The Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) provides academic education and applied learning leading to professional, accredited qualifications in planning. The Program is of four years full-time duration with embedded Honours. The degree comprises core courses that develop and strengthen disciplinary foundations and help develop advanced and specific knowledge and skills; elective options including Built Environment Interdisciplinary Learning courses, an integrated learning Practice Year where students develop skills in the workplace as well as classroom; and a final year involving a Plan Making Studio, research thesis and opportunities to further pursue specialist areas of interest.

Planning is a 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. Working at the interface between development and environment, the planner's role involves collecting and analysing information, identifying needs and options, making forecasts, preparing policies, plans and programs for implementation, exercising development control, investigating development proposals, and evaluating results, communicating outcomes and consultation. 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 Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) 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 Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) [BCP], graduates will be able to:

1. Apply critical thinking skills in order to address multi-scalar challenges and perspectives shaping space and place
2. Apply concepts and principles of urban planning in practice
3. Implement systematic and specialised knowledge and analytical skills to reach appropriate evidence based decisions to inform planning issues and actions
4. Examine and evaluate international issues, perspectives and opportunities within their field of study
5. Develop innovative, multidisciplinary and integrative plans to facilitate and influence appropriate social, economic and environmental outcomes
6. Plan and execute a significant piece of independent research relevant to the planning discipline and profession
7. Communicate and work effectively with a range of stakeholders to inform, consult and engage them in planning processes
8. Demonstrate cultural awareness, environmental and social responsibility, and a respect for diversity
9. Practice professional and ethical conduct and personal accountability consistent with the expectations of the planning profession and the community when engaged in planning roles and activities

The Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) is a four year full time 192uoc embedded honours degree.

Level 1/Year 1: Foundational and disciplinary skills and knowledge [48uoc]

Year 1

Semester 1

Honours is awarded on the basis of meritorious performance across the whole program.

The level of Honours achieved is determined by the student's overall Weighted Average Mark (WAM) according to the following scale:

Honours Class 1: WAM greater than or equal to 80.0
Honours Class 2 Division 1: WAM greater than or equal to 74.0 and below or equal to 79.99
Honours Class 2 Division 2: WAM greater than or equal to 68.0 and below or equal to 73.99
Honours (no class): WAM greater than or equal to 50.0 and below or equal to 67.99

1. The Degree of Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) is passed on satisfactory completion of 192uoc
2. To fulfil these requirements, students must complete:

Depth Component 168 UoC

3. The standard duration of the program is 4 years of full-time study
4. BEIL courses may not be taken before a student has completed 96uoc of study

5. Students undertake Practice in their third year. Integral to their studies students spend 42 weeks undertaking employment or practice-related activity with a range of private, public and not-for-profit planning-sector employees.

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

Students are entitled to progress to the next stage of the degree (defined as year stages) where 42uoc is achieved with a WAM of 50 or above. Students who fail two or more core classes in year 1 or year 2 will not be able to proceed to subsequent years. In such scenarios students will be allowed to repeat failed courses to enable them to proceed into Stage 3. Students will only be able to enter the 3rd year and enrol in Work Integrated Learning courses (Practice courses) where 84uoc has been satisfactorily completed.

UNSW Planning degrees are accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia. In October 2015, UNSW has a scheduled reaccreditation visit where provisional accreditation for the new Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) will be sought.