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Graduate Certificate in Development Planning
PostgraduateCUR-URP-GCE2025
Help to plan better futures
Examine social and economic planning theories, laws and trends and the importance of an integrated approach. Study land development processes, environmental factors and the implications for community sustainability within a governance framework.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 21 May 2025,
- 20 Aug 2025,
- 19 Nov 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Certificate in Development Planning
About this degree
Students will achieve the following outcomes from the graduate certificate:
- identify and apply the principles, theories and concepts of urban and regional planning and draw upon appropriate knowledge of social, economic and environmental factors within a governance framework to practise planning, particularly in the Western Australian context;
- examine and challenge theories and practices of urban and regional planning, and generate creative solutions to planning issues
- access, evaluate and synthesise information in the context of urban and regional planning
- communicate effectively in writing, graphically, and orally with various audiences within a university context
- use appropriate technologies to gather and interpret research and data
- engage in self education within the Urban and Regional Planning profession to continue self development
- compare and contrast developmental processes in local and international contexts
- work ethically as individuals and in teams using skills central to the practice of integrated planning development
This degree provides an introduction to the planning principles, practices and techniques used by urban and regional planners. Examples and applications draw on local, national and international examples. It can be seen as a stand-alone qualification in its own right, or as the first step towards the Master of Urban and Regional Planning, which is a full professional qualification. It can also provide mid-career training for practising planners. A distinguishing characteristic of the degree is the use of interdisciplinary knowledge and techniques in addressing environmental, social and design issues of concern to the community. It is now widely accepted that successful human settlements must be properly planned and a range of statutory and non-statutory controls exist at all levels of government to protect the public interest in the development process.
The Graduate Certificate in Development Planning offers an alternative pathway into the Master of Urban and Regional Planning for those from a non-related discipline or with only industry experience.
Recommended study pattern
See the enrolment planner below.
Graduate Certificate in Development Planning enrolment planner (XLS)
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate in Development Planning, students must complete 100 credit points:
- 4 Core subjects
- Students must complete the award within 5 years.
Please Note: For professional accreditation by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), post graduate students are required to have completed two years of dedicated planning content, which is the equivalent of 400 credits. Applicants with a cognate undergraduate degree (e.g. Architecture, Geography) with the equivalent of four subjects (100 credits) of planning content, can be approved for direct entry into the Masters course, with 18 months (300 credits) to be completed. Applicants without a cognate undergraduate degree are not eligible for direct entry into the Masters and are required to complete four subjects (100 credits) of planning content via the Graduate Certificate course, before they can enter the Masters course, and therefore completing 400 credits overall.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $5,616
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 13
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 14
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Applicants require an undergraduate degree from a recognised tertiary institution.
Entry may be granted to applicants who do not have an academic qualification but who can demonstrate through professional work experience their capacity to successfully undertake this degree. Entry to the Master of Urban and Regional Planning for students without undergraduate qualifications is via this degree.
If you are applying based on work experience you will need to meet the English Proficiency requirements.
If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database, or you are applying based on work experience you will need to meet the English Proficiency requirements. Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at English Language Requirements.
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at: English Proficiency Tests
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning Policy (PDF).
Career opportunities
A career in planning can lead to a number of different opportunities in both the public and private sectors. For a long time, local government, specifically in Regional Australia has suffered from a lack of professionally trained planners.
The list of career opportunities includes (but is not limited to):
- Local government planner
- State government planner
- Private planning consultant
- Researcher or Academic
- Development company
- Regional development authority
- Housing or transport agency
- Environmental authority
- Commonwealth Agency
An economic downturn is not likely to limit the need for employment of planners. In these times emphasis in the planning arena is much more focused on the provision of housing (affordable) and other welfare and social concerns.
Professional recognition
The Graduate Certificate in Development Planning carries no professional recognition, but provides a pathway to the Master of Urban and Regional Planning which is fully accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national professional body for planners. The PIA body establishes and maintains national standards for the education and skill development of planners entering into the planning profession. Curtin University has taught planning programs for over 50 years at both undergraduate and post graduate level.
Graduates from Curtin's Master of Urban and Regional Planning are eligible for full membership of PIA.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Planners | $93K to $120K | Up 29.4% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
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