Program Overview

Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning is designed for recent graduates in any field, and for established professionals who wish to extend their skills and expertise. It will also help prepare you for entry into a master's program.

Program Details

• Location: External, St Lucia
• Duration: 1 Year full-time (or part-time equivalent)
• Start Semester: Semester 1 (23 Feb, 2026), Semester 2 (27 Jul, 2026)
• Program Code: 5781
• AQF: Level 8
• Scholarships available

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, other than qualifications accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia.
• a grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Fees and Scholarships

• Indicative annual fee: $10,520 (2026)
• International student fee: AUD $50,032 (2026)
• Scholarships available

How to Apply

• Applying online: All international applications should be submitted to UQ. The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning is 5781.
• Important dates: The closing date for this program is May 31 of the year of commencement for semester 2, and November 30 of the previous year for semester 1.

Program Highlights

• Learn from Australia’s best planning practitioners in a program recognised by employers as delivering high-quality, job-ready graduates.
• Tailor your program to match your career goals through practical and flexible elective courses.
• Benefit from collaborative learning spaces, such as the $1.5 million Planning Studio, that allow you to integrate maps, plans and computers while working with external bodies to address real planning challenges.

Career Possibilities

• Urban and regional planner
  • Development assessment officer
  • Urban designer
  • Land-use planning coordinator
  • Heritage conservation officer
  • Transport planner
  • Regional development officer
  • Spatial planner
  • Commercial and industrial development officer
  • Strategic planner

English Language Requirements

• IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6.
• TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
• PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
• BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
• CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.

Student Visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500). There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.