Master of Urban Planning

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 Master of Urban Planning, you must complete 32 units. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

The structure below is based on the two-year duration, which comprises 32 units of study. Students admitted to the 1.5-year duration complete 24 units of study and receive eight units for approved recognised prior study and/or work experience.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

The Master of Urban Planning has two entry pathways.

Two-year duration

To be eligible for entry into the two-year course, 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

1.5-year duration

To be eligible for entry into the 1.5-year course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, or
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a non-relevant discipline
• Have completed at least two years of full-time equivalent relevant work experience in urban and regional planning and have achieved a grade point average of at least 4.5 on UQ’s seven-point scale in their previous qualification

Relevant disciplines include urban or regional planning, architecture, urban design, environment, design, engineering and geography.

Relevant work experience includes employment in urban, regional or town planning-related roles. Applications relying on work experience are assessed individually.

Supporting documents

Applicants using relevant work experience to qualify for the 1.5-year duration must provide an employer letter that confirms:

• The organisation in which they worked
• Their relevant duties and responsibilities
• The length of each relevant role
• Whether the employment was full-time, part-time or casual
• Any other information required by the entry criteria

The letter should be provided on company letterhead and signed by a manager or human resources representative. A CV or résumé is not sufficient on its own and must be accompanied by the supporting employer letter.

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 Planner
• Strategic Planner
• Statutory Planner
• Environmental Planner
• Transport Planner
• Social Planner
• Urban Designer
• Urban Strategist
• Research Analyst
• Planning Consultant
• International Development Professional

Graduates may pursue opportunities across government, private industry, consulting and non-government organisations.

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $10,900 (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.

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

HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.