Urban and regional planning is a profession that shapes the places where people live, work and play. Planners aim to improve the social and environmental fabric of cities by creating vibrant, healthy and equitable communities, and by facilitating sustainable transport, infrastructure and growth. How we plan our cities and regions today will profoundly affect future generations in a climate-changed world.

This degree will equip you with the theoretical and practical skills to work in the planning profession. Innovative in its approach to understanding contemporary social, urban and environmental issues in urban and regional planning, this degree focuses on recognising the social and cultural diversity of places, and the importance of cross-cultural approaches to research, plan making and impact assessment. It will not only prepare you for a career in which you have the power to shape more liveable and sustainable urban and regional futures but also give you a distinctive and innovative edge among your peers.

Key Features

• This degree is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia.
• This degree is unique in Sydney due to its interdisciplinary focus on integrating social and environmental domains in the planning and design of sustainable cities and regions.
• You’ll be taught by teachers with a strong research profile in the fields of urban studies, climate change, risk management and sustainability in urban settings.
• Cultural, economic, environmental and social dimensions of planning are integrated with a focus on urban management.
• You’re able to develop areas of concentration in environmental science and management, international development, tourism and heritage, demographics and social science, spatial science and geographical information systems (GIS).
• A unique feature of this degree is the opportunity for you to undertake planning-related PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) activities locally and overseas. For example, you can undertake research projects and professional work experience in a planning field in your fourth year.

• Development assessor
• Environmental planner
• Heritage planner
• Housing officer
• Local government planner
• Place-maker/place planner
• Policy analyst
• Social or environmental consultant
• Social/community planner
• Strategic planner
• Sustainability consultant
• Urban/town planner
• Urbanist
• Community sector organisations in urban development, sustainability, housing and planning 
• Government departments 
• Private planning consultancies 
• Residential developers, eg, Landcom