Handbook

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

• Built Environment subject areas, and in particular architecture, landscape architecture, construction, property development and urban design.
• Social, economic and environmental science subject areas, in particular geography, urban studies and sociology, demography, economics, social policy and politics, communication studies, health studies, international development, environmental ecology, environmental management, environmental sustainability
• Law/Jurisprudence
• Environmental and Civil Engineering subject areas, which would also encompass surveying and spatial science degrees

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.

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+).

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

• Planning Institute of Australia

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.