Note: This course is not available in 2025.

Course overview

Description

Urban and regional planners are responsible for ensuring that cities, towns and regions have vibrant economies and communities, provide for a high quality of life, and are environmentally sustainable. To achieve this, planners need a good understanding of the way in which societies, economies and environments operate and interact. This course develops students' knowledge of concepts and methods, in urban and regional planning and their ability to apply research skills to planning issues. The course provides opportunities for both workplace learning and individual research project skills to be developed.

Course title
Master of Urban and Regional Planning (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
Award abbreviation
MURPln
Course code
72560
Course type
Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
Status
Not available in 2025
Administered by
Social Sciences
CRICOS code
074960F

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year only
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Articulation
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning has the following exit awards: 12290 Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning (24 points) (24 points), 72360 Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (48 points) (48 points)
Credit points required
96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
1.5 - 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
Maximum course duration
2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
Professional accreditation
Master of Urban and Regional Planning (coursework or coursework and dissertation) is accredited by: Planning Institute Australia.
Time limit
5 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Dr Linda Robson
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Enquiries and course advice

6488 2711
[email protected]
Note

The course is being taught out and is not open for new enrolments. Current students need to be aware that to complete the course they will need to complete PLNG 5403 in semester 1, 2022, PLNG 4404 in semester 2, 2022.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
SS
summer teaching period
N/A
not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
*
to be advised

Take all units from this group (36 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
N/AGEOG4003Fundamentals of PlanningNoneVideo presentations - up to 20 x 20 minutes Virtual fieldwork - 3 days
N/APLNG4401Planning Theory and Practice (12 points)
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) PLNG4402 Planning Law (ID 1878)
or Unit(s) PLNG4404 Statutory Planning (ID 1880)
Incompatibility
EART4411 Planning Theory and Practice
7 hours per week—unit taught all day and comprises a mix of lectures, tutorials, workshops and/or field trips. The total workload for the unit is 300 hours.
N/APLNG4402Planning Law
Incompatibility
EART4413 Principles of Land Development and Control
4 hours per week. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.
N/APLNG4404Statutory PlanningNone4 hours per week. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.
N/APLNG5403Planning and Governance
Prerequisites
enrolment in
the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (72560)
or Master of Landscape Architecture (25550)
or Master of Environmental Planning (13550)
Incompatibility
EART4412 Planning and Governance
Workshops: 4 hours per week including independent industry learning engagement related to planning and governance. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.

Coursework and Dissertation

Take units to the value of 24 points from this group.

Dissertation units

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2GEOG5011Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 1
Prerequisites
a final grade of 70% or higher in SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills
or permission from the unit coordinator
Supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOG5012Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 2
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills
Co-requisites
GEOG5011 Master's Research Project in Geography, Environment and Planning Part 1
Supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOG5013Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 3
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills
supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
 MIXD5005Designing Social Research

Take at least 1 unit (6 points) from Group A:

Group A
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2GEOG5411Regional Development in the Global Context
Incompatibility
All of the following Unit(s) PLNG5411 Urban and Regional Analysis
40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours)
N/APLNG5512Regional PlanningNoneThree face-to-face (2-hour) lectures before, and one (2-hour) lecture after the four-day field trip to be held in February. (Charges: cost of food and accommodation is borne by the student). The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.

Take at least 1 unit (6 points) from Group B:

Group B
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1URBD5803Sustainability and CitiesNone1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week
S2URBD5805Contemporary UrbanismNone1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week
S1URBD5807The Forces that Shape Cities
Incompatibility
URBD8807 Evolution of the City
1 hour lecture and 2 hour tutorial per week

Coursework only

Take at least 1 unit (6 points) from Group A:

Group A
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2GEOG5411Regional Development in the Global Context
Incompatibility
All of the following Unit(s) PLNG5411 Urban and Regional Analysis
40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours)
N/APLNG5512Regional PlanningNoneThree face-to-face (2-hour) lectures before, and one (2-hour) lecture after the four-day field trip to be held in February. (Charges: cost of food and accommodation is borne by the student). The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.

Take at least 1 unit (6 points) from Group B:

Group B
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1URBD5803Sustainability and CitiesNone1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week
S2URBD5805Contemporary UrbanismNone1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week
S1URBD5807The Forces that Shape Cities
Incompatibility
URBD8807 Evolution of the City
1 hour lecture and 2 hour tutorial per week

Select option units as required from Group C.
For coursework only students, the total points from Groups A, B and C must equal 30 points.

Group C
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2ARCT5577Conservation in Cultural Landscapes, Historic Towns and Urban Precincts
Incompatibility
ARCT5505 Conservation in Cultural Landscapes, Historic Towns and Urban Precincts
Introductory lecture: 1 x 2 hours; lectures/field work exercises/seminars: 3 hours per week
S1, S2ENVT4411Geographic Information Systems Applications
Incompatibility
Unit(s) GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems (ID 1384)
The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. This includes podcasts for viewing and reading to be undertaken prior to attending one compulsory 3-hour workshop per week where students will be contributing to interactive discussions together with practical lab work using GIS software. Completion of the practical workshop labs is necessary to enable skills for completing written unit assessment. Independent learning is required throughout the unit.
S1ENVT5518The Sustainable Development Goals
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72530 Master of Environmental Science
and Successful completion of
ENVT4421 Fundamentals of Environmental Management
or Enrolment in
25530 Master of Urban Design
or 72520 Master of Biological Science
or 72560 Master of Urban and Regional Planning
or 71550 Master of International Development
or 73530 Master of Agricultural Economics
or 13550 Master of Environmental Planning
or 62540 Master of Ocean Leadership
Lectures: 2 hours per week for nine weeks; workshop/practical classes: 2 hours a week for nine weeks
S2PUBH5783Health in an Era of Environmental ChangeNoneonline lectures and discussions: 3 hours per week

Take 1 unit (6 points) from this group:

Practicum requirement

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2PARL5599WA Parliamentary Research Program
Prerequisites
Acceptance into the WA Parliamentary Research Program
and Successful completion of
48 points
and Enrolment in
72560 Master of Urban and Regional Planning
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 42580 Master of Public Policy
or permission from the unit coordinator
Incompatibility
PARL3399 WA Parliamentary Research Program
150 hours of study
NS, S1, S2WILG5001Work Integrated Learning Internship Program
Prerequisites
Completion of 24 points of post graduate units and approval from the unit coordinator.
Industry experience: 100 hours Online sessions with Unit Coordinator: 1-2 hours

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Note: This course is not available in 2025.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; or

(2) completion of the Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning; or

(3) Significant work experience including at least 5 years with a material level of responsibility.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:

  • 12290 Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning (24 points)
  • 72360 Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (48 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning course before completing it, but after completing 24 points at Level 4 or Level 5, including at least 12 points of core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning.

(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning course before completing it, but after completing 48 points at Level 4 or Level 5 including at least 24 points of core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

(3) Students who have completed prior tertiary studies in urban and regional planning, or social and human geography, or equivalent, are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules
Research project

14. Students who request approval to undertake a research project in this course must—

first complete SOCS5003 (or equivalent research design unit) and obtain a mark of at least 70%, prior to progressing to the 18 point dissertation units.