Bachelor of Urban Development (Honours) (Urban and Regional Planning)

In your first year, you’ll complete units that will lay the foundations for the remainder of your course. You’ll explore the built environment and receive an introduction to planning and design, urban development law, urban analysis and land-use planning. You’ll also develop your skills in negotiation and conflict resolution. 

In your second year, you’ll continue to build skills in site planning, stakeholder engagement, transport planning and planning law, as well as engaging in units from your selected second major or set of minors. From there, you’ll have the opportunity to refine your understanding of urban design and property development, and use your cumulative knowledge to undertake environmental planning activities. You’ll also reflect on your work placement and consolidate your research skills. 

In your final year, you’ll explore advanced concepts of urban and regional planning, as well as planning theory and ethics. You’ll engage in real-world planning projects in studio and research environments, and potentially undertake an internship with a member of Queensland’s Parliament. Your studies will culminate in a major research project with a faculty mentor that showcases your career-ready skills.

Flexible delivery

Start online. Come when you can.

You can commence this course online in 2021 if you are unable to enter Australia due to travel restrictions, however you may not be able to enrol with a full-time study load as some units may not be available.

In addition, you may choose to commence your studies by undertaking eligible Minor units. (Engineering units with hands-on practicals are only offered on campus.)

You will need to complete the course on campus, once travel to Brisbane is possible.

Work Integrated Learning

You are required to undertake 30 days of approved urban and regional planning work experience as part of your Work Integrated Learning core unit.

_{* Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-2021 / Australian Taxation Office 2017-18 financial year / Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) / ComparED compared.edu.au} 

Careers and outcomes

As an urban and regional planner, you’ll design and manage the use of land and natural resources to meet society’s future needs in a sustainable way. Working with elected representatives, communities and other clients, you’ll prepare and administer physical schemes that create better places and lives for neighbourhoods, cities and regions. You’ll also plan large-scale projects such as new cities, suburbs, ports, recreational and industrial areas and transport routes, consulting widely among local communities and colleagues in related fields. 

You may enjoy a career in urban and regional planning if you’re interested in social, economic, environmental and cultural issues; art and design; using your imagination; and being creative. With a flexible course structure, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your broad appreciation of fields related to urban and regional planning, such as urban design, property economics, architecture, landscape architecture, law or business management. 

Careers and outcomes 

As an urban and regional planner, you’ll have employment opportunities locally and internationally, in state and local government departments and agencies, large multi-stranded development companies, and professional planning consultancies. Career choices include urban design, transport planning, development assessment, plan preparation for housing and industrial areas, open space and recreational planning, environmental protection, and social and economic development.  

Professional recognition

This course has accreditation from the Planning Institute of Australia.