Planning is an exciting, varied and progressive profession which plays a pivotal role in decisions shaping the future of cities and regions. Planners need to see the whole picture: we need to be good thinkers, good analysts and good communicators. We work with stakeholders across the spectrum of interests – from global developers to local communities – to foster feasible, equitable, sustainable and progressive outcomes. Sydney and NSW provide a fantastic laboratory to help understand the crucial role played by planners in addressing complex challenges, systematically placed in its global context through critical analysis and drawing upon best practice. The Master of City Planning degree is designed for students with an undergraduate qualification in a related discipline seeking to move into a planning or planning-related field. It is also tailored for professionals working in other sectors, especially those whose work may intersect with the planning system, or requires involvement with planning agencies. The degree comprises core courses that strengthen disciplinary foundations and help develop advanced and specific knowledge and skills; elective options which can be structured to pursue a specialist pathway (city development and renewal, healthy sustainable communities, history and theory, city design); and a capstone project, delivered in conjunction with City Futures – Australia’s leading urban research centre – in which students undertake a piece of primary research in their selected area of interest.

Career opportunities

The Master of City Planning [MCP] degree provides an excellent platform to take up planning and urban policy-related opportunities across all tiers of government (Federal, State, local), private sector consultancies, property development, and indeed the breadth of built environment professions where planning skills are required. The specialist pathways taken as part of the MCP may direct students towards more specialist areas, for example in housing, urban renewal, environmental management, heritage or urban design related professions. The interdisciplinary skill sets developed through the degree also enable graduates move into wider policy, research, analytical, creative and community roles both in Australia and overseas.

The MCP aims to produce high quality graduates who have acquired UNSW Graduate attributes and are capable, through their skills, knowledge and experience, of undertaking a wide range of tasks required of a qualified planning practitioner. As well as preparing for the profession, a planning degree provides lifelong analytical, collaborate and communication skills much in demand more widely. On completion of the MCP, graduates will be able to:

Course offered in the MCP program are aimed to satisfy the key competence areas required of a qualified planner by the Planning Institute of Australia.

The MCP is a 2-year 96uoc degree, and can be taken full-time or part-time. Students from a ‘cognate’ undergraduate background are able to apply for up to 24uoc through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) (see below), enabling the MCP to be completed within three full-time semesters or equivalent.

CORE COURSES (54uoc)

Core courses [54uoc] collectively offer a strong foundation in the key knowledge and skills required of all planners. They fulfill the need to a) ground students in the foundations or pillars of a planning education (sustainability, economic, equity issues), b) develop an understanding of the defining components of a planning qualification (planning law, land use policy and practice, strategic spatial planning) and c) more detailed knowledge and skills development (planning techniques and analysis, urban design, city building)

*May be replaced with SUSD0004 Sustainability and Habitability (6UOC)

Core (Disciplinary knowledge)

SPECIALIST PATHWAYS (24uoc)

The MCP offers four specialist pathways enabling students to strengthen their area of interest and expertise.

1. City development and renewal

Three from:

One from:

2. City design

Two or three from:

One or two from:

3. Healthy, sustainable communities

Two from:

Two from:

4. History and theory

Two from:

Two from:

Generalist MCP

Outside of these directed pathways, students are also able to meet the elective requirements of the degree through selecting any four electives across the prescribed lists of the specialist pathways above.

CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE (18uoc)

All MCP students are required to undertake a capstone project.

Students pursuing the City Design specialist pathway can either complete the above Capstone Experience or alternatively undertake the Urban Design Capstone Experience :

Articulation arrangements

The MCP Program offers an articulated coursework Planning degree. Students commencing their studies in the Program at the Grad Cert or Grad Dip level will be able, subject to satisfactory performance, to progress to the next stage within the articulated program with full credit for courses already completed. Students who wish to exit the Master’s program early may nominate to transfer to and graduate from the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma provided the requirements for the program have been met.

Grad Cert. to Grad. Dip.
24uoc> 48uoc
Pass (WAM 50+)

Grad Cert. to MCP
24uoc>96uoc
Pass (WAM 50+)

Grad Dip. To MCP
48uoc>96uoc
Pass (WAM 50+)

Admission requirements

A Bachelor degree with a credit average or above (WAM 65+). Students with an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline are able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Advanced standing may also be granted for completed or partially completed postgraduate awards from UNSW or from another institution. Applicants who do not meet these standard admission requirements may be able to enter the Grad. Cert City Planning in the first instance. This will be at the discretion of the Program Director or Academic Coordinator who will assess applications on a case-by-case basis.

What is a cognate undergraduate qualification?

Urban planning is interdisciplinary in nature and requires students to develop skills sets and build knowledge across a breadth of areas. As such, planners often enter the profession from a commensurate range of backgrounds. Four key subject areas at undergraduate level offer a strong and appropriate background for a postgraduate planning education. These may either be reflected either as a degree specifically in any of these areas, but also where one (or more) of these areas are demonstrated in a substantive Major of a general Arts or Liberal Arts degree

RPL Provisions

Students with an undergraduate qualification in the above subject/discipline areas will be eligible for RPL provisions of up to 24uoc, subject to application by the student and agreement of the Program Director on a case by case basis. Students from cognate backgrounds do not have to apply for RPL and can complete the full 96uoc, two year full-time degree if they wish.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.