1. Admission to Candidature
1.1. Admission to candidature shall be determined by the school on the recommendation of the course coordinator.

1.2. To be admitted to candidature applicants shall have either:

(a) fulfilled all the requirements for admission to a degree of The University of New England other than a degree in Urban and Regional Planning; or

(b) fulfilled all the requirements for admission to a degree or qualification of equivalent standing at another university or institution; or

(c) fulfilled all the requirements for an Associate Diploma or qualification of equivalent standing accepted by the school as sufficient qualification for admission to the course, and have gained not less than three years of professional experience in urban and regional planning or a closely related field; or

(d) passed at this university at least the equivalent of two years full-time study towards a Bachelor’s degree, other than the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning.

1.3. Candidates admitted under Rule 1.3.(d) shall have fulfilled all the requirements for admission to a degree before being awarded the Graduate Diploma.

2.Course Requirements
2.1. A candidate shall pursue a course of study approved by the Course Coordinator, Urban and Regional Planning.

2.2. Except as provided under Rule 3. a candidate’s course of study shall include:

(a) the following core units: ENVE 237; GEPL 301, 302, 316, 320, 322, 345, 350;

(b) elective units to the value of 24 credit points, approved by the course coordinator and chosen from: ARPA352; ECON 226; EM 234, 311, 312; GEPL 311, 314, 304, 307, 321, 324, 335, 341, 344/444, 352, 359, 361, 370, 399, 454, 455; HIST 335, 373, 456; NR 331; PHIL 366; RSNR 301, 402, 404; SOCY 413; or from the following papers at Massey University: 132.732, 132.735, 132.738. For the purposes of this rule, each of the Massey University papers shall be deemed to be worth 12 credit points.

2.3. In special circumstances, with the approval of the course coordinator, other units offered in the University, or offered at Massey University as part of the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning degree program, may be substituted for one or more of the core or elective units specified in Rule 2.2.

3. Advanced Standing
3.1.Advanced standing may be granted for core units if a candidate:

(a) has already passed those units; or

(b) has passed, at this university or at another institution, units which, individually or in combination, substantially cover the subject matter of those units; or

(c) has many years of professional experience dealing directly with the subject matter of those units.

3.2. The maximum advanced standing granted under Rule 3.1. shall be 24 credit points.

3.3. Advanced standing will not be granted for elective units.

4. Period of Candidature
From the date of commencement of candidature, and except with the permission of the school, candidates shall complete the requirements of the Graduate Diploma within:

(a) not more than four semesters as a full-time candidate;

(b) not more than eight semesters as a part-time candidate.

5.  Grades of Pass
The Graduate Diploma shall be awarded at the levels of Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Exceptional Merit. The University shall determine from time to time the conditions governing the award of merit levels.