Urban planning courses

Urban planning—also called town planning or regional planning—is the practice of designing the environments in which we live. Planning is important as it enables us to create places that are liveable and resilient—and that provide for the needs of the people that live there.

As an urban planner, you’ll consider aspects such as infrastructure, transport, green spaces and environmental resources. You’ll help create cities, towns and neighbourhoods that can sustain growing populations into the future.

In your urban planning course, you’ll likely cover a variety of disciplines, including architecture, public policy, economics, geography and sociology.

Depending on your exact course, you may explore:

• The history of urban planning

• Laws and regulations

• Sustainability and climate

• Transport systems

• Housing

• Planning ethics

• Project management

• Heritage conservation

Many online urban planning degrees offered through Open Universities Australia are fully accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (IPA), the professional peak body for planners. This means, when you graduate, you’ll be eligible for membership, and will be able to access professional opportunities that help you grow your career.

To learn more about the work experience opportunities you can gain while studying a specific urban planning course, it’s best to check the individual course page of the degree you are interested in.

The entry requirements to study urban planning vary from course to course, so it’s best to check individual course pages to find out more.

Keep in mind, when you study through Open Universities Australia, you may be able to study the field of your choice without meeting the course entry requirements. Ask us more about this today or read more about studying without entry requirements.

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

If you study a degree in urban planning through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

After graduating from your urban planning course, you’ll be able to explore careers including:

• Urban or regional planner

• Strategic land use coordinator 

• Development assessment officer

• Spatial planner

• Heritage conservation officer

• Commercial and industrial development officer

• Tourism consultant

• Environmental or geotechnical consultant

• Social or community planner

• Statutory planner

• Strategic planner

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

• Browse the options on this page.

• Use our comparison tool to explore the different choices.

• Need help? Book a free phone consultation with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

2. Start your enrolment

• When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.

• Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.

• You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of identity

  • Your tax file number

  • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Explore these related study areas, which all aim to address human needs, behaviours, and communities:

• Architecture courses

• Sustainability courses

• Civil engineering courses

• Sociology courses