Postgraduate study options

Whether you want to complete a professionally accredited qualification, deepen your understanding in your area of interest, retrain or upskill to expand your career options, our postgraduate programmes will equip you with the tools, skills and networks you need to achieve your goals.

The School of Architecture and Planning is New Zealand’s leading tertiary educator in the architecture/built environment field*. You’ll have the opportunity to interact with leading industry professionals, apply your knowledge and use our fully-equipped studios, workshops and digital resources.

Find a programme that meets your study and professional goals in Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design or Built Heritage.

*2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Architecture explores the design of buildings, places and spaces and considers how they fit into the world around them. Depending on your career aspirations, you can choose to complete a recognised professional masters programme, or undertake a more research-oriented degree.

Becoming a practising architect

To become a practising architect, you must complete the Master of Architecture (Professional) or one of our combined masters programmes that build on it, followed by further registration requirements, as set by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB).

Urban Planning addresses how our towns and cities can be improved to produce better social, cultural and environmental outcomes.

Depending on your career interests and outcomes, postgraduate study in Urban Planning can focus on practice or research. The Master of Urban Planning (Professional) and associated combined masters programmes are professionally accredited. The research-based Master of Urban Planning allows advanced exploration and critical analysis of the topics covered at postgraduate level.

Urban Design allows built environment professionals the opportunity to identify and respond to challenges in the existing and proposed urban environment and to improve them through the design of interventions and enhancements.

Urban Design is available at masters level, either as a standalone qualification or as part of one of our combined masters degrees.

The Built Heritage specialisation addresses the conservation and future use and development of historic buildings, from preservation through to adaptive reuse. 

Built Heritage is offered as a subject within the Master of Heritage Conservation. You can undertake this programme as a standalone degree, or as one of our combined masters programmes.