Bachelor of Urban Planning
Overview
Shape the places where people live, work and connect.
This 3-year program prepares you to plan cities, towns and regions that respond to climate change, housing affordability, transport, population growth and the changing needs of communities.
From your first semester, you’ll gain hands-on experience through design studios, field trips and community projects. Through an industry placement, you’ll work with government, community and industry partners to turn ideas into real outcomes and graduate ready for the workforce.
You’ll learn to shape and implement policy that drives high-impact outcomes, while developing in-demand skills across:
- land use
- urban design
- transport and infrastructure planning
- heritage and conservation
- environmental planning
- resource management
- planning law and practice
- commercial and industrial development.
Grounded in culturally responsive planning and First Nations knowledge, the Bachelor of Urban Planning prepares you to make informed, ethical decisions and create lasting impact in the communities you help shape.
You’ll also have a clear pathway to accredited postgraduate study.
Program highlights
- Explore First Nations knowledge and culturally responsive approaches to planning.
- Apply planning theory through projects with industry partners in every year of the program.
- Grow your leadership and communication skills through UQ’s active student society, the Organisation of Planning Students (OOPS).
- Develop skills across urban design, transport, environment, heritage, planning law and policy.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Overseas study
- Fieldwork
- Seminars
- Studios
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Resource Management & Environmental Planning
- Digital Geographies: Geospatial Data & Analysis
- Transport Planning
- Community Participation in Planning
- Modern Architecture and the Metropolis [Elective]
- Introduction to Public Health
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Town planner
- Spatial data specialist
- Regional development manager
- Urban designer
- City design coordinator
- Heritage consultant
- Conservation officer
- Strategic land use planner
- Transport planner
Average annual salary range
Urban Planner
seek.com.au
Mid-career salary
Urban Designer
payscale.com
Next steps after graduation
Graduate ready to help communities respond to population growth, housing pressures, climate risks and changing transport needs. You can apply your planning skills across government, consulting, development and community organisations to shape policies, places and services that work better for people.
You’ll also have a clear pathway to accredited postgraduate study, including:
- Master of Urban Planning
- Master of Urban Development and Design
Program accreditation
The Bachelor of Urban Planning is accredited by:
- Planning Institute Of Australia
Studying urban planning at UQ gave me not only the skills I need to do well in the industry, but also the ability to form bonds with my classmates, learn from experienced professionals in an extremely diverse range of course, and experience opportunities I never would have thought possible.
Definitely get practical experience during university to get ahead. UQ offers industry-focused planning projects in each year of your studies, plus the lecturers help link students with useful industry contacts.
Studying urban planning at UQ gave me not only the skills I need to do well in the industry, but also the ability to form bonds with my classmates, learn from experienced professionals in an extremely diverse range of course, and experience opportunities I never would have thought possible.
Definitely get practical experience during university to get ahead. UQ offers industry-focused planning projects in each year of your studies, plus the lecturers help link students with useful industry contacts.
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Entry requirements
Prerequisites
- General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
Prerequisites
- General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
Entry score threshold
| ATAR / Rank | IB |
|---|---|
| 80 | 30.25 |
These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2027. Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in April each year. Meeting the entry score threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
Guarantee your place at UQ: If you meet our guaranteed minimum ATAR you could secure an offer for your preferred program.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Urban Planning are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Entry score range
This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the B Urban Planning for Semester 1, 2027
| Without adjustments | With adjustments | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | 97.05 | 99.05 |
| Median | 88.35 | 88.75 |
| Lowest | 78.5 | 80 |
Who you'll study with
Here's a snapshot of our student intake for this program in Semester 1, 2027:
| Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
(A) Higher education study | <5 | <5 |
(B) Vocational Education and Training (VET) study | 0 | 0% |
(C) Work and life experience | <5 | <5 |
| (D) Recent secondary education | ||
| 25 | 69.4% |
| 0 | 0% |
| 0 | 0% |
International students | 7 | 19.4% |
Total | 36 | 100% |
"<5" — The number of students is less than 5.
N/A — Students not accepted in this category.
N/P — Not published. The number is hidden to protect the privacy of students in other cells.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$10,900
2027
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
Fee information for this program is not yet available.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Urban Planning are Commonwealth supported, as long as you meet all Commonwealth supported place eligibility requirements.
This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government. Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
If you have a Commonwealth supported place, you may also be eligible for HECS-HELP. This is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
If your senior schooling is from outside Australia, you can submit your application to UQ. Or, if you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent near you.
The program code for the Bachelor of Urban Planning is 2580.
How to apply for undergraduate study
If your senior schooling is from Australia
Submit your application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre if you're an international student who is currently studying:
- Australian Year 12 (in Australia or another country), or
- the International Baccalaureate in Australia.
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Urban Planning is 702002.
Applying through QTAC
All domestic applications should be submitted to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Urban Planning is 702002.
Important dates
If you’re studying Year 12 in Australia, go to the QTAC website to check the closing date for this program.
If you’re applying to UQ, the closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
Visa processing times vary. Apply and accept your offer as early as you can.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
To check the closing date for this program, go to the QTAC website.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Admissions schemes
Applying to university can be both exciting and daunting, which is why we’ve tried to make the process as simple as we can.
We have several schemes in place to improve your chances of getting a place at UQ.
Pathway options
A rank or score doesn’t determine your potential.
If you're not offered a place in your first-choice program – or if you don't meet the entry requirements – you still have a number of options.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit.
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