Master of Urban Planning (MC-URPL)

Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Award titleMaster of Urban Planning
Year & campus2025 — Parkville
CRICOS code002524M
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 9
Credit points200 credit points
Duration24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

Planners matter and planning matters! 

Planners are leaders, facilitators and negotiators. Planners work to creatively design and implement policy for a sustainable, equitable built environment. Planning is a progressive and inclusive profession that seeks to address the urgent global challenges that impact our cities. In the face of climate change and deepening inequality, concerns for community health and safety, and the growth of extensive global city-regions, planning has never been more critical.
The Master of Urban Planning is a professional degree that focuses on Australian and international policy that pertains to human settlements and can impact challenging population and environmental issues. Because practicing planners work closely with other disciplines, the interdisciplinary approach to learning and teaching in this course will prepare you to work effectively and collaboratively in industry and with other built environment disciplines. Graduates will have the capacity to centre climate change, social justice and health in the decisions they make.


Through planning, you can be part of a common purpose and community of practice working for positive change.

Links to further information

http://msd.unimelb.edu.au/master-urban-planning

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 93.00;
  • 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

The Master of Urban Planning requires the successful completion of 200 credit points.

All students must complete:

  • 100 credit points of core subjects
  • 25 credit points of Capstone subjects (MSD Minor Thesis both Part 1 and 2)
  • 75 credit points of elective subjects including
    • A minimum of 50 credit points of Specialisation elective subjects

    • A maximum of 25 credit points of Multidisciplinary (Melbourne School of Design and/or university graduate) elective subjects

Master of Urban Planning (MUP) 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 please go to:

http://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/graduate/course-planning/sample-course-plans-melbourne-school-of-design/urban-planning

Subject Options

Core subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ABPL90134 Planning Theory and History
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90135 Analytical Methods
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90130 Planning Law & Statutory Planning
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90246 The Economies of Cities and Regions
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90131 Strategic Plan Making
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90064 Climate Change & Sustainability Planning
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90132 Urban Coding and Design
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90315 Participatory Planning
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Capstone Subjects

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 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90397 MSD Minor Thesis Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 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

Students may choose any masters-level subjects including:

Note:

Master of Urban Planning (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:

https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/current-students/subject-information/travelling-studios

Specialisation elective subjects

The required '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 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90320 Building Resilient Settlements
November (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
EVSC90015 Environmental Impact Assessment
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90283 Ecology for Design
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
HORT90039 Green Infrastructure for Liveable Cities
February (On Campus - Burnley)
 12.5
FOOD90041 The Politics of Food
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90405 Energy & Carbon in the Built Environment
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90404 Place Making for The Built Environment
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Social Planning

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ABPL90280 City Lights: Cities, Culture and History
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90322 Human Environments Relations
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90321 Building the Brief: People Process Place
February (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90441 Planning Studio
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90266 Inclusive Cities
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90022 Healthy Communities
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90377 Design for Ageing Not available in 2025 12.5
ENST90002 Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SOCI90011 Foundations of Social Policy
March (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90450 Studio Co-urban
September (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

International Development and Planning

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ABPL90065 Managing Global City Regions
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90279 Cities Without Slums
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90055 Planning Asia Pacific Cities Studio
November (Off Campus)
 12.5
PLAN90003 City Leadership
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
PLAN90002 Comparative Urban Planning
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Transport

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ABPL90077 Introduction to Transport and Land Use
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90090 Public Transport Network Planning
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CVEN90048 Transport Systems
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90056 Urban Transport Politics Not available in 2025 12.5
CVEN90061 Freight Systems
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Analytic Methods

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ABPL90319 GIS In Planning, Design & Development
June (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90366 Urban Informatics No longer available
ABPL90017 Urban Design Theory
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
PLAN90001 Urban Demography and Statistics
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
NRMT90003 Social Research Methods
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90407 Representing Spatial Information
Term 1 (Online)
 12.5
ABPL90408 Spatial Analytics Not available in 2025 12.5

Property

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ABPL90281 Housing Markets, Policy and Planning
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90040 International Property Development B Not available in 2025 12.5
ABPL90339 International Real Estate Economics
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90026 Property Development
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90406 Financial Engineering in Property
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ABPL90409 Realising The Knowledge Economy
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 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 (Online)
 12.5
ABPL90320 Building Resilient Settlements
November (On Campus - 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.

NOTE : From time to time, a selection of student work completed as part of this program will be reviewed by the relevant accreditation panel(s) as a requirement of the accreditation process.

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: 3 April 2025