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.
Specialisations
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):
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | GEOG4003 | Fundamentals of Planning | None | Video presentations - up to 20 x 20 minutes Virtual fieldwork - 3 days |
N/A | PLNG4401 | Planning Theory and Practice (12 points) |
| 7 hours per weekâunit 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/A | PLNG4402 | Planning Law |
| 4 hours per week. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. |
N/A | PLNG4404 | Statutory Planning | None | 4 hours per week. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. |
N/A | PLNG5403 | 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
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | GEOG5011 | Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) 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, S2 | GEOG5012 | Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 2 | 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, S2 | GEOG5013 | Dissertation (Geography, Planning, Environment and Development) Part 3 |
| 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. |
MIXD5005 | Designing Social Research |
Take at least 1 unit (6 points) from Group A:
Group A
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2 | GEOG5411 | Regional Development in the Global Context |
| 40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours) |
N/A | PLNG5512 | Regional Planning | None | Three 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
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1 | URBD5803 | Sustainability and Cities | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week |
S2 | URBD5805 | Contemporary Urbanism | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week |
S1 | URBD5807 | The Forces that Shape Cities |
| 1 hour lecture and 2 hour tutorial per week |
Coursework only
Take at least 1 unit (6 points) from Group A:
Group A
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2 | GEOG5411 | Regional Development in the Global Context |
| 40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours) |
N/A | PLNG5512 | Regional Planning | None | Three 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
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S1 | URBD5803 | Sustainability and Cities | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week |
S2 | URBD5805 | Contemporary Urbanism | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial per week |
S1 | URBD5807 | The Forces that Shape Cities |
| 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
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2 | ARCT5577 | 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, S2 | ENVT4411 | Geographic Information Systems Applications |
| 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. |
S1 | ENVT5518 | The Sustainable Development Goals | Lectures: 2 hours per week for nine weeks; workshop/practical classes: 2 hours a week for nine weeks | |
S2 | PUBH5783 | Health in an Era of Environmental Change | None | online lectures and discussions: 3 hours per week |
Take 1 unit (6 points) from this group:
Practicum requirement
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2 | PARL5599 | WA Parliamentary Research Program |
| 150 hours of study |
NS, S1, S2 | WILG5001 | Work Integrated Learning Internship Program |
| 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.