Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design
Overview
Study our Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design and put yourself at the forefront of reimagining our urban fabric.
We address the design of cities from multiple perspectives to give you a contemporary and integrated view on how to make them better places to live and work.
Our aim is to redefine urban design to go beyond solving problems, towards understanding cities in creative ways and imagine different futures. We want to inspire the right minds to lead the way.
The majority of the world’s population live in cities, and with limited resources and significant climate change, there is a growing demand for urban designers specifically trained to understand and look at cities strategically and holistically.
Urban design is a term often borrowed by other specialists as an add-on to their core service. At UQ, we see urban design as its own expertise that includes the ability to engage with decision-makers and lead change.
This is a new degree for a new kind of designer, taught by leading academics and industry professionals.
You will study courses from across a range of disciplines including architecture, civil engineering, planning, policy, economics and business leadership to ensure you have the right skills to enter this transdisciplinary field of design.
Wherever you are positioned in your career, you’ll look at urban development and design from a different angle and be uniquely placed to design creative solutions to make our cities more efficient, sustainable and meaningful.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Online study
- Peer-assisted study sessions
- Studios
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'.
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Urban designer
- Community engagement consultant
- Landscape architect
- Urban strategist
- Design advisor
Mid-career salary
Urban Designer
payscale.com
Average annual salary range
Urban Planner
seek.com.au
Achieving quality urban environments requires strong skills in leadership and advocacy, supported with a sophisticated knowledge base spanning normally siloed disciplines and information fields. Graduates with this solid cross-disciplinary grounding will gain a distinct advantage in their short and long-term careers.
Achieving quality urban environments requires strong skills in leadership and advocacy, supported with a sophisticated knowledge base spanning normally siloed disciplines and information fields. Graduates with this solid cross-disciplinary grounding will gain a distinct advantage in their short and long-term careers.
Events
See all events
27 May
Discover Postgraduate Urban and Regional Planning
6 June
Discover Postgraduate Urban Development and Design
Stories
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UQ people
Meet the expert: exploring meaningful design with Dr Sean Peel
UQ people
How can design empower people with a chronic illness?
Stories
See all storiesUQ people
Meet the expert: exploring meaningful design with Dr Sean Peel
UQ people
How can design empower people with a chronic illness?
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (see below), or
- a graduate certificate or graduate diploma or master's degree in a relevant discipline (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
International students can commence full-time study in Semester 2 only.Domestic students can commence full-time study in Semester 2 only, or part-time study in Semester 1 or Semester 2.
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (see below), or
- a graduate certificate or graduate diploma or master's degree in a relevant discipline (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
International students can commence full-time study in Semester 2 only.Domestic students can commence full-time study in Semester 2 only, or part-time study in Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines include architecture, architectural design, design, landscape architecture, planning, regional and town planning, and urban planning.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
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 Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design 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.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$5,395
2024
$5,395
2024
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $22,480
2024
AUD $22,480
2024
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 Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design are Commonwealth Supported. 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.
HECS-HELP 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
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design is 5730.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design is 5730.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
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 Unit.
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