Graduate Diploma in Planning

The Graduate Diploma in Planning provides a new career path for design, planning and property professionals, equipping graduates with a broad understanding of planning issues alongside the negotiation skills and creative thinking required to resolve them.

Whereas planning has often been seen as an approval process, UTS approaches the discipline as a critical task, one that connects communities with governments, institutions and developers.

Property development and planning students study a common first year, which develops a mutual understanding of how to balance private and public interests in urban development.

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Course aims

Through this course, students proactively engage with policy, environmental and demographic frameworks to understand how planning decisions shape the urban environment over the long term. This engagement is multidisciplinary, spanning planning, urban design, property, architecture/landscape architecture, economics, spatial analysis, law and urban ecology.

The degree has both a strong sustainability focus and an emphasis on the property development cycle. Students learn about land markets and feasibility studies, and acquire the technical skills to perform complex and evidence-based forecasting. They also learn how to conduct large scale structure planning and design master planned developments for communities.

Students achieve these outcomes by applying theory to real-world scenarios in real-world learning environments, including peer-led, multidisciplinary teamwork and discussions, case studies and field trips, with opportunities to travel internationally.

Typical study program

An example program is below.

Autumn session Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. Subject Code
15142 Property Development Process 6 15142
15146 Sustainable Urban Development 6 15146
15222 Urban Design 6 15222
15241 Urban Economics and Infrastructure Funding 6 15241
Spring session Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. Subject Code
17700 Planning and Environmental Law 6 17700
15143 Group Project A: Urban Renewal 6 15143
15144 Group Project B: Greenfields Development 6 15144
15145 Development Negotiation and Community Engagement 6 15145

Course fees

For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:

Local student

In most cases, UTS offers domestic students entry to postgraduate courses on a fee paying basis.

Tuition fees are charged:

  • based on the particular course in which you are enrolled
  • based on the number of credit points in which you are enrolled
  • at the rates set for the current year and revised annually

Fees for future year(s) published in the online calculator, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only.  UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.

Tuition fees can be found in the online calculator.

A small number of postgraduate courses offer government subsidised Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Find out whether there are CSPs available in this course by visiting our postgraduate fees page.

In addition to tuition fees, students are required to pay a Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The purchase of textbooks and other course materials may also result in additional costs.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

International student

Tuition fees for international postgraduate coursework students can be found using fees search.

Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.

 

For this course, the cost per credit point for 2019 is $657. The total credit points are 48.

All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:

In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' fees information page.

Careers

The degree enables professionals to change careers due to the multidisciplinary nature of the learning. Graduates are in public sector positions, including working for state and local government, and in private consulting and property development firms. There are also careers in strategic planning on major developments and projects, master planning with financial analysis, and the increasingly important area of sub-regional planning.

Course structure

Course structure explained

The course requires the completion of eight 6-credit-point subjects, totalling 48 credit points of study.

Course completion requirements
Requirement Credit Points
STM90502 Core subjects (Planning PG) 24
STM90503 Level 2 core subjects (Planning) 24
Total 48

Additional information

Course duration

The course duration is one year of full-time or two years of part-time study.

Full time, block

Admission requirements

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.

Applicants must have completed one of the following:

  • a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or equivalent
  • a UTS Graduate Certificate in Property and Planning with a credit average or above
  • a UTS Graduate Certificate in Planning with a credit average or above
  • a UTS Graduate Certificate in Property Development with a credit average or above
  • a completed Advanced Diploma in a relevant discipline, such as design, social science, property, planning, valuation, engineering, or horticulture.

Applicants who do not satisfy the academic requirements may be considered on their ability to demonstrate equivalency through a minimum of five years' relevant work experience.

Applicants need to provide:

  • a CV (max. three pages) outlining their relevant work experience, and
  • a 300-word personal statement clearly articulating work experience relating to any of the following fields: design, social science, property, planning, valuation, engineering, horticulture, or any other field linked to the built environment.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Check to see if there are additional admission requirements for this course.

If you don't meet the admission requirements for this course, there may be alternative pathways to help you gain admission.

Articulation with UTS courses

This course is part of an articulated program comprising the Graduate Certificate in Planning (C11270), the Graduate Diploma in Planning and the Master of Planning (C04007).

Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships

For Design, Architecture and Building students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Design, Architecture and Building students

UTS: Handbook

See the Graduate Diploma in Planning in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.

Information for international students

Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.

Part of The Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building

  • Industry recognised

    Recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia, the course provides the skills, knowledge and judgement to lead urban development and regeneration.

  • Practical and active

    Integrating theory with a strong practical focus, your learning is readily applicable in the workplace.

  • Articulation

    This course articulates into the Master of Planning.

Domestic students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

How to apply

Domestic students can apply:

Intake

Autumn session 2019 intake for local students.

Important dates

JULY 2018
23
Spring session classes commence (all courses except Calendar B)
23 - 27
Orientation for main calendar Spring session and Calendar B Spring session
30
Calendar B Spring session classes commence
AUGUST 2018
25
UTS Open Day
OCTOBER 2018
31
First-round closing date for local postgraduate coursework UAC applications for Autumn session 2019
NOVEMBER 2018
19 - 23
Orientation for Summer session 2018
19
Summer session 2018 classes commences (to 15 February 2019)
FEBRUARY 2019
18 - 22
Orientation for Calendar B Autumn session (Graduate School of Health/Teacher Education)
18 February - 8 March
Orientation for Autumn session 2019 ( all courses except Calendar B)
25
Calendar B Autumn session commences (Graduate School of Health/Teacher Education)
MARCH 2019
11
Autumn session commences (all courses except Calendar B)
APRIL 2019
10
Census date
22 - 28
Mid-session StuVac (Study vacation)
JUNE 2019
7
Formal classes end
10 - 14
Final StuVac (Study vacation)
15 - 29
Final assessment period

Need more information?

Ask UTS

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Design, Architecture and Building students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Design, Architecture and Building students

International students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

You can meet an international student advisor at one of our events worldwide to ask questions and submit an application.

How to apply

International students apply to study at UTS through UTS International.

Apply online

Download an application form

Important dates

NOVEMBER 2018
30
Closing date for applications for admission to postgraduate international students based outside of Australia for Autumn session 2019
DECEMBER 2018
15
Closing date for applications for admission to postgraduate international students based in Australia for Autumn session 2019
FEBRUARY 2019
18 - 22
Orientation for Calendar B Autumn session (Graduate School of Health/Teacher Education)
18 February - 8 March
Orientation for Autumn session 2019 (all courses except Calendar B)
25
Calendar B Autumn session commences (Graduate School of Health/Teacher Education)
MARCH 2019
11
Autumn session commences (all courses except Calendar B)
APRIL 2019
10
Census date
22 - 28
Mid-session StuVac (Study vacation)
JUNE 2019
7
Formal classes end
10 - 14
Final StuVac (Study vacation)
15 - 29
Final assessment period

Need more information?

Ask a question

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Design, Architecture and Building students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Design, Architecture and Building students