The Graduate Diploma in Urban Design is a postgraduate qualification that provides students with a focused and comprehensive overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of urban design. The course covers urban design history, theory, implementation strategy, and studio-based learning — equipping students with the knowledge and skills to understand and address complex urban issues. Topics typically include forces that shape cities, sustainability and urban development, contemporary urbanism, research strategies, and design studio projects that address emerging real-world challenges at neighbourhood, precinct, and city scales. Students engage both as individual designers and within interdisciplinary groups, reflecting the collaborative, multi-sector nature of the profession.

This qualification is designed for graduates from related built environment disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, town planning, geography, and environmental design, who wish to specialise or deepen their expertise in urban design. It recognises that urban designers work at the nexus of aesthetic, economic, political, and technical fields, and prepares graduates for professional practice in this multifaceted and increasingly valued area. The course can be taken as a standalone qualification or used as a stepping stone toward a Master of Urban Design.

Graduates are employed across a broad spectrum of organisations. Key employers include state and local government planning departments, urban regeneration agencies, private urban design and planning consultancies, property development firms, infrastructure delivery agencies, architecture practices with urban design divisions, community development organisations, and academic institutions. The profession supports Australia's growing cities and regions, contributing to sustainable development, public space design, housing affordability policy, transport corridor planning, and urban renewal initiatives.

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Urban Design in Australia are typically required to hold a bachelor's degree in a field related to urban design, such as architecture, landscape architecture, urban or regional planning, town planning, environmental design, geography, or a cognate built environment discipline. Most providers require a minimum weighted average mark of around 60–65% (Credit level) in the undergraduate qualification. Some institutions also accept applicants who have completed a Graduate Certificate in Urban Design or a closely related field, provided they meet the minimum GPA requirements (commonly 5/7 or equivalent). Applicants from non-design backgrounds may be considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly if they have significant and relevant professional work experience — with some institutions requiring at least five years of relevant industry experience as an alternative pathway.

A portfolio of design work is commonly required for applicants who did not graduate from the admitting institution, or where the Program Director determines it is necessary to assess design capability and aptitude. The portfolio should demonstrate relevant design interests and spatial problem-solving capabilities. Some institutions structure the Graduate Diploma as an embedded or exit qualification within a master's program, meaning direct admission may require students to first enrol in the broader Master of Urban Design sequence and exit early, rather than applying directly.

For international applicants, English language proficiency is required. Typical minimum scores include an IELTS overall band score of 6.5 (with no band below 6.0), a TOEFL iBT score of at least 87, or a PTE Academic score of 64. Some institutions also accept the Cambridge English Scale or equivalent qualifications. English proficiency requirements may be waived for applicants who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification taught entirely in English.