University of Queensland

Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning

Delivery: Face to Face
Study Level: Postgraduate
Duration: 12 months
Course Type: Graduate Diploma

Shape more sustainable cities through evidence-led study in planning systems, urban policy, infrastructure and data, with opportunities to address real planning challenges alongside external organisations.

Course overview

The University of Queensland’s Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning is designed for graduates from non-planning disciplines and established professionals seeking specialised knowledge of how cities and regions are planned. It combines planning theory with an understanding of the environmental, social and economic considerations that shape urban decision-making.

You will examine connected areas including planning systems and governance, social change, urban infrastructure, planning law, transport and applied demography. Options in data science, urban policy and urban design provide opportunities to consider how evidence, technology and policy can inform planning responses to contemporary urban challenges.

Delivered face-to-face at UQ’s St Lucia campus, the course uses lectures, tutorials and workshops and can be completed in one year of full-time study or part-time equivalent. UQ’s collaborative Planning Studio supports work with maps, plans and digital tools while engaging with external organisations on real planning challenges. The diploma can also prepare you for further postgraduate study in urban planning.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery

Face to Face

Course Type

Graduate Diploma

Duration

12 months (Full time)

Campus

St Lucia

Intake

22nd February, 2027
26th July, 2027

Units

Fees

HECS, CSP

What you will study

At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.

To earn the Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning, you must complete 16 units, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

Foundation units

Select zero to eight units from:

Applied Demography
Urban Innovations
Urban Law & Regulation
Transport Planning

Foundation units completed within this qualification cannot be credited towards the 1.5-year Master of Urban Planning.

Flexible core units

Select eight to 14 units from:

Planning Systems & Governance
Planning for Social Change
Urban Infrastructure Transitions
Data Science & Technology for Planners
Urban Policy Impact Lab
Urban Design: Urban Futures – four units

Elective units

Select zero to two units from the following:

Foundations in Microeconomics
Economics for Commerce
Managing Organisational Behaviour
Wise Leadership
Leadership: Theory & Practice
The Global Metropolis
Dynamics of Governance
Indigenous Politics within and beyond the State
Dynamics of Public Policy
Corporate Sustainability
Destination Management & Marketing

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for entry, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline other than a qualification accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia
Have achieved a grade point average of at least 4.5 on UQ’s seven-point scale in their previous qualification

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency through at least one accepted option, including:

IELTS Academic: overall score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component
TOEFL iBT: overall score of 87, with at least 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking
PTE Academic: overall score of 64, with at least 60 in each communicative skill
Bridging English: minimum overall grade of 4, with at least a grade of C in each macro skill
Cambridge English Scale: overall score of 176, with at least 169 in each skill

OET is not accepted.

Other approved qualifications and pathways may also be used to meet UQ’s English language requirements. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Potential career outcomes include:

Urban and Regional Planner
Development Assessment Officer
Urban Designer
Land-use Planning Coordinator
Heritage Conservation Officer
Transport Planner
Regional Development Officer
Spatial Planner
Commercial and Industrial Development Officer
Strategic Planner

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $10,520 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

The number of units studied.
Choice of units.
Credit from previous study or work experience.
Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
Reviewed and adjusted each year.