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Master of Urban Planning (MC-URPL)
Masters (Coursework)Year: 2021 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)
About this course
- Overview
- Entry and participation requirements
- Attributes, outcomes and skills
- Course structure
- Further study
- Notes
Contact
Email: crystal.legacy@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Design
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
Further information:http://msd.unimelb.edu.au/Email: http://msd.unimelb.edu.au
Coordinator
Crystal Legacy
Overview
Award title | Master of Urban Planning |
---|---|
Year & campus | 2021 — Parkville |
CRICOS code | 002524M |
Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
AQF level | 9 |
Credit points | 200 credit points |
Duration | 24 months full-time or 48 months part-time |
The Master of Urban Planning is an accredited professional degree that focuses on Australian and international policy and planning pertaining to human settlements. Planners promote the establishment of economically viable, socially just, environmentally sustainable, safe and healthy human settlements.
As planners, we believe that this is a critical pursuit and perhaps it is never more timely than now as we adapt to global changes that impact our cities. These changes include climate change; deepening inequality that has often been associated with diminished local democracy and the rise of community advocacy; growing concerns for community health and safety; and the emergence of global city-regions that require innovations in governance and planning.
Links to further information
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- a minimum three-year undergraduate degree with a weighted average mark of at least H3 (65%), or equivalent; and
- a personal statement outlining relevant prior study and work experience, and motivation to undertake the course.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- prior academic performance; and
- the personal statement.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
Note.
Graduate Degree Packages for School Leavers
The University of Melbourne offers Graduate Degree Packages to high achieving school leavers, allowing them to secure places (Commonwealth Supported Places for domestic students or International fee places) in the Master of Urban Planning provided that they meet certain requirements.
For a Commonwealth Supported Place or an International Fee Place, the applicant must:
- complete an Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate (IB) in 2018 or later either:
— in Australia; or
— outside Australia and be an Australian citizen;
- achieve an ATAR (or notional ATAR) of at least 96.00;
- apply for a University of Melbourne Graduate Degree Package for commencement in the year following completion of Year 12 or IB via VTAC;
- enrol immediately or be granted deferral in the year following Year 12;
- successfully complete a Bachelor of Design or Arts at the University of Melbourne including all the specified prerequisite subjects;
- achieve a minimum weighted average mark of H3 (65%) in their undergraduate degree; and
- commence the Master of Urban Planning within 18 months of completing the undergraduate degree.
Applicants eligible for entry via a Graduate Degree Package will not be required to complete a personal statement as part of their application.
Applicants should refer to the University handbook for the additional entry requirements for the undergraduate degrees in the Articulated Degree Pathways.
Additional Notes
Guaranteed Transfer into Commonwealth Supported Place
Students with a fee place in this course who complete 100 points of the course with a weighted average of at least 75% and who are eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place will be guaranteed a transfer to a Commonwealth Supported Place for the final 100 points of the course.
For information about how to apply click here.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The Melbourne School of Design (MSD) welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is the University's and Faculty's policy to take reasonable steps to make reasonable adjustments so as to enable students’ participation in degrees offered by the Melbourne School of Design.
A candidate for degrees offered in the MSD must have abilities and skills which include the following: observation; communication; motor; conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and behavioural and social. Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, however, particularly at Masters level, students need to be able to participate in programs in an independent manner and with regard to their safety and the safety of others.
(i) Observation: Candidates must be able to read text, diagrams, maps, drawings and numerical data.
(ii) Communication: Candidates should be able to communicate with fellow students, professional and academic staff, members of relevant professions and the public. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing.
(iii) Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from environmental contexts. Off campus investigations may include visits to construction sites, urban, rural and/or remote environments. Candidates should have sufficient motor ability to use a computer and to prepare documentation of analytic texts, graphs and maps. Candidates should have the ability to actively participate in appropriate site and studio-based activities.
(iv) Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, synthesis and, importantly, the ability to interpret results of such work. Problem resolution, the critical skill demanded of graduates, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates should be able to comprehend spatial relationships in urban spaces and larger geographic areas. Further, graduate study entails learning to master one’s own abilities and skills and to deploy them strategically. This requires further developing skills in both reflective and reflexive thinking and being able to practice these skills.
(v) Behavioural and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.
Students who feel a disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit.
Professional accreditation
It is expected that graduates of the Master of Urban Planning will have completed the academic requirements for membership of:
- Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
Intended learning outcomes
The Master of Urban Planning degree provides professional training in urban planning. The program recognises the importance of interdisciplinary learning and, in addition to a wide array of electives, includes interdisciplinary studio options. The program also recognises the importance of being able to carry out and communicate research on planning policy and practice, including a compulsory analytical methods subject and a minor research thesis.
The MUP will:
- Equip students so that they are sought-after practitioners and researchers of urban planning in Australia and internationally;
- Provide students with a choice of electives to enable them to develop their intellectual and career interests;
- Encourage an environment in which theoretical and applied planning knowledge is developed;
- Recognise and build upon the range of prior skills and knowledge students bring to the program;
- Engage students with key contemporary planning ideals, ethics and debates, including debates surrounding the creation of equitable and sustainable human settlements; and,
- Provide research opportunities allowing students to undertake supervised and self-directed learning.
Generic skills
The Master of Urban Planning degree prepares students to step up as leaders, to address the world’s urban problems and to maximise opportunities, now and in the future. We do this through a pedagogical mix of lectures, debate, discussion, seminars and student presentations, local and travelling studios, and independent research. Students are encouraged to attend and contribute to conferences and seminars in order to increase their knowledge of planning issues, grow their professional networks and to share their findings with the scholarly community.
Students are taught to:
- Understand theory and think in a critical and reflective manner;
- Develop core planning knowledge and skills;
- Respond creatively to the issues they confront;
- Understand and manage the complexity inherent in planning problems;
- Understand cities in an international comparative context;
- Develop research skills;
- Develop areas of specialisation; and,
- Work in multi-disciplinary teams.
Graduate attributes
The variety of planning roles – working in government, for the private sector, in public-private partnerships and in civil society is becoming more complex. The variety of planning specialisations – including land-use development control, transport planning, environmental planning, strategic planning, advocacy and community development, and urban design is increasing. The Master of Urban Planning degree equips planners with basic knowledge and skills that allow them to excel in the workplace. More importantly, the Master of Urban Planning teaches students to think critically and strategically, with a sound understanding of relevant theories, and with a view to ensuring the ability to adapt to and to lead these changes.
This teaching includes considerable emphasis on global changes in planning practice and governance and equips graduates to practice internationally.
Course structure
All students must complete:
100 points of core subjects
25 points Capstone Subjects (MSD Minor Thesis both part 1 and 2 )
50 points of specialisation elective subjects
25 points of multidisciplinary elective subjects
Note: Master of Urban Planning students can complete specialisation elective subjects and multidisciplinary elective subjects by participating in an exchange program with an overseas university.
To view a sample course plan go to: http://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/graduate/course-planning/sample-course-plans-melbourne-school-of-design/urban-planning
Subject options
Core subjects (100 points)
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90134 | Planning Theory and History | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90135 | Analytical Methods | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
ABPL90130 | Planning Law & Statutory Planning | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90246 | The Economies of Cities and Regions | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90131 | Strategic Plan Making | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90064 | Urban Sustainability and Climate Change | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90132 | Land Use and Urban Design | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90315 | Participatory Planning | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Capstone Subjects (25 points)
All students must complete MSD Minor Thesis both part 1 and 2 (25 points)
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90396 | MSD Minor Thesis Part 1 |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
|
12.5 |
ABPL90397 | MSD Minor Thesis Part 2 |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
|
12.5 |
The thesis provides the degree's capstone experience and gives students the necessary preparation for professional work and/or doctoral study.
NOTE: The MSD Minor Thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment. Students can commence the Minor Thesis (ABPL90396 MSD Minor Thesis Part 1) either in Semester 1 or 2 and must continue (ABPL90397 MSD Minor Thesis part 2) in the following semester. Upon successful completion of Minor Thesis (both part 1 and 2), students will receive 25 points credit.
Multidisciplinary electives (25 points)
Students may choose any masters-level subjects including:
- Melbourne School of Design graduate subjects provided prerequisites are met
- Any University of Melbourne graduate subject provided prerequisites are met and written approval from the home faculty is submitted to the Environments and Design Student Centre.
Note: MUP students may apply to use points arising from a Melbourne School of Design Travelling Studio towards either the multidisciplinary elective, specialisation elective (with program coordinator approval) components of the course.
Specialisation Elective subjects (50 points)
The required 50 points of 'specialisation electives' can be made up from any the subjects on the following list. These subjects are listed by themes which reflect research and teaching interests within the Urban Planning Program.It is not necessary to limit choice to any one theme: specialisation electives can be taken in any combination.
In each theme, some electives are taught directly by staff from the UP Program, others are delivered by other programs or faculties, and have been chosen because they are known to offer content directly relevant to planning.
Students may also take other graduate level subjects from the Melbourne School of Design or other faculties as specialisation electives, with written approval from the home faculty and the MUP Program Coordinator.
Environment
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90341 | Urban Environmental Policy and Planning | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
ABPL90320 | Building Resilient Settlements | November (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
EVSC90015 | Environmental Impact Assessment | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90283 | Ecology for Design | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
HORT90039 | Green Infrastructure for Liveable Cities | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Burnley) |
12.5 |
FOOD90041 | The Politics of Food | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90405 | Energy & Carbon in the Built Environment |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
|
12.5 |
ABPL90404 | Place Making for The Built Environment |
February (Online)
Winter Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Social Planning
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90266 | Inclusive Cities | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90022 | Healthy Communities | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90280 | City Lights: Cities, Culture and History | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90377 | Design for Ageing | Term 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
ENST90002 | Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI90011 | Foundations of Social Policy | March (Online) |
12.5 |
ABPL90384 | MUP Studio |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
|
25 |
International Development and Planning
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90065 | Managing Global City Regions | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
ABPL90279 | Cities Without Slums | July (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90055 | Planning Asia Pacific Cities Studio | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
PLAN90003 | City Leadership | Summer Term (Online) |
12.5 |
PLAN90002 | Comparative Urban Planning | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
Transport
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90077 | Introduction to Transport and Land Use | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
ABPL90090 | Public Transport Network Planning | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CVEN90048 | Transport Systems | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90056 | Urban Transport Politics | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
CVEN90061 | Freight Systems | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
Analytic Methods
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90319 | GIS In Planning, Design & Development | Winter Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90366 | Urban Informatics | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
ABPL90017 | Urban Design Theory | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
PLAN90001 | Urban Demography and Statistics | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
NRMT90003 | Social Research Methods | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90407 | Representing Spatial Information | Term 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
ABPL90408 | Spatial Analytics | Term 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
Property
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90281 | Housing Markets, Policy and Planning | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90040 | International Property Development B | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
ABPL90339 | International Real Estate Economics | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
PROP90026 | No longer available | ||
ABPL90406 | Financial Engineering in Property | July (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90409 | Realising The Knowledge Economy | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
Bushfire Planning
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
EVSC90022 | Bushfire Urban Planning | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
EVSC90023 | Building Behaviour in Bushfires | September (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90320 | Building Resilient Settlements | November (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
FRST90025 | Patterns and Processes of Landscape Fire | February (Online) |
12.5 |
FRST90017 | Bushfire Planning & Management | September (Online) |
12.5 |
Further study
Students must complete eABPL90396 MSD Minor Thesis Part 1 + ABPL90397 MSD Minor Thesis Part 2 comprise the degree's capstone experience and provide students with the necessary preparation for professional work and/or doctoral study.
Students in this program may be eligible to undertake final subject assessment if they:
- are in the final semester of their enrolment (not the last 50 points of the course); and
- fail* a single subject worth up to 12.5 points with a final result of 40 - 49%.
* Receive an N or NH grade, except where that NH grade was awarded due to failure to participate in a component of assessment.
Last updated: 23 December 2021