Create sustainable urban environments

According to the Jobs and Skills Australia Projections, employment in Urban and Regional Planning is projected to grow by 18.6% in the five years leading up to May 2026, which is higher than the national average.1

The UTS Online Master of Urban Planning is designed for professionals who want to develop their knowledge and practical skills to become effective planners with an integrated approach to creating sustainable urban environments.​ Learn to navigate real-life opportunities and constraints and understand the importance of economic, social, cultural and political contexts when planning for communities.

Delivered 100% online, with part-time study, you’ll explore the various perspectives of urban planning development, including the environment, legislation and social sustainability in order to achieve good planning outcomes.


1Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026
*Study plans and completion times might vary depending on commencement date, elective choice, leave and subject availability. **Fees are correct for 2024 and are revised annually.

 

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Graduate with an industry-recognised qualification

The Master of Urban Planning is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing planning and the planning profession, with 5,300 members nationally and internationally. Download a course guide to learn more.1


1Planning Institute Australia (PIA)

Learning Outcomes

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Urban planning knowledge and concepts

Analyse the dynamics that drive land and property markets and articulate these to planning proposals. Interpret spatial relationships and evaluate the spatial and physical impacts of proposals.

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Critical and ethical thinking capabilities

Develop an informed critical perspective on ethical issues raised by new sources to be able to demonstrate the ethical responsibilities of a professional planner. 

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Effective communication and stakeholder
management skills

Communicate effectively with key stakeholders from a variety of cultural, social, economic and political perspectives. Develop coherent and logically structured arguments that are backed by evidence to support your negotiation strategies.

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Future-focused skills

Investigate the future of cities and regions and identify the drivers of change. Apply planning solutions based on a broad understanding of urban, regional and environmental dynamics, and analyse and develop alternatives.

Group of urban planner and designers working on a project

Who should study this course?

The Master of Urban Planning is suitable for professionals from both planning and non-planning fields, who want to develop their knowledge and practical skills to become effective planners.

Students of this course might come from a range of professional backgrounds, and work in roles such as Project Manager, Project Officer, Environmental Scientist, Environmental Sustainability Advisor or Field Officer.

See entry requirements under course information for more eligibility information.

Enquire now

What you will study

UTS Online’s Master of Urban Planning comprises 15 subjects, and can be completed in as little as two and a half years, studying part-time.

Note: Students who complete eight subjects from the masters may be eligible to exit with a Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning. To find out more, download a course guide or speak with an Enrolment Advisor.

Download a course guide

Core Subjects
  • Property Development and Planning Process
  • Sustainable Urban Development​
  • Planning & Design Theory and Decision Making​
  • Urban Design Fundamentals​
  • Urban Analytics​
  • Environmental and Social Impact Assessments​
  • Urban Economics and Infrastructure Funding​
  • Planning and Environmental Law​ in Australia
  • Local Strategic Planning​
  • Structure Planning​ 
  • Spatial Analysis (GIS)​
  • Development Negotiation and Community Engagement​
  • Urban Redevelopment​ 
  • Major Project 1​
  • Major Project 2​ 

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Graduate Certificate
Description of the Course + 4 Number of units or continue studying

The UTS Master of Health Services Management prepares leaders in health and social care who want to drive change and create safer, higher value and more equitable health systems and services. 

Graduate Diploma
All units from the Graduate Certificate + 4 Diploma units or continue studying

The Graduate Diploma focuses on giving you the foundational skills that industry demands plus the soft skills to influence business decisions at senior management levels. 

The fast-tracked model means you can graduate with a diploma in just over a year, plus it gives you a pathway to study the Master of Business Analytics. 

Master of Health Services Management
All subjects from the Graduate Certificate + 8 subjects from the Master of Health Services Management

The UTS Master of Health Services Management prepares leaders in health and social care who want to drive change and create safer, higher value and more equitable health systems and services. 

Upcoming study periods

UTS Online courses have six intakes per year. The diagram below shows all upcoming
intakes, with the next intake highlighted in blue.

Course information

English language requirement

The English proficiency requirement for local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, Internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184. 

Enquire now

 

Entry requirements

Currently, this course is only accepting domestic applicants.

Pathway 1

Applicants must have completed a UTS-recognised academic qualification or an equivalent (according to NOOSR or UK NARIC) as follows:

  • Bachelor's degree, or
  • Graduate Certificate, or
  • Graduate Diploma, or
  • Master's degree

For applicants holding a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, the qualification must be one of the following:

  • UTS Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning and Design 
  • UTS Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning
  • UTS Graduate Diploma in Planning
  • UTS Graduate Certificate in Property Development
  • UTS Graduate Diploma in Property Development

AND

  • the qualification must be completed with a credit average or above.

 


Pathway 2

For applicants with no Bachelor degree but holding a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma not listed under pathway 1:

  • the qualification must be in one of the following disciplines: architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and regional planning, environmental design, community development, property economics, property development, planning, geography, geographic information science (GIS), environmental science, law, economics

AND

  • the qualification must be completed with a credit average or above, and ​  
  • applicants should have at least 3 years full-time, or equivalent part-time, work experience in one of the fields listed above and​ 
  • applicants need to articulate their work experience and the reasons to study the Master of Urban Planning.​ 

Those applicants must provide: ​  

  •  a CV (maximum 3 pages) outlining their work experience, and ​  
  • a 300-word personal statement clearly articulating their work experience related to urban planning and explaining their reasons to study the Master of Urban Planning.​ 


Note: If the applicant does not formally meet the above selection criteria but the Faculty deems the applicant to be eligible based on evidence of prior learning and demonstrated capability, the Faculty reserves the right to make an offer to the appropriate course. ​  

FEE-HELP

To assist with all or some of your tuition fees, FEE-HELP is available for eligible students. This government-supported loan scheme is designed to help eligible full-fee paying students pay their tuition fees.

To check your eligibility, feel free to speak with an Enrolment Advisor today.

Schedule a call

 

Unsure about your situation?

One of our Student Enrolment Advisors can assist you with more information, including alternative pathways.

Enquire now

 

Young urban planner discussing the diorama of urban landscape with her boss

Career outcomes

Studying this course may lead to roles such as:

  • Urban Planner
  • Town Planner
  • Strategic Planner
  • Sustainability Consultant
  • Planning Consultant
  • Senior Planner or Associate Director – Urban Planning

Enquire now

Gain in-demand skills

The Master of Urban Planning provides a practical approach to urban planning across an array of subject areas. You’ll learn how to apply sustainable planning practices and urban design principles, and develop the analytic skills to create integrated planning solutions. You’ll explore real-world case studies in online workshops that you can apply in a practical setting.  

“I think the ability to broker solutions among many competing stakeholders (neighbours, environmental advocates, housing developers, local businesses) and invent new solutions to complex conflicts is one of the top skills planners need. They also need to be able to assemble and analyse different sorts of evidence to weigh up the outcomes of alternate decisions and support a better-informed public debate.” 

Professor Heather MacDonald, Academic in planning and Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at UTS

Download a course guide

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