degree takes four years, including a placement year.

If you have a degree that isn’t accredited, you can complete a two year LI postgraduate conversion course. Entry requirements vary depending on the university. Check with each university to find out.

For further information, see the ChooseLandscape careers website from the LI.

Applications

Applications for roles in this sector follow the same main principles as any other sector. However, you’ll also be expected to show examples of your work, design skills and creativity. Read on to find out how:

CVs and covering letters

Our CV and covering letter pages offer advice on what to include, relevance and order of information and how to tailor to a specific employer.

You can showcase your design skills by presenting your information in a creative style, or including images of your work. Make sure that your CV is easy to read and that the style or visuals are not replacing important information.

Some employers ask their staff to create professional CVs to be sent to potential clients. These are sometimes available to view on company websites. Checking for these before you apply can help you understand their CV preferences, and help you to tailor your application.

More support:

We offer more help with CVs, including individual feedback. You can book a CV appointment, or send us your CV for written feedback, via MyCareer.

Professional portfolios

A professional portfolio should be easy for the employer to understand. Paper-based portfolios should be no larger than A3 and no longer than 16 pages, digital portfolios should be kept below 8MB if sending by e-mail.

Think about your audience:

  • What type of practice is it?
  • What work do they do?
  • Who are their clients?
  • Do they have a particular design style?

Be selective about what to include. Employers won’t have time to look through all the academic or extra-curricular work you’ve done. Create impact with your most relevant designs.

Remember to put the work you consider to be your best towards the front of the portfolio. This will help make a strong first impression, rather than simply featuring projects in chronological order.

Aim to demonstrate a variety of skills within your portfolio. Include sketches, CAD drawings, elevations, photographs of models etc.

You can also ask for advice and feedback on your professional portfolio from Your academic and personal tutors.

The following guides can help you get started:

The following sites can offer inspiration on layout or content:

Interviews

Take a copy of your portfolio with you. If you have a digital portfolio, make sure facilities will be available to view it. If you’re taking a physical portfolio, make sure it’s a manageable and appropriate size, both in terms of dimensions and length.

You may be asked to deliver a verbal presentation of your portfolio. This includes explaining your thinking, ideas, and the process behind your various pieces of work.

It’s helpful to think about what you want to achieve from the role in terms of your personal and professional development. Practices want to know that you are focussed, committed and worth investing in. They also want to know that you have realistic expectations.

We offer support with preparing for interviews, including opportunities to practise.

Related sectors

You may also be interested in the following occupations:

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