Masters courses

2025

Enrolment Information

  1. Students need to use My Programme Requirements to view courses that are part of their degree. This includes non-Urban Planning courses in the combined programmes. 
  2. Each programme page has a sample structure diagram as a visual reference to assist with planning your studies and enrolling in your courses. 
  3. Below are the Masters taught and thesis courses offered in Urban Planning.

Master of Engineering Studies

If you are interested in taking one of the following courses, then please submit an enrolment concession and we'll check if space is available:

  • UBRPLAN 701, 707, 711, 712, or 734.

For guidance about how one of these courses might fit in your degree, contact the Student Hubs.

Taught Courses

URBPLAN 701 - Urban Planning Contexts

  • Course prescription: An introduction to the city, urban planning and sustainability. Professional roles, practices and values. An introduction to and application of critical quantitative and qualitative research skills and methods for urban planning.
  • Semester availability: Semester One 
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 706 - Māori Planning Issues

  • Course prescription: Māori attitudes, values and aspirations in urban planning with an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi. Indigenous development issues.
  • Semester availability: Semester Two
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 707 - Urban Economic Development

  • Course prescription: Principles of urban economics. Economic development, urban planning strategies. Asset management and property development.
  • Semester availability: Semester Two 
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 709 - Housing and Community Development

  • Course prescription: A comprehensive study of community design, housing development blending theory and practice to address social, cultural, and environmental aspects of urban development and different housing needs and types, where students engage in practical design exercises, sustainable urbanism, community collaboration, and critical analysis to craft inclusive, vibrant urban spaces and addressing housing and community choice and need. 
  • Semester availability: Semester One
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 701
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 711 - Urban Planning Theory

  • Course prescription: A comparative exploration of urban planning theories and ethics.
  • Semester availability: Semester One 
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 301-305, 310, 311, or URBPLAN 321, 323, 325, 326, or URBPLAN 701
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 712 - Sustainable Urbanism

  • Course prescription: A comparative exploration of urban planning theories and ethics.
  • Semester availability: Semester One 
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 713 - Shelter 

  • Course prescription: Housing policies and practices. Housing and urban sustainability.
  • Semester availability: Semester One 
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 714 - Urban Planning Methods and Plan Making Studio

  • Course prescription: Urban planning methods and plan making implication and evaluation. Project management.
  • Semester availability: Semester Two 
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 301-305, 310, 311, or URBPLAN 321, 323, 325, 326, or URBPLAN 702
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 715 - Urban Planning Research Dissertation

  • Course prescription: An in-depth, self-guided research investigation relevant to urban planning with an advanced examination and application of critical quantitative and/or qualitative research skills for urban planning.
  • Semester availability: Semester One
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 701, 705
  • Points: 45

 

URBPLAN 716 - Contemporary Wicked Problem Studio

  • Course prescription: An advanced, in-depth exploration of sustainable urban planning concepts, focusing on environmental resilience, green infrastructure, and community involvement, through hands-on projects and strategic planning, enabling students to develop skills essential for innovative, sustainable urban development in diverse spatial contexts. 
  • Semester availability: Semester One
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 321, 323, 325, 326 or URBPLAN 701 
  • Restriction: URBPLAN 703, 705 
  • Points: 30

 

URBPLAN 717 - Community Design Studio

  • Course prescription: An advanced, in-depth study of community design, blending theory and practice to address social, cultural, and environmental aspects of urban development, where students engage in practical design exercises, community collaboration, and critical analysis to craft inclusive, vibrant urban spaces. 
  • Semester availability: Semester Two
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 307, 321, 323, 325, 326 or URBPLAN 701
  • Restriction: URBPLAN 704, 708
  • Points: 30

 

URBPLAN 734 - Smart City Planning

  • Course prescription: Smart technologies like AI, Urban Digital Twinning, and Internet of Things are reshaping urban planning, design, and decision-making processes. Explores their potential and limitations in tackling urban challenges, improving efficiency, and aligning with Sustainability Development Goals while critically examining ethical concerns surrounding their implementation in cities.
  • Semester availability: Semester Two 
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 301-305, 310, 311, or URBPLAN 321, 323, 325, 326, or URBPLAN 704
  • Points: 15

 

URBPLAN 735 - Resource Consents and Implementation, Evaluation

  • Course prescription: The critical skills and judgments required in the urban planning implementation process, including Assessment of Environmental Effects/Social Impact Assessment development.
  • Semester availability: Semester One 
  • Prerequisite: URBPLAN 301-305, 310, 311, or URBPLAN 321, 323, 325, 326
  • Points: 15

Thesis Courses

These are double-semester courses. Please note:

  • You must enrol in the 'A' and 'B' components (eg: URBPLAN 794A in Semester One and URBPLAN 794B in Semester Two).
  • You have until the fourth Friday of the first semester in which you enrol into the A component to make changes without penalty. 
  • After this point you are considered enrolled for the complete points value of the course, including part-time, and any changes made after this point will incur penalties. 
  • You are liable for the total fees for the A and B component course (full or part-time), and this includes if you withdraw from the course. 

URBPLAN 794A&B - 90pt Thesis 

  • Semester availability: Semester One and Two 
  • Programme restriction: MUrbPlan
  • Note: Students must enrol in UBRPLAN 794A and B as this is a double-semester course. One 15 point course from URBPLAN 701, 702, 706, 707, 709 must be taken in each semester alongside the thesis enrolment. 

    URBPLAN 796A&B - 120pt Thesis

    • Semester availability: Semester One and Two 
    • Programme restriction: MUrbPlan
    • Note: Students must enrol in UBRPLAN 794A and B as this is a double-semester course

    Programmes

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