Admission requirementsA 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 degreeBuilt 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 sustainabilityLaw/JurisprudenceEnvironmental 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.