Urban Planning

Overview

Urban Planning as an academic discipline is the study of how cities grow and change, and of the application of policy tools that can guide that towards a viable, resilient and healthy future. Students majoring in Urban Planning learn about the historical evolution of cities, indigenous knowledge, critical urban challenges such as climate change and urban sprawl, the responsibilities of the planning profession, and how cities are planned and governed from Australian and international perspectives. They learn to critically consider a plurality of perspectives in envisioning future cities. Urban Planning students also learn essential skills such as plan making, policy analysis, and technical writing in both urban and regional contexts.
Learning in the Urban Planning course is broad and interdisciplinary. Students develop the above skills and knowledge through a variety of pedagogical formats, including lectures, tutorials, a Capstone project, fieldworks, and problem-based studios. The city is the laboratory, and students will engage with fellow students from around the world.

Careers and Further Study: Professional urban planners conceive and implement policy in a variety of areas, including land use, urban form, social infrastructure, transport, economic development, and public open space. The undergraduate major in Urban Planning is a pre-professional course designed to provide the basic skills and theoretical knowledge to undertake an accredited professional program like the Master of Urban Planning . For more information on the Masters programs, please visit the Melbourne School of Design web site: msd.unimelb.edu.au

Last updated: 26 February 2026