Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Research Studies (Planning) is a program offered by Western Sydney University, with the program code 8119 and an AQF Level of 7. This program applies to students who commenced in 2019 or later.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the program is determined by the following criteria:

• A Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in a cognate discipline such as Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Property, Urban Studies, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Environmental Management.
• Achievement of a threshold Admission Average Mark (AAM) equal to or above the minimum of 65.
• Demonstrated professional experience in a related discipline to be considered at the discretion of the Dean, Graduate Studies for applicants whose most recent qualification is 5+ years old.
• A statement that outlines a tentative research area.
• For International students and for domestic students who have a qualification in a medium other than English, an English proficiency requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in each band) or equivalent.
• Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and the University.

Program Structure

The program consists of two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. In the first year, students will undertake coursework training in comprehensive research methodology with an advanced specialization in urban and regional planning. In the second year, students will undertake a supervised year of higher degree research and produce a Master's thesis. The second year also includes a series of workshops and seminars designed to enhance students' research and professional capabilities.

Core Subjects

All students must enroll in and complete the following 80 credit points of prescribed core subjects:

• ARCH 7001 Developing Sustainable Places (10 credit points)
• BLDG 7006 Financing Cities in the Global Economy (10 credit points)
• ARCH 7003 Managing Cities: History and Theory (10 credit points)
• ENVL 7002 Planning and Environmental Regulation (10 credit points)
• HUMN 4001 Researcher Development 1: Reading, Writing, and the Business of Research (10 credit points)
• HUMN 4002 Researcher Development 2: Proposing and Justifying Research (10 credit points)
• ARCH 7005 Urban Management Practice: Governance and Power in the City (10 credit points)
• HUMN 4003 Writing Beyond the Academy: Knowledge Translation and Public Audience Communication (10 credit points)

Equivalent Subjects

The following subjects count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2019 or earlier:

• HUMN 4009 - Research Design 1: Theories of Enquiry, replaced by HUMN 4001 Researcher Development 1: Reading, Writing, and the Business of Research
• HUMN 4010 - Research Design 2: Practices of Research, replaced by HUMN 4002 Researcher Development 2: Proposing and Justifying Research
• HUMN 4012 - Research Literacies, replaced by HUMN 4003 Writing Beyond the Academy: Knowledge Translation and Public Audience Communication

Recommended Sequence

The recommended sequence of study is as follows:

• Full-time start-year intake:
  • 1H session: HUMN 4001, HUMN 4003, ARCH 7003, ENVL 7002 (40 credit points)
  • 2H session: HUMN 4002, BLDG 7006, ARCH 7001, ARCH 7005 (40 credit points)
• Full-time mid-year intake:
  • 2H session: HUMN 4001, BLDG 7006, ARCH 7001, ARCH 7005 (40 credit points)
  • 1H session: HUMN 4002, HUMN 4003, ARCH 7003, ENVL 7002 (40 credit points)
• Part-time start-year intake:
  • Year 1:
    • 1H session: HUMN 4001, ARCH 7003 (20 credit points)
    • 2H session: BLDG 7006, ARCH 7001 (20 credit points)
  • Year 2:
    • 1H session: HUMN 4003, ENVL 7002 (20 credit points)
    • 2H session: HUMN 4002, ARCH 7005 (20 credit points)
• Part-time mid-year intake:
  • Year 1:
    • 2H session: HUMN 4001, ARCH 7001 (20 credit points)
    • 1H session: HUMN 4003, ARCH 7003 (20 credit points)
  • Year 2:
    • 2H session: BLDG 7006, ARCH 7005 (20 credit points)
    • 1H session: HUMN 4002, ENVL 7002 (20 credit points)

Exit Award

Students may exit with the Bachelor of Research Studies (exit only) after Year 1 and the successful completion of 80 credit points, with advanced standing of 160 credit points from their previous undergraduate qualification being granted.