The Master of Regional Planning by Research provides an opportunity to foster research in planning and offers a stepping stone towards PhD research in the planning discipline.
The program is designed for graduates of four-year undergraduate regional and urban planning programs. It may also be of interest to experienced practitioners who face a specific planning issue in their professional life and seek to research the matter in depth.
- 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.
The program is designed for graduates of four-year undergraduate regional and urban planning programs. It may also be of interest to experienced practitioners who face a specific planning issue in their professional life and seek to research the matter in depth.
Research areas
Possible research areas include topics of interest to existing staff, coastal management, water allocation and planning, urban planning and design issues, and dispute resolution in planning.
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.
Enquiries
Program Leader
Associate Professor Johanna Rosier
Tel: +61 7 5459 4877
Email: jrosier@usc.edu.au
Office of Research
Research Training Administrator
Tel: +61 7 5456 5890
Fax: +61 7 5459 4727
Email: researchtraining@usc.edu.au
Program structure
Program structure
During candidature you must complete one required course, CMN575 Planning Theory, 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
- 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 Research Master Degrees - 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.