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The University of Sydney (UniSyd)

Camperdown , New South Wales ,Australia

Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning

The program is your pathway to the professional world of planning and the design, economics and theory of urban and regional environments. You will be shown the tools and methodologies to work in planning-based roles for the private sector and government agencies ranging from national levels to site-specific projects.

The Planning Institute of Australia accredits this course, ensuring professional relevance and excellent employment opportunities. Planners are strategic professionals that reconcile the complex demands of law, budgets and aesthetics to produce plans for vibrant, functional and desirable public spaces and cities. The planning program at the University of Sydney is recognised for its focus on the significant challenges of scale in planning.

Our expertise in both Urban and in Regional planning means that when you study with us, you will be adept at working across the spectrum of planning works, whether for a population of 500 or for 5 million. You will benefit from the expertise of our staff and our close ties with industry.

Our academics are all active contributors to the profession, forging close links with state, national and international planning organisations. We regularly host prestigious international planning conferences, including the only UPE conference to be held in the Asia-Pacific. All of this combines to give you unparalleled access to the best teachers and a solid network of industry contacts as you complete your degree. This is consistently demonstrated in our high student-satisfaction and graduate employment surveys. We give you flexible options to expand the scope of your degree by undertaking one of our exclusive enrichment options.

Offered in Heritage Conservation or Urban Design, you can improve your employment prospects by taking these specialisations. No other program planning program in Australia gives you the flexibility to pursue these enrichment options. Planning is an important function in many professions.

You may find yourself working as a consultant alongside politicians or private companies. There is also a demand for planners by local councils and state planning authorities. Planners are allied professionals to engineers, architects and environmental consultants. They provide advice, support and their expertise in planning to ensure that proposed projects are appropriately scoped and investigated on all relevant scales. There is also an important role for planners in the development of policy, particularly in international development, where the Faculty holds expertise.

Planning is a vibrant, challenging and rewarding career. It is much more than the simple, technical evaluation of different design options. Instead, planning is infused with consideration for human welfare and social progress. The social and ecological impacts of a project are always at the forefront of a planner's mind. Our planning program gives you the tools and approaches that will enable you to work in planning-based roles both in Australia and internationally, and cangive you this experience during your degree through our extensive exchange network.

The Urban and Regional Planning program has strong international connections and is recognised for its expertise in the formulation of national planning strategies. Dr. Paul Jones has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Urbanisation Office in Papua New Guinea and has been instrumental in the launch of the first national urbanisation strategy.

Students of the Urban and Regional Planning program benefit from this expertise and global connectedness. There are many exchange opportunities with institutions around the world, further expanding your understanding of urban planning in different national contexts. This all combines to give you perspectives on planning that go well beyond the classroom.

Campus Information

Camperdown/Darlington

Our biggest campus is 72 hectares of state-of-the-art teaching and learning technology, including six libraries, art galleries, historical museums, perfectly manicured lawns, and the following faculties and schools:

Intakes

  • Feb
  • Aug Deadline: Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Application Process

COE Process
5 Days

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Our Careers and Employability Office, dedicated to business students, offers a range of opportunities to explore your career options, plan your career, develop your skills, and network with recruiters and employers.

Our Careers and Employability Office offers a specialised career service to students across all of our degree programs. We are committed to helping you achieve your career aspirations and equipping you with the skills to thrive in your career.

Our career services will help you:

plan your career
develop your career decision making skills
tailor your resume and job applications
engage in experiential recruitment activities such as mock interviews and assessment centres
connect with top graduate recruiters and corporate partners through our programs.
We also offer the award-winning free Job Smart program, which enables international students to gain the skills and professional experience to gain employment when they graduate.

Business School students who engage early with career exploration, professional skill development and industry connections are best equipped to make their mark in today's complex and changing professional world.

Getting career ready with the Careers and Employability Office
Students explain how the Careers and Employability Office can help you get career ready throughout your studies.

Start planning your career now
We recommend that you begin your career-planning journey before you enrol and start your degree. Visit the below resources to discover your career options and help you choose the right subjects. 

Graduate Careers Australia provide detailed careers information and profiles across most areas including accounting, consultancy, government, human resources, IT, marketing, and international relations.
MyFuture assists school leavers with exploring career opportunities and different industries. Visit MyFuture to help you narrow down which majors you wish to study at the Business School.
Visit the Careers and Employabilty Office once you enrol. We’re located in the Careers and Student Experience Lounge, Basement Level, Abercrombie Building.

Career Pathways
Graduates of urban and regional planning follow careers in a wide range of areas, including urban development; strategic and metropolitan planning; environmental planning and assessment; land-use, transportation and infrastructure planning; planning for housing, health, educational and recreational facilities; community and regional development; and statutory planning. Planners work in a variety of roles, including policy analysis and implementation, consultation and public participation, besides preparing and administering planning instruments. Both the private and public sectors provide extensive career opportunities. Planners are employed by international organisations, all levels of government in Australia, and by a wide range of agencies. Private sector employment is primarily with developers and consultants. There are presently many career opportunities throughout Australia and overseas.

PSW Opportunity

NA

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

A successful applicant for admission to the Graduate Certificate of Urban and Regional Planning will hold a bachelor's degree or possess experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the course. Students who complete the Graduate Certificate with a WAM of 70 or higher are able to apply to to continue into the Master in Architectural Science in the same course stream. Masters and Diploma students may also opt to graduate with a lower level of certification once the required units are complete. Please note that students may commence studies in Semester 2, however some courses are only available in part-time capacity due to the units on offer.

TOEFL - IBT score - A minimum result of 96 overall including a minimum result of 23 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 25 in Writing

IELTS score - A minimum result of 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 7.0 in each band

TOEFL - PBT score - A minimum result of 592 overall including a minimum result of 4.5 in Writing

Pearsons Test of English - A minimum result of 68 overall and a minimum result of 54 in each band