Key facts
Domestic students course information.
Entry is based on a bachelor qualification in a relevant discipline, or a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from UNE (or equivalent) with specific GPA and credit point requirements.
Entry is based on a bachelor qualification in a relevant discipline, or a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from UNE (or equivalent) with specific GPA and credit point requirements. English language requirements must also be met.
- 1 or 1.5 years full-time
- Up to 6 years part-time
- 069344F
| Start Dates and Campus | Trimester 1 – February 2024 | Trimester 2 – June 2024 | Trimester 3 – October 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Armidale Campus | Offered | Offered | Not Offered |
| Sydney Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Online | Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Armidale Campus | Offered | Offered | Not Offered |
| Sydney Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
Course information
Download course brochure
Planning experts work strategically, often with competing stakeholders, to achieve the best social, environmental and economic outcomes. UNE's Master of Urban and Regional Planning offers a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive course that integrates the knowledge and skills required by planning experts to achieve the best outcomes. You will research and learn new technologies, analyse problems, and generate creative solutions. Your learned, transferable skills in critical analysis, planning, and management will set you up for success in your profession — this course will help future proof your career.
Why study the Master of Urban and Regional Planning with UNE?
Through our fully-accredited course, gain the knowledge and skills to excel as a professional planner, with competence and confidence that your knowledge is up to date with the skills to communicate to wide audience groups, strategise, and solve problems.
You’ll gain specialist knowledge across a range of important study areas including geography, sociology, law, public policy and economics so you can competently deliver the best professional planning outcomes for small- and large-scale developments across urban and regional contexts.
Together, we will explore a range of complex planning problems and learn knowledge and skills across a range of integrated study areas that contribute to finding sustainable planning solutions for communities, business and governments. Your assessment tasks will include project-based, real-life contexts. You’ll be steps ahead to apply your structural and statutory knowledge to built and natural environments within the legislative framework controlling land use.
Our Master of Urban and Regional Planning is fully accredited with the Planning Institute of Australia.
When it comes to education, UNE knows the value of flexible learning. We’ll guide you closely during your coursework, and throughout the supervision for your dissertation — we want you to gain the best outcomes from your course.
What makes our course different?
Our approach with the Master of Urban and Regional Planning is both flexible and multidisciplinary: our course integrates economic, scientific, legal and sociological considerations — knowledge that is required by planning experts to achieve optimum outcomes:
- Learn the principles and knowledge to formulate effective plans, analyse problems and generate innovate solutions.
- Complete a major research project as part of the course on a project of your choice under direct (one-to-one) supervision of an academic staff member.
- Study on campus or online with the freedom to choose your direction and electives to kickstart the next stage of your career.
- Complete your course in 1.5 years full time or take up to six years (part-time).
Consider UNE as your partner in education. We work with you to achieve your career goals — we are here to support you through the challenges, and to help future proof your career. UNE is an industry leader in the provision of online learning for teachers and our students consistently award us 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.
UNE is an industry leader in the provision of online learning for teachers and we are the only university to be awarded 5 stars for our overall experience, 14 years in a row.
Students complete two trimesters of coursework (48 credit points) followed by one trimester of research (24 credit points) in which the student will undertake a full-trimester research dissertation.
Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.
Study on campus
Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.
* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.
Entry requirements
Select the option that best describes you.
If you are an international applicant who wants to study on campus in Australia:
You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course.
This course is offered under two admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in a discipline related to the built environment, including architecture, planning, environment or geography.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule B: You meet ALL of the following admission entry requirements:
- You have completed the UNE Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (AQF Level 8) or an equivalent qualification.
- AND your relevant qualification includes at least one 500-level unit.
- AND you have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 across any 48 credit points of your relevant qualification.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
On-Campus study
If you would like to study full-time in Australia at one of UNE's campuses, you will need to have a visa that allows you to study. For most international students this visa will need to be a Student Visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has further information about visa eligibility and conditions.
If you are an international applicant who wants to study online (overseas or in Australia):
You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course.
This course is offered under two admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in a discipline related to the built environment, including architecture, planning, environment or geography.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule B: You meet ALL of the following admission entry requirements:
- You have completed the UNE Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (AQF Level 8) or an equivalent qualification.
- AND your relevant qualification includes at least one 500-level unit.
- AND you have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 across any 48 credit points of your relevant qualification.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
Online study in your own country
If you would like to study online with UNE while you reside outside of Australia you do not need a Student Visa. If your course requires you to visit Australia to attend any mandatory study requirements, you would need to explore Visitor Visa options for a short-term stay.
Online study in Australia
If you would like to study online with UNE while you are residing in Australia, you will need to hold a visa (other than a Student Visa) that allows you to study. If you are unsure if your visa allows you to study, you can check with UNE's International Admissions team. If you hold a Student Visa you cannot study completely online; you must be enrolled as an on-campus student (although you can study a limited number of online units).
Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:
- A certified academic transcript of your completed qualification.
- Proof of identity and citizenship. This can be a certified/notarised copy of the photo page of your passport, or another form of official photo identification that lists your full personal details including name and date of birth; for example, a foreign government identity card.
- Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved formal English test within the last two years, you must provide a copy of the test results with your application. Please see UNE’s English Language Requirements above for further information.
Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.
Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.
If you are admitted under Rule B you will be granted 42 credit points of Block Advanced Standing.
Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.
- If you are admitted under Rule A you can apply for up to 48 credit points of Advanced Standing for Core coursework units.
- If you are admitted under Rule B you can apply for up to a further 6 credit points of Advanced Standing.
Please note: Advanced Standing cannot be granted for the unit GEPL500 Masters Dissertation.
This course is offered under two admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in a discipline related to the built environment, including architecture, planning, environment or geography.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule B: You meet ALL of the following admission entry requirements:
- You have completed the UNE Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (AQF Level 8) or an equivalent qualification.
- AND your relevant qualification includes at least one 500-level unit.
- AND you have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 across any 48 credit points of your relevant qualification.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:
A certified academic transcript of your completed qualification.
Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.
Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.
If you are admitted under Rule B you will be granted 42 credit points of Block Advanced Standing.
Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.
- If you are admitted under Rule A you can apply for up to 48 credit points of Advanced Standing for Core coursework units.
- If you are admitted under Rule B you can apply for up to a further 6 credit points of Advanced Standing.
Please note: Advanced Standing cannot be granted for the unit GEPL500 Masters Dissertation.
Course structure
To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 72 credit points consisting of 48 credit points coursework and 24 credit points research dissertation.
Students will be required to maintain a Credit-average (or higher) to be eligible to proceed to the research component of the course.
72 credit points
For candidates admitted under Rule (a)48 credit points
Complete the following units- Economic Change and Urban Development (GEPL501) – 6 credit points
- Architecture and Urban Design (GEPL502) – 6 credit points
- Principles of Development Control (GEPL520) – 6 credit points
- Population, Health and Environment (GEPL521) – 6 credit points
- Planning Theory and Practice (GEPL528) – 6 credit points
- Applied Research Methods (GEPL538) – 6 credit points
- Regional Development: Processes and Policies (GEPL545) – 6 credit points
- Transport and Land Use Planning (GEPL550) – 6 credit points
24 credit points
Complete the following units:- Integrated Planning Practice 1 (GEPL491) – 12 credit points
- Integrated Planning Practice 2 (GEPL492) – 12 credit points
24 credit points
Complete the following unit:- Masters Dissertation (GEPL500) – 24 credit points
72 credit points
For candidates admitted under Rule (b)42 credit points
42 credit points block advanced standing granted for candidates who hold an AQF Level 8 UNE Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (including at least one 500-level unit) or equivalent AQF Level 8 qualification (including at least one 500-level unit) and attained at least a Credit average in 48 credit points.30 credit points
Complete the following unit- Applied Research Methods (GEPL538) – 6 credit points
24 credit points
Complete the following units:- Integrated Planning Practice 1 (GEPL491) – 12 credit points
- Integrated Planning Practice 2 (GEPL492) – 12 credit points
24 credit points
Complete the following unit:- Masters Dissertation (GEPL500) – 24 credit points
See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.
Fees and scholarships
How much will it cost?
Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Full Fee | $27,936* |
| International | $30,200* |
| Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply) | $9,641* |
| Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time | $351 |
*Annual course fees only cover the cost of tuition. They do not include other expenses associated with university study such as text books, accommodation and living expenses. If you are successful in gaining admission to study at UNE, the Offer of Admission will list the exact tuition fees you need to pay for your course. Fees quoted cover full-time tuition for two full-time trimesters only. For more information, please see fees and costs.
What are the course fee payment options?
Full Fee places are mostly in postgraduate coursework degrees. In a full fee place you pay the tuition fee set for your course, however you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP Loan to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.
If you are enrolled in a Full Fee place and there is a direct connection between your work and your study, you may be able to claim your tuition fees as a tax deduction.
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a government subsidised place in a university course. The government pays part of your tuition fees, and you pay the remainder.
If you have a CSP in either an undergraduate or postgraduate (coursework) degree, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP Loan, which allows you to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.
UNE scholarships are open for all to apply and offer financial help while you are studying. There are scholarships for students with high academic achievement, from rural areas, studying specific degrees, in disadvantaged groups, experiencing financial hardship, who excel at sport or want to live in a UNE residential college.
UNE scholarship applications are free and confidential. You may apply for more than one scholarship.
Scholarships
UNE offers bursaries and scholarships that can help you with the costs of studying and living in Australia.
The UNE International Bursary reduces the published annual tuition fees for international students by up to 20%. These bursaries are available for international students commencing coursework studies at UNE in 2024. View detailed Bursary information.
UNE also offers a number of substantial research scholarships to postgraduate students studying research-based degrees.
Your career
As an urban and regional planning expert, you could gain work as a consultant or as an employee in the public or private sector with high-level policy advice and research roles.
Planning jobs could include the design of new suburbs or housing estates, coastal and environmental development projects, creating energy-efficient housing and new transport services for sustainable communities.
UNE’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning is fully accredited with the Planning Institute of Australia. Graduates are eligible for membership of the Institute's Urban and Regional Planning Chapter.
Course outcomes
- demonstrate a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that incorporates state of the art understanding of urban and regional planning, along with knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field;
- demonstrate highly developed cognitive, critical and theoretical skills to analyse and creatively evaluate and generate ideas relating to complex land-use and built-environment problems in a range of social, economic and environmental contexts;
- demonstrate knowledge and skills to exercise the high level judgement and responsibility required of a highly skilled professional planner in the governance of diverse urban and regional contexts;
- demonstrate initiative and autonomy in evaluating and implementing approaches to complex planning problems and research, capacity to work in leadership roles, and ability to communicate complex and theoretical information to a variety of audiences; and
- plan and undertake a substantial research-based project, to answer a research question competently and ethically using the appropriate methodology and analysis, and communicating the problem, approach, results and conclusions effectively.
- Knowledge of a Discipline
Graduates will possess advanced theoretical and practical knowledge about land use planning and its place in contemporary society locally and internationally. Graduates will understand how planning influences society and space in a variety of urban and regional contexts. This knowledge will be delivered through various teaching platforms, in the classroom and online, via a variety of materials ranging from critical readings to maps, plans and statistics. The development of knowledge in the discipline will be monitored through assignments within each unit of the course. Graduates will also have enhanced knowledge in a specialist area of planning through targeted academic research.
- Communication Skills
Graduates will possess advanced skills to communicate in forms essential to the discipline. This will include the ability to communicate through oral communication, report writing, statistics, maps, plans and other graphical forms. It will also include skills to constructively engage with various participants in urban and regional planning. These skills will be taught and practised in lectures, tutorials and online activities and assessment tasks throughout the course. Graduates will also have advanced skills in academic writing through the communication of research.
- Problem Solving
Graduates will possess advanced skills to identify problems and develop solutions in urban and regional planning. This will include capacity to interpret urban and regional environments, their composition and social impacts, and to contribute to the improvement of those environments through professional decision-making techniques. The course will hone these skills in general methods of urban and regional planning, and in specialist areas like transport planning and urban design. Graduates will also have specialist skills to apply advanced research methods to identified problems in urban and regional planning contexts.
- Information Literacy
Graduates will have the advanced ability to identify information requirements in a variety of planning situations and advanced skills in sourcing, using and representing that information for planning practice. This will include practiced skills to assemble information from primary and secondary sources, and specialist abilities to evaluate the significance of that information for a given context. Specialist research skills will be taught during the course, and exercised through a supervised research project.
- Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility
Graduates will have expert awareness of the professional and ethical responsibilities of the planning profession. Graduates will have advanced skills to engage appropriately with various participants in the planning discipline, and to be appropriately responsive to various social and cultural influences in planning interactions.
- Lifelong Learning
Skills and knowledge developed during the course will foster intellectual curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the graduate. Research work during the course will build advanced cognition of planning concepts and practices developed, providing an excellent foundation for lifelong intellectual engagement with the discipline.
- Independence and Collaboration
Learning and research activities undertaken during the course will provide the graduate with high level skills to work independently on complex planning problems. Graduates will possess specialist skills to undertake independent academic research and will have advanced confidence in their grasp of planning knowledge, methods and practices. Graduates will also learn skills relating to stakeholder engagement and collaboration. These skills will be developed through on-campus and online interactive activities, and supervised research.
A five-star experience
Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row
UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience
Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience
QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience
QILT Student Experience Survey
Five Stars for
Teaching Quality
UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality
Good Universities Guide 2024
Studying online
At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.
We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*
*The Good Universities Guide
A five-star experience
Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row
UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience
Good Universities Guide 2007-2024 No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience
QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience
QILT Student Experience Survey Five Stars for
Teaching Quality
UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality
Good Universities Guide 2024 Studying online
At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian University.
As an international student you can take advantage of flexible online study from overseas or while you are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa. You can’t study fully online on a Student Visa.
To study online from overseas you need to consider that you may need to travel to Australia to attend a UNE campus for some mandatory intensive schools.
Studying on Campus
Whether you are an undergraduate student coming to study in Australia for the first time, a PhD student coming to live here with your family, or you only need short-stay accommodation whilst in Armidale for Intensive Schools, we have the perfect accommodation option for you.
Stay connected
Register your interest and we'll keep you updated
Why study with us?
In terms of my degree, the design of the course was well thought through. It has a variety of units, ranging from demographic units to urban design and everything in between.
Why study with us?
As postgraduate students, we are shaped to think and create, and empowered to make educated decisions that very well relate theory to practice. My journey has given me inner confidence.
How to apply
Preparing to apply
You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.
The kind of documents you need will depend on:
- Your preferred course/s
- Your personal circumstances
Preparing to apply
You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.
The kind of documents you need will depend on:
- Your preferred course/s
- Your personal circumstances
Important Dates
Different application methods and courses can have different closing dates. To find your correct application method click the Apply Now button below. Please check the appropriate application website for opening and closing dates.
If you are applying online direct to UNE please see below for application dates.
| Intake | Application Closing Date | Trimester Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | 16 February 2024 | 26 February 2024 |
| Trimester 2 | 14 June 2024 | 24 June 2024 |
| Trimester 3 | 11 October 2024 | 21 October 2024 |
Important Notice for Prospective Students
For accurate, up-to-date details on entry requirements, course structure, and other essential information, please consult the UNE Student Handbook before applying or enrolling. The Handbook provides comprehensive guidance to assist in your decision-making process. We apologise for any inconvenience.
