Course Overview

About This Course

class="m-0 section-title__container anchorname" id="overview"> Overview Join the ranks of successful urban planners when you undertake the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning – the first degree of its kind in Victoria. #1 in Australia and top 15 globally for Architecture & Built Environment*

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 Cities are at the centre of our shared future. The Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Honours) is designed to enable you to understand, analyse, manage and shape the strategies that inform the future of cities for improved liveability, climate resilience, equitable and sustainable places. Through a carefully designed course structure – including core subjects, integrated minors, work placement, and a capstone experience – you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills essential for you. You will focus on sustainability and its place in urban planning policy, equipping you with the knowledge and skills you need to pursue a career as a policy and planning leader. You will learn to understand and critically engage with the many factors and processes that shape the way we live, work, play and commute. Not only will your studies cover urban planning in Melbourne and its regional surrounds, you will also be introduced to planning practices across the world. You are encouraged to complement this knowledge with a semester abroad at one of RMIT’s sister universities and get to know urban and regional planning in a global context. This degree emphasises the benefits of practical learning. By lectures, workshops, research projects, international study tours, field excursions, and industry placements, you will develop an understanding of politics, economics, environmental studies, social science, urban design, geography and history of specific places. Many of your guest lecturers are planning practitioners, presenting you with industry‑relevant knowledge. By participating in industry‑relevant, real‑life projects, you will be introduced to leading practitioners in the field, learn best practice methodologies, and graduate job‑ready – with industry connections, and a degree that is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). What is planning? What does planning mean to you? Discover why planning is a great career choice for you and the types of projects you could get involved in. What is planning? What does planning mean to you? Discover why planning is a great career choice for you and the types of projects you could get involved in. Transcript [Start of transcript] AUDIO: Uplifting orchestral music. VISUAL: Scenes of city life. NARRATOR SPEAKS: Ever wonder how a community kind of just happens? Because it's a bit of a small miracle. The places we live are like theatres where hundreds, thousands, and sometimes millions of people are simultaneously living, eating, buying, selling, making, working, romancing, moving, building. TEXT ON SCREEN: living, eating, buying, selling, making, working, romancing, moving, building. NARRATOR SPEAKS: It's amazing the whole thing doesn't all fall apart, but have you ever thought about what's going on behind the scenes? TEXT ON SCREEN: PIA Planning Institute Australia logo. DIRECTOR SPEAKS: Cut! TEXT ON SCREEN: Before I go any further, I am not talking about event planning here. And then a bit later further text appears that gives a definition of planning. VISUAL: Images of the city and city life. Various text appears to emphasis what the narrator is saying. NARRATOR SPEAKS: Before I go any further, I am not talking about event planning here. This has nothing to do with weddings. Planning is the process through which governments, businesses, and residents come together to shape their communities. NARRATOR SPEAKS: It's so important, there's an entire profession dedicated to it. Planners, like the communities they work in, the planning profession is complex and diverse. Some planners work on issues like housing, working towards providing safe and affordable places to live in. VISUAL: Scenes of transport and roads. NARRATOR SPEAKS: Other planners work in transport, improving networks of roads, trails, bus routes, foot paths, and bike lanes to help everyone get around, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Planners are also involved in design, protecting heritage, promoting energy efficiency, celebrating arts and culture, protecting the environment and protecting places from flooding or fire or drought because climate change. NARRATOR SPEAKS: The list goes on and on and on, and whether they work in government, the private sector, or in not-for-profits, planners are tasked with finding solutions to those issues. VISUAL: Scenes of people planning events, starting at whiteboards and the like. NARRATOR SPEAKS: They conduct research, consult with professionals, they analyse and try to predict the future, and, in the process, they write reports, give presentations, talk to the community, create models and designs, and make maps. VISUAL: Various scenes of people organising and planning follow. NARRATOR SPEAKS: They make lots and lots of maps. And when all of that comes together, planners, well, they plan. They create policies and promote good planning outcomes to help guide communities towards the future. But good planning isn't just a document, it's a process, one that consults and collaborates with people. It's key that planners recognise change and work with communities to plan for it rather than being overwhelmed by it. VISUAL: Many shots featuring people and paperwork follow in a montage. WOMAN SPEAKS: What? NARRATOR SPEAKS: But above all, planning is an attitude. One that firmly believes that when people work together, they can make a difference. And that's planning in a nutshell, or at least what we can say about planning in a minute or two. SOUND EFFECT: Girl crunches on nut - Mm. VISUAL: Various images of the cityscape and buildings. NARRATOR SPEAKS: It can seem like organised chaos at times, but that's the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that our communities are enjoyable and worthwhile to live in. SOUND EFFECT: bike bell rings NARRATOR SPEAKS: If you want to learn more about planning and the profession, check out the Planning Institute on their website at www.planning.org.au TEXT ON SCREEN: Planning website: www.planning.org.au [End of transcript] Back to Video

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

124 La Trobe St, Melbourne, VIC 3000

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Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

You must have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent qualification).
VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 — a study score of at least 25 in English other than EAL; or a study score of at least 27 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or equivalent studies.
Entry to this program is competitive. Eligible applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement plus any adjustment factors.
You may be eligible to receive adjustment factors which include equity access schemes and/or subject adjustments to a maximum of 28 aggregate adjustment points.
Subject adjustments: A study score of 30 in Environmental Science, Geography, Legal Studies, or Politics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 6 points.
Applicants with VET study will be assigned a selection rank based on their highest completed qualification: Advanced Diploma: 81 / Diploma: 72 / Certificate IV: 54.
Applicants with Higher Education study must have successfully completed at least two courses (subjects) in an Australian bachelor degree or four courses (subjects) in an Australian associate degree, or overseas equivalent.
Applicants with work and life experience must have successfully completed the VCE (or equivalent) and meet the stated prerequisites; work and life experience does not provide any additional consideration for entry.
Applicants are encouraged to submit a personal statement of 300–500 words outlining reasons for wanting to study the program, intended career path, personal strengths and attributes, and details of any related work or voluntary experience.
The Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) multiple choice may be used to satisfy academic requirements for eligible applicants (19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year of commencement, not enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years). STAT results are valid for 2 years.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

class="m-0 section-title__container anchorname" id="career"> Career As cities continue to grow, so does the need for planners. Urban and regional planning graduates readily secure jobs, and have ample opportunity for early career promotions. Our graduates have high rates of success in achieving full time employment after completing their degree. Many start in local or state government, or with private sector planning consultancies and property developers. Graduates can also build careers in areas such as urban design and placemaking, community health and social planning, environmental and climate change policy, as well as housing and transport planning. Many RMIT graduates also work overseas. Career outcomes Throughout your career, you might undertake roles such as: urban planner statutory planner town planner social planner environmental planner subdivisions planner civil urban planner urban designer transport planner environmental manager strategic planner Urban Planner The average salary for an urban planner in Australia is $95,000 per year*. Town Planner The average salary for a town planner in Australia is $100,000 per year*. Environmental Manager The average salary for an environmental manager in Australia is $175,000 per year*. *Source: www.seek.com.au 2026 Professional recognition and accreditation The RMIT urban and regional planning degree is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) . The PIA has mutual recognition of membership status with the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners/Institut Canadien des Urbanistes (CIP) <div

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this degree accredited by any professional body?

Yes, the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Honours) is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). The PIA also has mutual recognition of membership status with the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners/Institut Canadien des Urbanistes (CIP).

What kind of work placement will I undertake during this degree?

In your final year, you will undertake a 30- to 60-day work placement. Placements often include work in strategic, statutory, social and environmental planning roles within local or state governments, or the private sector. These placements can lead to full-time work after graduation. This degree pioneered formal work placements in the industry, and many employers now actively seek out RMIT planning students to fill their work placement vacancies.

Are there opportunities to study overseas as part of this degree?

Yes. In your second year, you have the opportunity to study a semester in countries with progressive planning systems, such as Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore and Sweden. Students have also participated in projects in countries such as Vietnam and Nepal, and in parts of Latin America. RMIT offers overseas work, exchange and study experiences with over 165 partner universities worldwide.

What subjects will I study throughout the four years of this degree?

In Year 1, you will study Australian society, politics and economics and the origins and development of planning principles and practices. Year 2 focuses on contemporary planning policies, social science research methods, social planning, urban design and transport planning. Year 3 covers specialised areas including planning law, regional planning, climate change adaptation, urban economics, natural resource management, and planning at local government level. In Year 4, you will undertake a work placement and study planning theory, planning research methods and structure planning, finishing with an individual thesis or major professional report.

What is the minimum ATAR required to enter this program?

The indicative ATAR for domestic students is 61.05. Entry to the program is competitive, and eligible applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement plus any adjustment factors, up to a maximum of 28 aggregate adjustment points.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $60,000 to $75,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $75,000 to $95,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $95,000 to $120,000 per year

Career Paths

Graduate Urban PlannerTown PlannerStatutory PlannerDevelopment Assessment OfficerStrategic Planner

Key Skills

Land-use planning and zoning analysisDevelopment assessment and statutory planningGeographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data analysisUrban design principles and site planningPlanning law and legislative interpretation

Full Course Overview

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