Master of Urban Planning

This course is no longer offered. A new Master of Urban Planning has been introduced for 2008 so new students should refer to the Master of Urban Planning stream code A06-DA. Students who commenced the Master of Urban Planning prior to 2008 should consult with a Course Adviser for enrolment advice.

Urban Planning is of increasing importance in Australia and internationally, as cities and regions grapple with the challenges associated with environmental sustainability, social equity and economic development. These challenges are leading to the need to re-think established approaches to planning. That need reflects the expectations of community groups, environmentalists and economic policy makers who want new ways to deal with the complex agendas they face. These agendas have two strong elements. One is the inter-related aspects of most planning problems, which calls for an interdisciplinary skill set. The second is the tension created by the intersection of global, national and local interests at particular locations, which requires an ability to analyse and interpret problems at a number of different levels. An understanding of these elements has guided the course design of the Master of Urban Planning which offers an opportunity to refine and enhance a personal skill set that can be used to span this complex agenda.

The Master of Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne addresses this exciting but challenging new context with subjects that draw upon global as well as local examples. It guides students through a carefully structured set of core subjects that cover the major dimensions of the current debate on the theory and practice of urban planning. It then utilises the extensive scope of the social, economic and environmental teaching available within the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and across the University to provide a wide array of electives. Working with a course advisor the student can choose to deepen their study by selecting inter-related electives from fields such as planning policy, urban design, transport planning, social and health planning, economic planning, public policy and strategic planning, or can spread their electives across these areas so as to enrich their understanding of the multiple dimensions of urban planning.

The Master of Urban Planning is intended both for practitioners seeking to update and broaden their knowledge and skill base and for people with other backgrounds seeking to work in the planning field. It offers a special learning experience as it brings together students and staff from a wide array of disciplines. It also offers a subject on-site in an Asia-Pacific city, as well as providing debate on local planning issues. This provides students with personal exposure to urban planning issues at a range of scales.

To make study convenient for busy professionals some courses are run in the evenings, or as intensives in the mid-semester break or over a series of weekends.

Master of Urban Planning (100 points)

Students should select 50 points of core subjects plus 50 points of electives to make up the balance of 100 points.

Master of Urban Planning (150 points)

Students should select 75-100 points of core subjects plus 50-75 points of electives to make up the balance of 150 points.

Master of Urban Planning (200 points)

Students should select 75-100 points of core subjects plus 100-125 points of electives to make up the balance of 200 points.

Core Subjects

Elective Subjects.

The electives offered by the Urban Planning program have a subject code starting with either 705- or 702-. Students are advised to check the timetable of the other electives listed below. The elective list is not exhaustive; other electives could be identified by the student and their relevance to the course confirmed with the Postgraduate Coordinator.

Electives in Transport Planning

Electives in Urban Design

Electives in Social Planning

Electives in Environmental Planning

Electives in Economic Planning and Strategy

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to pursue the course successfully using the following criteria:

Master of Urban Planning (100 points)

• a four year undergraduate degree in urban planning with a weighted average of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
• a Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Planning with a weighted average of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
• a four year undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, such as geography, public policy, environmental studies or town and country planning with a weighted average of at least H2B (70%) in the major, or equivalent, plus two years of documented relevant experience in the planning field

2. Applicants may be required to provide references (as appropriate) so that the Selection Committee can elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Master of Urban Planning (150 points)

• a four year undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, such as geography, public policy, environmental studies or town and country planning, with an average of at least H2B (70%) in the major, or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, such as geography, public policy, environmental studies or town and country planning, with at least an average grade of H2B (70%) in the major, or equivalent, plus at least one year of relevant work experience in the planning field.

2. Applicants may be required to provide references (as appropriate) so that the Selection Committee can elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Master of Urban Planning (200 points)

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to pursue the course successfully using the following criteria:

• a four year undergraduate degree in any discipline, or equivalent; or
• a three year undergraduate degree in any discipline plus one year of documented relevant work experience in the planning field.

2. Applicants may be required to provide references (as appropriate) so that the Selection Committee can elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability