Plan better spaces and land uses for our next generation.
A career in urban design and town planning enables you to plan and design good places for people to live, work and play. Learn how to manage urban growth and plan for sustainable development, infrastructure and services. Our program is shaped by industry - our teaching and research academics are well-known and respected among planning professional and give you an edge to your urban design and planning careers.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
A career in urban design and town planning enables you to plan and design good places for people to live, work and play. Learn how to manage urban growth and plan for sustainable development, infrastructure and services. Our program is shaped by industry - our teaching and research academics are well-known and respected among planning professional and give you an edge to your urban design and planning careers.
This is not just a planning degree. Add value to your qualification and choose a specialisation such as design, environmental management or Indigenous studies. You'll get hands-on experience through practical projects each year and a five-week full-time placement in your final year of study. You will have a chance to put your theory into practice, make connections in the industry and even impress a potential employer. Your placement is supported by the South East Queensland planning profession and could be in local government, state government, a planning consultancy, a non-government organisation or an environmental organisation.
Open your eyes to what it's like to be a town planner in a different country and take part in the Study Overseas program as part of your degree. This program is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia.
Career opportunities
Strategic planning and policy, urban designer, place maker, planning consultancy, community development, development assessment, infrastructure development, social planner, transport planner, property development.
Membership
Graduates may apply to join the Planning Institute of Australia after two years of professional practice.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) is fully accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia.
Program structure
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
ENP101 Law Honours Thesis
ENP103 Exploring Business Research
ENP104 Economics for Business
GEO100 Discovering Management
HIS140 Marketing Essentials
SUS101 Accounting for Business
SCS130 Information Systems in Organisations
Developing and Graduate courses (17) 228 units
ENS204 World of Work: Your Pathway to Employment
ENP211 Business, Governance and Society
SWK251 Introduction to Research Concepts and Design
ENP245 The Literature Review
ENS253 Qualitative Research Methods
ENP255 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
HIS200 Introduction to Urban Design & Town Planning - Studio I
SCS225 Planning Theory, Governance and Politics
ENS300 Planning Economics and Urban Analytics
ENP336 Changing Planet Earth
ENP355 Global Citizens: A History of Humanity
ENP365 Foundations of Sustainability
ENP411 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
ENP455 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation(24 units)
ENP460 Planning and Environmental Law(24 units)
ENP470A Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
ENP470B Landscapes, Place and People
Minor courses (4) 48 units
Design
Environmental Management
Environmental Geography
Geospatial Analysis
Human Geography
Sociology
Sustainability
PLUS select 2 or 3 elective courses (24 units) from the undergraduate elective course options.*
*The number of electives may vary depending on the minor chosen.
Honours
The Bachelor Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) may be awarded with Honours according to the Bachelor Honours Degree - Academic Policy. The class of honours to be awarded is dependent upon:
- The percentage results achieved by study in ten courses (144 Units) as specified in the list below; and
- ENP103 Geographic Information Science and Technology
- ENP211 Public Space Planning and Design - Studio II
- ENP255 Heritage: Australian and Global Contexts
- ENP336 Social Research
- ENP355 Environmental Economics
- ENP365 Strategic Infrastructure Planning
- ENP411 Neighbourhood Planning and Design - Studio III
- ENP455 Participation and Conflict Resolution
- ENP460 Advanced Planning Policy and Practice
- SCS225 Community Planning and Design - Studio IV
- Planning Project (ENP470A and ENP470B )(24 units).
Students must complete a minimum of eight courses in the list including the planning project for an Honours grade to be awarded.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses (120 units), including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.