Make a crucial difference in regional planning through research.
Work with a supervisor to develop a research topic in an area where you would like to advance knowledge in your field, or focus on a specific planning issue to discover new insight to complexities you are facing in your professional life.
- 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.
Work with a supervisor to develop a research topic in an area where you would like to advance knowledge in your field, or focus on a specific planning issue to discover new insight to complexities you are facing in your professional life.
Possible research areas include coastal management, water allocation and planning, urban planning and design issues, dispute resolution in planning, or, a topic of interest to existing academic staff.
The program is designed for graduates of the four year regional and urban planning bachelor programs or who have accreditation from a recognised planning institute in Australia.
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to Master of Regional Planning by Research candidature, applicants are normally required to hold:
- a Planning Institute of Australia (or other professional planning accreditation body affiliated with the World Planning Schools Association) accredited four-year degree in planning
or
- an honours undergraduate degree in a planning-related area and relevant planning experience to the satisfaction of the Program Leader
Refer also to the University’s English language requirements.
Program coordinator
Associate Professor Johanna Rosier
Tel: +61 7 5459 4877
Email: jrosier@usc.edu.au
Program structure
During candidature you must complete one required course, CMN575 Research Design: Method and Literature Review, and compile a thesis of 30,000–35,000 words.
You are required to conduct research that can be written up as a scholarly thesis. You must demonstrate research competency and the ability to make a significant and original contribution to the body of knowledge in your chosen area of specialisation.
As a candidate you must clearly articulate in your research outline, the topic, background, rationale, research question, aim and objectives, methodology, research methods and techniques, and timeframe. Your research outline is to include a literature review that relates to the research question and objectives.
The results of your research activities should be presented succinctly and accurately and as necessary could be supported by more detailed annexures. Your syntheses analysis and discussion must clearly focus on the research question and the objectives of the work.
Conclusions and recommendations must be drawn from your analysis and discussion and reflect the attainment of the aim and the way in which the research question is addressed.
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements and notes
- Prospective applicants wishing to undertake a Master of Regional Planning by Research will need to find a suitable supervisor by contacting the Faculty of Arts and Business.
- For further information, refer to the Higher Degrees by Research - Academic Policy
- Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
- Refer to the research areas for the Faculty of Arts and Business.
- Refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
Enrolment and fees
- Domestic candidates: Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are not required to pay tuition fees for the standard duration of their HDR program. The Australian Government's Research Training Scheme (RTS) covers the cost of HDR tuition fees for these candidates. Research Master candidates are entitled to a maximum of two years full-time equivalent study. Candidates who do not complete their degree within the maximum RTS allowable completion times may be required to pay fees for any additional periods of enrolment. Please refer to Higher Degree by Research fees.
- International candidates: tuition fees apply. Refer to International HDR tuition fees.
- In any semester, full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL.*
- In any semester, part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL.*
- The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 or 2 census date.
* EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL.