Shape the future of urban living
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 Design is designed for professionals who want to develop their practical design capabilities to shape the lived experience within sustainable urban environments. You’ll explore the concept of environmental, economic and social sustainability in urban design and development.
Delivered 100% online, with part-time study, this course enables you to work full-time while gaining practical design skills. Immediately apply what you learn from studio-based projects to design resilient and creative solutions that enhance the lived experience at any urban scale.
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 2025 and are revised annually.
Graduate with an industry-recognised qualification
The Master of Urban Design 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
Why study the Master of Urban Design with UTS Online
Top 100 University Globally1
Top Performing Young University2
5 star rated for excellence across 8 categories3
5 stars for student retention4
1QS World University Rankings, 2025 2THE Young University Rankings, 2024 3QS Stars Rating 2021–2024 4Good Universities Guide, 2022
Learning Outcomes
Urban design principles
Apply urban design principles to develop creative solutions for urban problems. Apply an integrated understanding of environmental, social, and economic factors to inform an advanced level of urban design solutions.
Problem-solving skills
Determine risk assessment principles and apply them to simulating future courses of action. Design and conduct a research project to identify and evaluate alternative strategies to resolve a complex problem.
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 urban designer.
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.
Who should study this course?
The Master of Urban Design is for professionals with a background in areas such as architecture, strategic planning or environmental science, who want to develop and enhance their practical design capabilities to shape the sustainable design of urban living.
Students of this course might come from a range of professional backgrounds, and work in roles such as Junior Architect, Interior Designer, Environmental Scientist, Town Planner or Project Manager.
See entry requirements under course information for more eligibility information.
What you will study
UTS Online’s Master of Urban Design 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 Design. To find out more, download a course guide or speak with an Enrolment Advisor.
- Property Development and Planning Process
- Sustainable Urban Development
- Planning & Design Theory and Decision Making
- Urban Design Fundamentals
- Urban Analytics
- Urban Design Studio 1
- Urban Design Studio 2
- Planning and Environmental Law in Australia
- Local Strategic Planning
- Structure Planning
- Urban Design Studio 3
- Development Negotiation and Community Engagement
- Urban Redevelopment
- Urban Design Studio 4
- Urban Design Studio 5
Description of the Course
+
4 Number of units
or continue studying
All units from the Graduate Certificate
+
4 Diploma units
or continue studying
All subjects from the Graduate Certificate
+
8 subjects from the Master of Health Services Management
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.
Mar
2025
May
2025
Jun
2025
Aug
2025
Oct
2025
Course information
English language requirements apply to both international and domestic students. Please refer to the UTS English language requirements for further information on how to satisfy the requirements for the course/s.
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 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
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 Planning
- UTS Graduate Diploma in Planning
- UTS Graduate Certificate in Property Development
- UTS Graduate Diploma in Property Development
- For applications holding a graduate certificate or a graduate diploma, the qualification must be one from the following 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 Design.
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 design and explaining their reasons to study the Master of Urban Design.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
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.
Unsure about your situation?
One of our Student Enrolment Advisors can assist you with more information, including alternative pathways.
Career outcomes
With a Master of Urban Design, you’ll build and practice the skills employers demand to add value to your professional career immediately.
Studying this course may lead to roles such as Urban Designer, Open Space Planner, Specialist Place-maker, Urban Design Consultant or Urban Design Director.
Gain in-demand skills
“We need to change the way we approach the design of the built environment if we are to address the climate crisis. Urban designers who understand how natural and built systems affect each other, and who can articulate the evidence supporting their design proposals, will be more effective advocates for the sort of change cities need now.
"We also need designers who understand the social dynamics and impacts of built environments, and incorporate this understanding into designing places that work for all sorts of residents, workers, commuters, and people at rest or at play.”
- Professor Heather MacDonald, Academic in planning and Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at UTS
