Masters (Coursework)
The Master of City Planning at UNSW is a two-year, professionally accredited postgraduate degree that allows you to bring experience from previous study to launch a career in urban and regional planning.
City planning is an exciting, varied and progressive profession that...
The Master of City Planning at UNSW is a two-year, professionally accredited postgraduate degree that allows you to bring experience from previous study to launch a career in urban and regional planning.
City planning is an exciting, varied and progressive profession that plays a pivotal role in decisions shaping the future of cities and regions. Through a career in planning, you'll improve lives by designing cities that are sustainable, equitable, healthy and inspiring.
As part of the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture you'll join a uniquely interdisciplinary and supportive community. You'll work alongside students and professionals from across the built environment, just as you would in the workplace. You'll benefit from UNSW's strong ties to industry and world-leading research in city planning, as you explore diverse subjects including city renewal, city analytics, housing policy and healthy sustainable communities.
In your second year you'll undertake a major capstone project, which allows you to deepen your expertise in an area of specialisation and empowers you to kick-start your career by adding to your professional portfolio.
The key features and subject areas in this degree will see you explore a broad range of urban issues through theory and practice, preparing you for diverse, future-focused careers. Areas of study include:
To gain entry into the Master of City Planning, you'll need a bachelor's degree with a credit average or above (Weighted Average Mark 65+).
If you have already completed an Australian planning degree that is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia
If you have an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, or you've partially completed a relevant postgraduate program, you can apply to have this study recognised via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If your prior study is recognised, credit for certain subjects will be counted towards the Master of City Planning.
What is a cognate discipline?
City and urban planning are interdisciplinary in nature, which is why we recognise the benefits that students from diverse academic backgrounds bring to this program. If you've studied any of the following subject areas in your undergraduate degree, you may be eligible for RPL.
RPL for these study areas will be limited to 24 Units of Credit (UOC), which is normally the equivalent of 4 subjects.
If you don't meet the entry requirements outlined above, you may be eligible to study the Graduate Certificate in City Planning, then continue into the Master's degree once this is complete. This will be at the discretion of the Program Director or Academic Coordinator who assesses applications on a case-by-case basis.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
To gain entry into the Master of City Planning, you'll need a bachelor's degree with a credit average or above (Weighted Average Mark 65+).
If you have already completed an Australian planning degree that is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia
If you have an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, or you've partially completed a relevant postgraduate program, you can apply to have this study recognised via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If your prior study is recognised, credit for certain subjects will be counted towards the Master of City Planning.
What is a cognate discipline?
City and urban planning are interdisciplinary in nature, which is why we recognise the benefits that students from diverse academic backgrounds bring to this program. If you've studied any of the following subject areas in your undergraduate degree, you may be eligible for RPL.
RPL for these study areas will be limited to 24 Units of Credit (UOC), which is normally the equivalent of 4 subjects.
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.
You may also be eligible to study the Graduate Certificate in City Planning, then continue into the Master's degree once this is complete. This will be at the discretion of the Program Director or Academic Coordinator who assesses applications on a case-by-case basis.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
The Master of City Planning will prepare you for a career through which you can drive solutions to grand challenges like climate change and inequality.
Our graduates are in-demand and work in planning and urban policy-related roles across all tiers of government (Federal, State, Local), as well as in private sector consultancies, property development, and other built environment professions where planning skills are required.
The electives you choose can enable you to move into specialist areas with diverse positive impacts, like housing, city analytics or urban design. You'll also gain interdisciplinary skills that will enable you to move into wider policy, research, analytical, creative and community roles.
Planning Institute of Australia