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 Engineering Statics
ENP103 Biodiversity and Ecology
ENP104 Weather and Climate
GEO100 Statistics with Teeth: Understanding Ecological Data
HIS140 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics
SUS101 Earth's Surface Processes
SCS130 Plant Diversity and Ecology
Developing and Graduate courses (17) 228 units
ENS204 Geographic Information Science and Technology
ENP211 Introductory Chemistry
SWK251 Soil Mechanics
ENP245 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
ENS253 Soil Properties, Processes and Rehabilitation
ENP255 Thermofluids 1
HIS200 Mechanics of Materials
SCS225 Engineering Materials
ENS300 Calculus II and Linear Algebra
ENP336 Engineering Project Management
ENP355 Structural Analysis and Computer Modelling
ENP365 Structural Engineering
ENP411 Engineering Research Methodology
ENP455 Numerical Analysis(24 units)
ENP460 Design of Roads and Drainage(24 units)
ENP470A Engineering Project 1
ENP470B Restoration Ecology
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 Population Ecology and Genetics
- ENP211 Engineering Hydrology
- ENP255 Sustainable Transport Systems
- ENP336 Engineering Sustainable Design
- ENP355 Coastal Geomorphology
- ENP365 Construction Technology
- ENP411 Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment systems
- ENP455 Concrete Structures and Technology
- ENP460 Engineering Project 2
- SCS225 Communication and Thought
- 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.