Program Overview

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Postgraduate Diploma in Planning – PGDipPlan

The Postgraduate Diploma in Planning is designed to provide students with the essential planning skills and knowledge required for a successful career in planning. This qualification will give students perspectives on managing both the natural and urban environment, enabling them to become well-rounded professionals capable of working anywhere.

Type of Qualification

• Postgraduate diploma
• Level of study: Postgraduate study (NZQF level 8)

Time to Complete

• 1 year full-time (120 credits)
• Part-time available

Where You Can Study

• Distance and online
• Open to international students studying online from outside New Zealand

Key Dates

• Admission application due dates
• Course enrolment dates for accepted students
• Semester dates

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning – PGDipPlan

The Postgraduate Diploma in Planning provides a pathway towards the internationally recognized professional qualification, the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning. This qualification has a strong emphasis on developing critical skills, ensuring students can respond to the rapid change in political, urban, and resource environments.

Take Your Study to the Next Level

The ultimate goal for many students is the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning. The Postgraduate Diploma in Planning provides a pathway towards this qualification.

Flexible Learning

Students can study in distance learning mode using Massey’s online learning platform, allowing them to complete their studies while still working.

Further Study

The Postgraduate Diploma in Planning provides a pathway towards the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning.

A PGDipPlan is a Good Fit if You:

• Would like to change careers while still in the workplace
• Want to develop critical planning skills and knowledge
• Are interested in progressing to the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning

Entry Requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific Requirements

• To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Planning, students must have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree.
• Students must provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

English Language Requirements

• If English is not the student’s first language and their bachelor’s degree was not completed at a university where English is the medium of instruction, they must have achieved an IELTS score of at least 7 with no band less than 6 within the last 5 years.

Structure of the Postgraduate Diploma in Planning

Credit Summary

• 120 credits
  • Compulsory course(s) from Schedule A: At least 30 credits
  • Elective courses from Schedule B: Up to 90 credits

Course Planning Key

• Prerequisites: Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level.
• Corequisites: Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course.
• Restrictions: Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar.

Schedule A: Compulsory Course Selection

• Choose at least 30 credits from:
  • Course code: Planning Law (30 credits)
  • Course code: Planning Theory (30 credits)
  • Course code: Professional Practice (30 credits)

Schedule B: Elective Courses

• Course code: Mana Taiao: Advanced Māori Planning (30 credits)
• Course code: Policy Analysis and Evaluation Techniques (30 credits)
• Course code: Urban Planning and Development (30 credits)
• Course code: Reframing Human-Nature Relationships in Environmental Planning (30 credits)
• Course code: Planning History: From Town Planning to Resource Management (30 credits)
• Course code: Natural Hazards and Resilient Communities (30 credits)
• Course code: GIS Principles and Applications (30 credits)

Fees and Scholarships

2026 Tuition Fees

• Domestic students: $11,645
• International students: $50,190

Student Loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free Scheme

Students may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying their fees. The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students.

Scholarship and Award Opportunities

• Massey University Postgraduate Scholarship
• Find more scholarships and awards

Careers and Job Opportunities

With a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning, students could work in fields as diverse as planning, policy making, economic development, nature conservation, or international development. They will be able to apply their training locally or overseas in a variety of professional and applied environments, such as:

• City/district councils
• Regional councils
• Central government
• Private consulting firms
• International humanitarian and aid organisations
• NGOs (non-governmental organisations)